Future vision is source of tension between engineering firm principals

A survey by ZweigWhite in the U.S. found that the single most common issue of conflict among principals of architecture and engineering firms relates to their ideas on vision and growth. The results from the 2008 Principals, Partners & Owners Survey of Architecture, Engineering, Planning & Environmental Consulting Firms, showed that 28% of the firm leaders identified vision and growth as the most common cause of conflict.
Jeremy Kamm, a consultant in ZweigWhite’s strategic advisory services group, said: “Even within the most closely knit leadership teams there are often fundamental differences of opinion regarding what a company’s future should be.”
Kamm continued, “There’s nothing wrong with healthy debate on the subject. In fact, such discussions are often constructive. However, if a leadership team can’t come to an agreement on a firm’s vision, competing agendas and a lack of buy-in will ultimately hold the firm back.”