Small Business Contracting

Explaining a complex issue in a straightforward way is a management consultant's value.

This little known fact is "10 years". That is, it takes 10 years to figure out this business called construction contracting. We have such a complex challenge in building work that it takes...

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama holds out the best hope to correct long-standing problems with small business contracting, says the ASBL

Growth of all types is not good. In certain areas, it is desired and growing other parts is not. What am I talking about? Growth of your employees as professionals is important. It...

The government's Small Business Innovation Research program has funded important research. But budget cuts and mismanagement have taken their toll on the program.

It contains within it the framework for correct behavior amongst professionals as they serve their clients, the public and each other. The articles and their standards of practice are the standard by which...

The SBA is taking a hit from Congress regarding its plan to increase the number of financial support to women owned businesses.

Thanks for taking the time to read this e-mail. I have a quick question for you. My friend (who is a carpenter) and I (an electrical contractor) have started a general contracting business....

Our goal with this book is to help all contractors learn more. Our firm knows from our consulting, seminars and book sales that there is a need for contractor business education. Craft skills...

In all our business evaluation work, we first ask the owner about his goals and objectives. His or her answer certainly tempers the evaluation. For instance, if the owner states that his goal...

Case Studies are not a new idea; they have been around as long as there have been business schools. The use of the case study method has been effective in exposing university students...

Some contractors are progressively acting on the green building movement. They are showing real leadership on LEED. Everyone should be pleased as everyone wins. However, not all contractors, designers and owners are investing...

Acquiring work means building work. That is where the real risk starts. This is no place for fumbled information or unclear processes. Tracking it all doesn't come easy. Speed in these processes is...

What does this mean to you? What impact does it have on the industry? Certainly, any fairhanded treatment has to point out positives and negatives. An unfair analysis would not include one side....

Construction Productivity continues to be flat. From government data on Employment and Put-In-Place Construction, our industry’s trailing 10 year trend has risen little and in the last two years has reversed itself. All...

Where is it written that houses should be appreciating at a double digit rate in perpetuity?

For the contractor, if you are seeking more "ready to work" people in you field staffs, immigrants are the only place to start. Most come from farms and know what hard work is....

I recently was invited to speak before two Project Management sections at Clemson University. As they had adopted my book for the course, this was a very easy decision to make. I made...

I've been ruminating on the concept of physician dispensing of prescription drugs, and done some more reseach. I still think the concept is being touted on very shaky grounds - yet it can...