The role of value in architects' labour

It is no news that it is challenging to run a financially successful architecture business. Clients do not always need or value the full spectrum of services an architect wishes to provide, making it increasingly hard to negotiate a profitable fee. It is not only market conditions that lead to challenges. Challenges also originate from within...

Enhancing value capture by managing risks of value slippage in and across projects

Project-based firms have to capture value from the projects in which they engage. This can be challenging as firms need to reconcile project goals and organizational goals while attempting to avoid the slippage of value to other actors. Drawing on interviews with architects and clients, this research reveals how architectural firms used the...

Open for business: Project-specific value capture strategies of architectural firms

Architectural firms can be regarded as creative professional service firms. As such, architects need to navigate creative, professional and commercial goals, while simultaneously attempting to fulfil client, user and societal needs. This complex process is becoming increasingly difficult, as the historically established role of architects has...

De toekomstige rol van de architect: een wetenschappelijke ontwerpgids

‘De toekomstige rol van de architect’ beschrijft de essentie van onze wetenschappelijke verkenning naar nieuwe rolstructuren in de Nederlandse architectenbranche. Deze verkenning is uitgevoerd in het kader van het futurA project, dat verwijst naar future value chains of architectural services. Vier jaar lang hebben we vanuit de Technische...

Future roles for architects: An academic design guide

‘Future Roles for Architects’ describes the core insights from a research project into new role structures in the Dutch architectural sector, conducted as part of the futurA project on “future value chains of architectural services”. For four years a joint team from Delft University of Technology and Radboud University in Nijmegen, working in...

Challenges in the business models of creative professional service firms

Recent studies have shown that professionals in the built environment need new or improved business strategies to survive in increasingly dynamic and competitive environments. To gain insight into how professional businesses can be successfully reshaped, a profound understanding of their business models is necessary. So far, business model...

Constructing Business Models around Identity: Tensions in Architectural Firms

Architectural firms experience difficulties to establish healthy and sustainable business models as they have to reconcile the often-competing value systems that they are based upon. Organizational members continuously negotiate professional values and beliefs with the firm's commercial goals, resulting in identity-strategy struggles. This study...

Unraveling Supply-Driven Business Models of Architectural Firms

Architectural firms deliver services for various, unique projects that are all characterized by a high level of uncertainty. To successfully propose, create and capture value, they need business models that are able to deal with this variety and uncertainty. So far, little is known about the different business models that are used in...

Real Estate Development by Architectural Firms: Is the Business Model Future-Proof?

Architectural firms need business models that are able to deal with the diversity and uncertainty of their work to run a successful business over time. Little is known about the business models that are used in architectural service delivery and how they enable or constrain firms to create and capture value in their projects. In this research, a...

International collaboration and partnering in the supply chain as business opportunities for architectural firms

Due to a shift towards market driven concepts, a risk allocation from the demand side to the supply side and the increasing competition with other skilled actors in the value chain, architectural firms have to adapt quickly to stay competitive. They need to innovate not only their products and services, but also make more fundamental changes in...

Business Model Design of Architectural Service Firms

Due to significant changes in the architecture, engineering and construction industry, architectural firms have to adapt quickly to stay competitive. They need to innovate not only their products and services, but also make more fundamental changes in the way they create and appropriate value, thereby replacing or innovating their business model...

Exploring business model innovation in professional service firms: Insights from architecture

Business model innovation may be a significant source of competitive advantage and firm performance. New ways of doing business have become increasingly important in the professional service sector. This research specifically focuses on business model innovation by architecture firms, which are suffering from the current financial crisis and...