Tag Archives: risk avoidance

Project Management – learn it, use it, avoid a lawsuit (Free Webinar– THIS Tuesday!)

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listeningWant to learn more about how to use project management as a risk avoidance tool?  Sure you do!

Join the Hall & Company folks for this month’s free webinar entitled, “Effective Project Management Practices as a Key Risk Management Strategy.”

The webinar will discuss:

1. The essential elements of a solid Project Management Plan and why “Planning a project will not guarantee success, but failure to plan will guarantee failure.”
2. Why your project’s scope, schedule and budget are considered a “three-legged stool” and how to manage the big risks associated with project changes.
3. Why effective communications are absolutely essential to project success, why poor communications have been described as the biggest contributor to project problems and what every project manager needs to know about communicating with their clients.
4. Ensuring quality in every aspect of project delivery as a fundamental risk management strategy.  The quality of the project and project deliverables will be remembered much longer than the project’s schedule, budget or project manager!
5. Why project risks need to be identified, understood and managed so they don’t become business risks for your firm.

When?  THIS Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 1pm EST

Register Here

This presentation has been approved for AIA Continuing Education credit (1LU).

Happy listening!

Photo: (c) Mike Quinn via Creative Commons license.

7 Critical Mistakes that Engineers & Architects Make that Sabotage their Projects

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7 critical mistakes engineers & architects makeA lawsuit could cost your company thousands, or hundreds of thousands, of dollars.  You will spend more time with your lawyer than you’d like– time you’d otherwise be able to spend on your business.  Sound fun?  Of course not. 

What can you do to lessen your risks of a lawsuit? 

Take a few minutes right now to download my free 6 page white paper entitled 7 Critical Mistakes that Engineers & Architects make that Sabatoge their Projects & Invite Litigation.  If you know what these critical, yet common, mistakes are, you can take steps to minimize your risk of being sued. 

Check it out by going to the right hand side of the blog’s main page and submitting a request for your free copy today.

Top 3 Take-Away Lessons for Engineers from the Sewage case (law note)

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takeaway signAs we discussed yesterday, CH2M was held liable in negligence for the accidental death and other injuries sustained by workers at the Spokane wastewater treatment facility.  Today, a few take-away lessons for design professionals, regardless of where you work:

  1. Never assume that you cannot be sued.  The engineers at CH2M thought they had a slam-dunk case, because there was actual language giving them immunity in the law.  However, even then that immunity language did not stop the lawsuit and liability.  You can always be sued, even with the best language in the law or your contract.
  2. Even limited work can give you significant liability.  One of CH2M’s arguments was related to the fact that they were providing limited work on an “on call” service contract.  As the Court noted, just because you have not actually put pencil to paper (or made the CAD drawings), doesn’t mean that you are not “designing” in the eyes of a court of law.
  3. You must assume the negligence of others.  Okay, the case doesn’t specifically say this, but it does note that CH2M could not escape liability because the City had made modifications to the plant over the years.  The Court held that “a reasonably prudent engineer in the position of CH2M could reasonably have anticipated” that the plant might have been modified over the years, and that a prudent engineer would have conducted an engineering analysis to make that determination.

Comments, thoughts, or questions?  Drop me a line!  I want to hear from you.

Photo:  (c) Debbi Long via CC.

Top 3 Things You Should Know about Cell Phone and Texting Laws (Tue Tip)

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cell phone drivingPlanning on driving out of your home state for the holidays?  Perhaps you’re flying somewhere, and have a rental car with your name on it? 

Before you go, be sure you know the following:

1.  Does the state you are in ban handheld cell phones while driving?

2. Does the state you are in ban texting while driving?

3. Is a violation of cell phone/texting laws a primary enforcement?  [That is, can an officer pull you over and cite you for using a handheld cell phone without any other traffic offense taking place?]

This handy chart of cell phone laws in all 50 states will give you the scoop.  Of course, it’s always best to play it safe, but this chart will at least keep you on the right side of the law. 

Happy Trails!

[hat tip to my partner John Nunnally for the link]

Do you know of an awesome website?  A great tool to use?  Share your tips with the community!  Drop me a note or comment, below. 

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Photo:  (c) Will Merydith via Creative Commons. 

Drop the Dead Weight: Fire your Worst Clients! (Tue Tip)

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Today’s Tip:  Listen to your gut.  Ever get that feeling that a potential client may be high maintenance or want everything done yesterday?   Listen to your instincts and turn them away as fast as you can.  Send them to a directory.  Send them to a rival.  Send them away from you.  Bonus if you can refer them to your worst enemy (kidding!).

The Pareto Principal is true in more ways than one:  not only do 80% of your profits come from 20% of your customers, but 80% of your complaints come from 20% of your customers.  If you can weed out that complaining/crazy/high-maintenance 20% up front, think of the aggravation you will save.

Architects (and engineers) sometimes tell me that they knew they might have issues with a particular client based on how the initial meetings & negotiations proceeded; needing the work, they took the job anyhow, only to find themselves facing the prospect of a long-drawn out lawsuit.  Don’t let this be you.

What to do if you already have the crazy client on board?  Document everything, including verbal agreements.  And cut them loose when you can safely do so.  This can be tricky-if not impossible-to do during an active project.  So in the interim, prepare as if you will be sued, because there is a good chance of it.  Remember that in a lawsuit, everything will be evidence, so your documentation during the project will be vital.

And next time- listen to your gut!

Do you have an experience working with a “crazy” client?  Did you ever not listen to your gut, only to rue the day you didn’t later on?  Share below, or send me an email.  Remember to remove identifying details, to avoid being stalked by your crazy ex-client!

 Photo: (c) jimwhimpey via Creative Commons.