internet at work

[Archie_tect]

OK.... we've been working with full access workstations since 1997, so sounds like your old office was a D+B sweat shop that you are best out of.
Welcome to self employment! It's fantastic and I wouldn't go back to being a mushroom for anyone.... but your business model may need to adapt to accept new technology .... I'd strongly recommend Revit given a fresh start but we do love Archicad on Macs... more intuitive.

 

[MikeG]

I've been self-employed for about 7 or 8 years, since I left that place. I have worked alone all that time, but I am now bored of my company. The practice I am looking to take over still works only on drawing boards, although 2 of the guys have Autocad 2002 at home, and know how to use it. They don't even have a web-site. When I turn up and computerise the place, even if there are only a couple of terminals with internet access it will feel to the employees like they have stepped through a portal into a new space-time continuum......

 

[Archie_tect]

Wow Mike ... How old are they?

 

[nappadang]

The term "chat" gets flagged up as inappropriate at the college I work for so I can't access Cc.
My mate (civil servant) got hauled over the coals for googling a band called "Throbbing Gristle." he had to sit at the desk adjacent to hus boss so his Internet usage could be monitored.

 

[MikeG]

Wow Mike ... How old are they?

The employees are in their 40's. The principle is mid 70's, wanting to retire, and his (work) partner died very recently. You can see why I would like to take over the practice: a great reputation for some really excellent buildings, a great back-catalogue, nice town centre location, but no web-site, no advertising or even a sign anywhere, stone age technology, and a reputation for always being late with everything. I've done their over-spill work for years, and won some prizes for them. I can make a big difference to the practice in a very short time, obviously.

 

[Archie_tect]

They've clearly built up a solid reputation with repeat work, but whether that's transferable to you will depend on the level of input which the retiring partner has... but if the work is brought in by his employees it might be worth digging a bit to find out why the employees aren't buying him out.

 

[MikeG]

I know the employees well: 3 of them are members of my cycle club. Let's just say that there are people who can run things, and there are those who couldn't even think of running things. They are all more than happy at the thought of me coming in and taking over, (we've discussed it at length) and I would have one of them as a partner. The repeat work thing is obviously important, but just having the back catalogue on a web-site will bring in plenty of new work, without new clients being aware necessarily of the change in ownership. The retiring architect will help feed work to the practice, and won't work on his own account. We might get him back now and then as a consultant for jobs involving his favoured clients.

First change I'd make at the office? Not the computers. Not the website. .........A shower so that we can all cycle to work!