The purpose of the business project

Business project management is increasingly becoming the standard way of doing business.

The complexity of the products has necessitated the integration of incompatible technologies. And in order to solve this problem project management turned out to be very necessary and timely.

The development of small business in our country has led to the creation a large number small organizations that are constantly changing. Therefore, now it is extremely rare for a large business project to be carried out by one organization.

Implementation of project management on Russian enterprises goes very hard. One of the main reasons is the lack of qualified personnel. Our businesses tend to be run by strong leaders who are used to making decisions on their own and are unwilling to share their authority and make the necessary changes.

But one must understand that global business projects cannot be effectively implemented with the traditional vertical management model - a multi-level management system is needed, in which many people are involved. structural units companies.

Today, a new type of managers - leaders is being formed in our country. design companies dedicated to solving complex problems. Be that as it may, domestic business is entering a new, international level of development. Companies are actively modernizing and developing large-scale business projects. Therefore, they cannot do without special business technologies, including project management systems that allow solving complex production problems.

Types of business projects

A business project is an event limited in time, budget, and resources. We list the main types of business projects:

1. Business projects, the implementation of which should be carried out in a remote area, subject to the influence of factors remote from the main contractor's enterprise.

For example, construction business projects, they are associated with special risks and problems in the field of organization and communication.

2. industrial business projects, the implementation of which is carried out directly on the territory of the organization. This may be the development of a new product (service) or the manufacture of parts. When implementing such a business project, the company can manage on the spot and provide optimal conditions.

3. Management business projects, the need for which is always in any organization. This is

• development of a new report;
• opening a branch;
• introduction of a computer program;
• measure to reduce costs;
• trade show
• etc.

Features of business projects

Until recently, a business project was understood as a set of drawings with accompanying documentation. Now the features of business projects include:

• specific goal
• start and finish times,
• financial, personnel and other restrictions,
• the uniqueness of the business project,
• special requirements for time, cost and quality of work,
• specific project management with the involvement of specialists.

The main difference between the purpose of a business project is that it must necessarily be characterized by three main indicators: time, costs and quality. Final result business project must be consistent with the purpose for which it was conceived. The business project must be completed on time or ahead of schedule, carried out without exceeding the approved funds, in accordance with the ISO 9000 quality standard.

To account for costs, taking into account the time factor, it is useful to form the cost using the direct costing method.

There are also possible staffing restrictions for a business project, since it is necessary to involve highly qualified specialists in the management and implementation of a business project, but on temporary terms.

A business project is never the same and always includes some elements with varying degrees uniqueness. It may be something that has never been done before, which means that it requires solving new problems and the emergence of completely new technologies. But it can also be basic business projects, such as construction projects, but requiring to some extent customization for the customer, which also makes them unique.

7 signs of business project management

Business project management is also different from the traditional one. For example, there are so-called "Seven Pros" - 7 hallmarks of management, business project management.

In the German version they are defined as follows:

• 1. Orientation to problems, that is, business projects solve problems.
• 2. Professionalism - the need for professional competence.
• 3.Projects refer to the future, that is, projects need to be planned.
• 4. The preventive nature of projects, that is, projects require an orientation towards interdisciplinarity and communication.
• 5. The productivity of projects, that is, projects should be evaluated according to the results achieved.
• 6. Uniqueness of projects - projects are one of a kind.
• 7.Projects are pro-humanitarian, that is, work in projects for the most part is work in a team free from hierarchy, which is done by people and for people.

Your first million.

Today in Russia, if you really want to earn money, it is to earn money, and not to indulge yourself with illusions about the “money fall” while lying on the bed, or sitting at the computer, it is possible only in the area that is in demand. The question immediately arises: what is relevant today? Where and how - you ask. I will say right away: I don’t think that you can earn enough money (well, everyone has their own “ceiling”, and the concept of “money” too) selling ice cream (if you don’t have your own factory for its production, otherwise it’s not a business, but just resale), the organization of "hotels" for pets, the organization of various dubious (in terms of payback) "productions", such as the production of candles, calendars, etc. We will aim at the leading area in terms of production: Construction! So, to business!

Design firm.
Conditions: You have a computer, Internet access, Email, You know what Word and Excel are, you know how to speak technically competently. The latter is necessary, since, after all, you can hire a hungry student of a technical university, preferably a builder. At this preparatory period ends, let's get to work!

