Minding your own business
John McAslan & Partners
What they said...
“Given the fact that most architects are, by definition, better designers than they are managers, one might think they would be using all the tools available to help them manage their workflow.”
Roger Wu Roger Wu, Director of Projects, John McAslan & Partners
The problem
At John McAslan & Partners we were surprised to find that, after deciding to install a project management system, our initial investigations turned up few results. By looking harder, we found there are indeed various products available, ranging from off-the-shelf software catering for the whole sector to bespoke systems that are now being made commercially available.
The solution
Most importantly, we wanted a system that was intuitive to use. Any management system is only as good as the data provided by the users so there is no point in alienating people with overcomplicated interfaces.
Also, we did not want a system that would fundamentally change the way we manage our workflow, or one that required a team of trained administrators to maintain.
Finally, we wanted a flexible system that took into account the non-linear, iterative nature of an architectural project.
The benefits
In the end, we implemented a solution from IRIS PROJECTminder. We're already seeing the benefits. We now require less administration for project management and are minimising the duplication of data (and hence error). An important cultural change has also flowed from the implementation of this software. Project directors and project architects have become more aware the importance of effective project management and its positive effect on the design process. And we know that we have yet to fully realise the full potential of the system.
Roger Wu, Director of Projects, John McAslan & Partners
