Design firms face risk every day. At times, the practice of architecture or engineering can feel like a minefield. The purpose of this course is to help guide design professionals through the process without getting blown up by risk. A proactive Risk Management Plan is an essential element of loss prevention and a key ingredient of financial success for a design firm. When a Risk Management Plan is integrated into a firm’s culture and embraced by its leadership, it makes a significant positive impact on business performance and longevity. Learners will gain strategies and tools to help them develop an effective plan that contemplates the entire project cycle: from client selection to project inception and through project close-out.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the importance of having a Risk Management Plan
• Be able to distinguish between two broad types of risk for design professionals and identify the four parts of the risk management model
• Understand the purpose and composition of a Risk Management Team
• Learn the seven components of an effective Risk Management Plan:
• Project/client selection
• Team capabilities
• Contract review and negotiation
• Contract education for the design team
• Communication and documentation
• Project and quality management
• Staff training and development

Presenter: Diane Mika, Vice President, Director of Risk Management Education, Berkley Design Professional