Now we need a Customer! I won’t say that it’s easy to find the Customer, but you can find him if you wish. There are several ways, here is one of them: go to the public procurement website and see who won this or that tender (auction) for design. Do not be afraid of numbers with many zeros! You haven't grown up to them yet! Look for within 2-3 million rubles. Find a few firms that have won a particular design tender. Now you need to call them and offer your services as a subcontractor for a symbolic cost, while telling and describing what orders you have completed and what you can do. Believe - you can EVERYTHING! (but more on that later).

The fact is that not all design firms have a full staff, and there is a situation that there is no one to do any section of the project documentation, that is, there is no specialist. And you have to look for a specialist on the side. This is where you come in with your proposal. After discussing all the issues with the General Contractor, namely: which section is given to you, the deadlines, discussing working moments, such as registration, etc.

You leave to do your job. It should be noted that government orders for design are usually laid out in early spring or winter, rarely in autumn. This is done so that the company that undertook to make the project could complete the work by the beginning of the construction season, that is, by the summer.

Not the fact that you will find a company that will give you an order right away. In this case, there is a second option to find a job: in any locality, under the administration there is a department of architecture. You have a direct path there. Usually civil servants, who are forbidden to have side earnings, open a “home firm” at their department. Most likely, your administration also has such a company.

There is a lot of design work in the architecture department, believe me! This is how it turns out that they give the work to themselves, do it in work time and have a good income. But here's the problem: not all jobs can be handled. Well, since you can do everything (more on this in the second step, I will explain why you can do everything), then go ahead!

The third option is to find an order, already requires small investments. Place ads in printed publications that you provide services for the design of residential buildings. A small digression: by law, any design organization is required to have membership in an SRO (this is something like a license to carry out a certain type of work), but there is a small loophole with which this law can be circumvented. The fact is that during the construction of buildings (private houses for example) with a height of up to three floors inclusive, project documentation as such is not required. That is, it is not subject to special verification.
With the help of this loophole, we will design houses for individuals, for cash. True, in this case, you will still have to fork out for an A3 printer (about 11 thousand rubles) for printing finished projects. So, using all three ways to find customers, you can find a job. Well, now directly to the performance of the work, using the example of what you were given to earn on a subcontract.

We pass to the second stage. At the second stage, you go to the Internet, look for forums on our topics, register on these forums and post an ad for freelancers. Believe me: the offers will not keep you waiting long.
On the first day there will be several applications. You negotiate the conditions under which they agree to work, choose the most beneficial for you, issue the TOR received from the General Contractor and wait. Depending on the amount of work, the terms are up to a week, especially if the section is quite large, then there are preliminary sketches that require coordination with the General Contractor.
Your freelancer will send you intermediate versions of the work, you show these results and agree with your customer. It is not necessary to issue the results of the work, albeit preliminary ones, in the AutoCAD file format. Ask for them to be sent to you in pdf format. So it will be calmer for both your mercenary and you.

Well, the job is finally done. You are paid, you in turn pay your virtual worker. Usually, depending on the object and the amount of work performed (the number of completed sections), the amount that remains in the bottom line can reach 100-150 thousand rubles. This is only from one object, and who prevents to conduct another object in parallel?! Over time, having gained experience, and having already opened your own company with a current account, you will be able to take the General Contract yourself, but that's another story.

Gone are the days when engineers got a penny. Today wage most of them is quite decent, but still, over time, many engineers plan to open their own design organization. It should be noted right away that such a business is quite troublesome and costly, however, if you make some kind of effort, you can earn very good money. Maintaining a design organization is a very complex process, and you must first develop a competent business plan for such a company, in which everything must be taken into account.

Direction of the company

First of all, you need to decide what the specialization of the company will be. To do this, you must first determine the types design work to be performed by companies. It should be taken into account that design is a type of business that requires licensing. If we talk about the specialization of the company, then it can be different, but the most popular are organizations that are engaged in work related to oil. When compiling a business plan, you need to focus all efforts in order to study the specialization of your competitors.

What types of work can be carried out by a design organization that has the appropriate license? For such a firm, the following types works:

• engineering surveys and quality control of construction works;
• design in the field of construction (construction objects can be very different: residential buildings, offices and much more);
• design in the field of architecture;
• technological design.

