Architect's Client Doesn't Know What He Wants - Contract Review Process

[potdar]

In the service sector one ends up in crazy situations, totaly different than what one is used to in manufacturing.

A friend, an architect wants to go in for ISO 9001. People come and tell him, "Look I got a plot here. Build me something good." Simple everyday situation till he tried to design a contract review process.

I have tried to develop something useful for him. Possibly, with help from all of you I can give him something better.

Any ideas?

[Jim Wynne]

Originally Posted by potdar

In the service sector one ends up in crazy situations, totaly different than what one is used to in manufacturing.

A friend, an architect wants to go in for ISO 9001. People come and tell him, "Look I got a plot here. Build me something good." Simple everyday situation till he tried to design a contract review process.

I have tried to develop something useful for him. Possibly, with help from all of you I can give him something better.

Any ideas?

Make sure that both parties agree on what "good" means.

[Ajit Basrur]

Originally Posted by potdar

In the service sector one ends up in crazy situations, totaly different than what one is used to in manufacturing.

A friend, an architect wants to go in for ISO 9001. People come and tell him, "Look I got a plot here. Build me something good." Simple everyday situation till he tried to design a contract review process.

I have tried to develop something useful for him. Possibly, with help from all of you I can give him something better.

Any ideas?

Hi Potdar,

I got remembered of a story of blindfolded men trying to figure out which animal are they feeling ? One says a tiger, another a big cat and so on ...

I would think that this type of a scenario is very good as the architect can come up with his own ingenuity and experience. For the architect, he can develop his own checklist to get the customer requirements particularly with respect to number of storeys, no of rooms, etc. He can also suggest good layout based on the Feng Shui or the Indian concept "Vaastu". He can offer multiple solutions and once the plan is decided, he can firm it up and get concurrence from the Customer.

This would be his Customer specifications.

[SteelMaiden]

well, usually an architect will ask a client what they want in terms of:
what are the things that your new home must have
what are the things that you really want
what are the things that it would be nice to have if it fits in the budget
and maybe even a couple of ideas on what would you like if you could have anything in the world in you new home.
what is the budget we have to work with

Then, your review is can we provide the necessities and the clients needs within the allotted budget while either including or providing some sort of alternative to the other luxury or "wish list" items.

One thing that needs to be considered in contract review for an architect, is "can the architect and the client work together"? Sometimes they cannot. (I add this because I worked for an architect part time when I was in school. That was my actually my original choice of career until I got sidetracked by lack of money. lol) There were clients that we just could not do the job they wanted (because it was physically impossible) or that had such different viewpoints that we knew they would never be happy with the work we did.

[harry]

Architectural works are like pieces of art. Do you need ISO for these kind of things?

Even for mass housing, where a single design is repeated many times, architects are normally chosen based on their proposals, reputation (An architects reputation enhance the value of property), experience etc. I just checked the website of Norman Foster & associates, the architect for the New World Trade Centre - certainly no indication of ISO certification but an impressive list of current and pass projects.

Be careful, ISO is not for everything.

Regards.

[potdar]

Originally Posted by harry

Architectural works are like pieces of art. Do you need ISO for these kind of things?

Be careful, ISO is not for everything.

Regards.

Thanks all for your comments so far. I will just put in a word for "why ISO". Just note my identification. It goes "For Improvement".

The ideal situation for an architect's office was identified as the seniors doing the creative work and the juniors doing the donkey work. While doing this, the juniors get a chance to learn and grow, the seniors get a chance to spend time being creative.

None of this was happening. The seniors were doing checking and the juniors were doing rework. Frustration, attrition was high. There was hardly any scope or time for being creative.

Bringing in ISO systems in spirit has drastically improved the situation. And we can measure it.

But my question remains. What about contract review?

[Coury Ferguson]

Originally Posted by potdar

But my question remains. What about contract review?

The procedure should address the steps that are involved in determining the requirements, the needs, and the capabilities.

Since ISO9001:2000 does not require a "Contract Review" procedure than make a simple flow chart on the process, in my opinion.

[SteelMaiden]

Originally Posted by potdar

But my question remains. What about contract review?

Contract review is a process. just think Bob the Builder

Can we build it?
Yes we can!

As soon as you cannot meet one of the client's requirements, review done, contract not agreed to, or contract requirements need to change.