Cover Page

Handbook for the Architectural Manager

Stephen Emmitt

University of Bath, Bath, UK

Mohammed Alharbi

Taibah University, Medina, Saudi Arabia

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Copyright

Preface

This is a book for architects. Our aim is to provide a useable framework to stimulate and guide improvements in every aspect of architectural practice. The handbook is designed to sit alongside and complement Design Management for Architects (Emmitt, 2014) and Architectural Management: international research and practice (Emmitt et al., 2009). Therefore, the arguments for why architects need to improve their managerial competences and why we need more research into the field are not repeated. Instead we have provided an accessible and simple‐to‐use guide to help practitioners in their daily pursuit of excellence.

The work has evolved out of a long‐standing working partnership, in which we challenge one another to develop the theoretical and practical aspects of architectural management. Although the primary content of this book is grounded in applied research, we have deliberately played this down and emphasised the practical aspects of architectural management. Additional reading and sources are provided for those interested in further exploring the field.

The underlying driver behind our work is a shared passion for improving the managerial aspects of the architectural profession. It is through better management, not more management, that we are better able to realise design value. We are driven to help practitioners to deliver better architecture through better management of precious resources. Our intention is that this handbook goes some way in helping architects to apply architectural management and improve the performance of every aspect of their businesses.

Stephen Emmitt and Mohammed Alharbi