After the direction of the company's activity is chosen and the license is obtained, you can start searching for a suitable premises. It should be noted that such a room does not have to be located in the city center, it can be rented in one of the major residential areas of the city.

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Recruitment for a design organization

In order for the design organization to work with maximum efficiency, it is necessary to recruit personnel who have the proper qualifications. It should be noted that very high requirements must be imposed on employees who are hired by such an organization.

It is necessary to find a chief engineer, chief architect, specialists in the section of projects. All applicants must have a higher specialized education, relevant work experience in their specialty (it is recommended to hire employees whose work experience exceeds 10 years, if management employees are hired, then their work experience should be at least 5 years in managerial positions).

When a chief architect is hired, it should be borne in mind that he must have a license issued by the Union of Architects. Before specialists start working, they must undergo pre-licensing training, which must be confirmed by a qualification certificate.

When selecting premises for an engineering firm, it must be borne in mind that it must have sufficient area, accommodate all departments, for this it may be necessary to carry out redevelopment and certain works. When a business plan is drawn up for a design organization, it is necessary to purchase special equipment. If there is an opportunity, it is bought; if there is no such opportunity, then necessary equipment can be rented.

In order for the office to function normally, it is necessary to purchase the appropriate equipment: a copier, fax, printer, furniture, stationery. It is necessary to organize an information and technical base, for this you need to collect all the documents and special literature.

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Promotion of the design organization

Advertising of such an organization on the Internet gives a very good effect, only it needs to be placed on sites of the relevant subject, then it gives the desired effect. It should be noted that word of mouth and recommendations have a very big effect in such a business, therefore, it is necessary to provide services for the first clients with high quality, then there will be no doubt that they will tell their friends about the company’s activities and they will definitely go to a new company.

When a business plan is being drawn up for such a company, it must be borne in mind that there is very fierce competition in this area. Therefore, every effort should be made to prove potential clients that the services provided by the new company are absolutely not inferior in quality to their competitors.

It should be noted that the most main factor, by which customers will be guided, are the prices for services. Therefore, when carried out marketing research, you should definitely know pricing policy its competitors and establish more low prices. It's not the most in the best way will affect profits, but the number of customers will be large and, as a result, new firm can earn a very good income.

Opening a design company is a rather expensive business, so every effort must be made to find investors. You can use own capital, but large quantity start-up entrepreneurs do not have the necessary funds. It is very good if you manage to agree on the following conditions: investors finance the project in exchange for a certain share of the profits. This type of partnership is beneficial for both parties.

Design is a complex and multifaceted task that requires high qualifications and special equipment. How are the companies represented on this market? How much money does this job bring in? On these and other topics, we talked with Alexei Shchukin, director of Region LLC, whose projects are implemented throughout Russia.

One line:

• Company name: LLC "Region"
• Region of registration and work: registered in St. Petersburg, operates throughout Russia
• Direction of activity: Design of buildings and structures, including treatment facilities water supply and sanitation, engineering networks.
• Launch date: 2012
• Approximate investment amount: 2,000,000 rubles
• Number of employees: 13 people
• Head: Schukin Alexey Vladimirovich
• Life credo: Work for the result

Interview

Hello Alexey! What is your firm doing?

Good afternoon! Our company is engaged in the design of buildings and structures, including water supply and sewerage treatment facilities, engineering networks.

We implement the full cycle of the project: from data collection to support during commissioning. In this regard, the company performs all related work: pre-project survey and measurements of reconstructed objects, engineering surveys, conceptual architectural modeling, so that the customer can see on paper what he has in mind.

What services do you provide to clients?

Our experts design everything that can be built. At the moment, the main projects that we have implemented and are proud of are water supply and sanitation facilities, as well as engineering networks. On the other hand, among the successfully completed orders are tasks for the development of warehouses, sports centers, a children's health camp and other facilities.

Alexey, tell us how your business was created? What were you doing before registering your own company?

Previously, I worked as an employee in various design organizations. Actually, I started out as a draftsman, and first I climbed up the career ladder to the chief specialist of the construction department of the profile design institute. Then I wanted new heights, and I went to the Chief Project Engineer in a private company. Well, then a colleague called me to develop a project direction in a large construction company.

To improve business processes, design was separated into a separate organization. Knowing my zeal and pressure, the owners of the company gave me full carte blanche, and now the company is completely in my hands. I not only coordinate the current work, but also carry out strategic planning, development of the organization.

What are the features for opening a design company? Is special education, licenses required?

Indeed, creating such a business is more difficult than opening an ordinary one. outlet or copy someone else's franchise concept. SRO approval required ( self-regulatory organization) to design work that affects the safety of buildings and structures. At the moment, we have 4 such tolerances, which can be found directly on the site:
http://dc-region.ru/licenzii

Tell us how your business has developed? What difficulties did you face?

Indeed, business is developing in leaps and bounds, which is due to the peculiarities of our market. It all started very optimistically, the main customer was actively growing, and the volume of his tasks was growing. However, now the partners are having some difficulties, and this has had a certain impact on us. But over the course of several months, we managed to get out of a difficult situation and take a serious position in the market. First of all, this is due to the high level of qualification that our team possesses.

In your opinion, what qualities should a head of a design company have?

In my opinion, this is a symbiosis of skills related to management and understanding of what the staff is doing. First, there are high professional quality, that is, a wide range of specialties. The leader must know everything and try everything. Secondly, it is the ability to assemble a team capable of performing assigned tasks. Thirdly, stress resistance, since many complex and ambiguous situations arise during work. Finally, another important quality is the ability to see the entire project as a whole and instantly break it down into subtasks and find pitfalls.

Alexey, how much money did it take to start a business?

Investments amounted to about 2,000,000 rubles, which went to the organization of the work process, the purchase of equipment, etc.

How many employees do you need to run a successful company?

This is a rhetorical question, since it depends on the number of current tasks. For example, a complete project consists of at least 12-25 sections, each of which requires at least one specialist. The staff of my company mainly consists of leading specialists and project managers, and for a specific task we assemble an “implementation group”. It can consist of both my employees and involved persons.

What legal form did you choose and why? What system of taxation is suitable for work? Were there any difficulties in registering a company (interaction with government bodies etc.)?

We have chosen such an organizational and legal form as "Limited Liability Company", as it is easy to register. We work with VAT, since under the simplified taxation system it is unprofitable for many builders to cooperate, and there are restrictions on the volume working capital. There were no difficulties with registration: it seems to me that starting your own company from the technical side is now easier than ever before.

How quickly did the investment pay off? Do you have to invest in the development of the company now? Do you send your employees to advanced training courses?

As I noted, the start of the business was very vigorous, so it was possible to return the invested funds quite quickly. Now I have plans to send my employees to advanced training courses. Personnel must be grown and trained - this is my conviction. A rare university is able to provide a specialist who will understand what he will have to work with. But now the task number 1 is to reach a steady growth, to ensure a significant level of free funds, which will allow you to dispose of them at your discretion.

Alexei, is it difficult to find an employee for permanent job?

This question always causes a storm of emotions: it is very difficult to find a specialist, there are few intelligent people, students immediately leave the walls of alma matter with the appetites of the main specialist. Unfortunately, the institute's training is very weak, and we need to improve the level of the new master.

How long does it take to train a good specialist?

To grow a more or less worthy worker, you need from 1 to 3 years. However, by this time, the quality criteria will rise, because the concept of a “good specialist” is very philosophical, there is no limit to perfection. At the same time, the speed of preparation strongly depends on how much a person wants to grow and what he is ready to do for his advancement.

Are they ready to handle the tasks immediately after university, or do they need additional training?

My opinion is that not a single student after university is ready to do the amount of work that an experienced master does. Another problem is the lack of initiative and readiness among specialists to make responsible decisions. Therefore, additional training allows you to rebuild on new tracks related to real activities.

Alexey, tell us about the features of the business in the field of design. How tough is the competition?

At the moment, competition is very tough, the market is characterized by unstable prices and a wide range of service costs. Construction and design depends on many factors, ranging from the general economic situation in the country to local conditions. Looking at the market public procurement or open tenders, then the price drop in some cases may not even be 50%, but up to 70%! In my opinion, the issue of the procurement system is a separate issue. You can compete with similar organizations only when your company offers a quality product to the customer.

What kind competitive advantages Are you using to win a client?

In my opinion, this is the level of qualification: still at the stage of preparation commercial offer it is necessary to make it clear to the customer that it is we who will provide the required result. Everyone likes when someone else does all the important things for him - that's exactly what we do. The water supply and sewerage system, like other areas of design, is a complex engineering and environmental area in which very few specialists remain. Now it requires both economic knowledge and skills in order to attract investment in this area.

Who do you work with - individuals or legal entities?

We mainly work with corporate clients, among which - developers, builders, production. I can single out municipalities and administrations of cities and settlements as a separate line. Several times we designed cottages for individuals Therefore, this category of customers is also important to us.

How many projects has your company completed? Are there any achievements that you are proud of?

During our work, we have completed dozens of projects, the most interesting and significant among them:

• Reconstruction of the equalizer tank of the sludge disposal shop of the PBO OJSC Arkhangelsk PPM, Novodvinsk;
• Reconstruction of water treatment facilities in Kingisepp up to 40,000 cubic meters liquids per day;
• Development of sewage treatment facilities with a capacity of 2,500 cubic meters per day with a concentrated discharge into the Primorskaya Bay of the Kaliningrad Bay.

How to increase the company's earnings - work with a narrow circle of regular customers or constantly look for new customers?

Each company independently chooses a model for itself, however, in my opinion, it is necessary to constantly be on the lookout for new customers. After all, they evaluate the company objectively and independently, rightly pointing out certain shortcomings. At the same time, you must always be loyal to regular customers and implement projects of any size for a regular customer, both large and very small.

Alexey, how many projects are your employees able to prepare in a month (per year)? Is there a seasonality when taking orders?

As I noted, the management system and the level of training of our team allows us to implement projects of various sizes, including large and ambitious tasks. Due to the full range of works, from the collection of initial data, inspection, engineering surveys to project support at all stages (including commissioning), we optimize the customer's costs. That is why our company is ready to provide a competitive price with a high level of quality and consolidated responsibility for the result. I also note that there is no seasonality in the work.

How do you attract new clients? What advertising sources are currently the most effective?

It is too early to talk about the effectiveness of advertising, but the main sources are old contacts. We constantly participate in exhibitions to establish contacts and connections, and put a strong emphasis on promotion through the Internet. However, advertising of services related to design is very specific, because it is not retail, where hundreds of units of goods can be sold per day.

Do you work mainly with companies from your region, or are you ready to fulfill orders for remote clients as well?

Our company is not tied to any particular city, we strive to cover the widest possible market. At the moment LLC "Region" operates throughout Russia, there are facilities in the Far East and Kaliningrad.

Are electronic contracts used for business?

This form work is not entirely suitable for us, since a lot of money is at stake. Therefore, we prefer not to take risks, we use traditional means of conducting contractual work.

Do you want to carry out contracts directly via the Internet (win tenders at competitive sites), or do you think that design requires personal contact with customers?

Indeed, we have experience remote work, and personally I think it's a pretty progressive way of collaborating. At the moment we have the entire base - this is server equipment, a secure channel for transmitting information, directories for online data exchange are organized. Modern means communications make it possible to replace personal contact, but some stages of work (for example, architectural supervision) still require the personal presence of some employees.

What, in your opinion, allowed you to gain a foothold in the market and expand your activities? What will your business not work without?

As I said, this high qualification, focus on results, the ability to make decisions and achieve their goals. Clients like employees who know how to solve problems, not create them, and we are one of those people.

If you were creating new business right now, what aspects would you pay attention to?

Experience allows me to look somewhat wider than before. Therefore, from the very beginning, I would bet on the development of relations, the search for new customers, effective advertising. In addition, it is very important to establish partnerships with market participants. If you do not take care of all this from the very beginning, you can lose a lot, which no one wants.

What is better - to be an excellent specialist and receive good salary, or become an entrepreneur and work only for yourself?

Everyone has their own path, and what works for one person may not work for another. In Russia, the institution of entrepreneurship itself is still very poorly developed, although the legislative framework available for this. And in the field of design, work is becoming more and more difficult, at competitions big role plays qualification and track record.

What are your company's development plans?

Personally, I am never going to stop there and always strive to move forward. And now the plans are grandiose, because I am a fan of my business, but I am used to working consistently. Now we will straighten out our position in the market and take a course for development, first in the areas of design (and there are an infinite number of them), and then we will go into construction work.

The services of architects are currently in high demand. Despite this fact, the market continues to be in dire need of them.

The situation in which demand far exceeds supply indicates only one thing: many specialists need to take on the business plan of an architectural bureau and develop it, since this promising and sought-after occupation can bring considerable income.

In the coming years, this area will be actively expanded. And this is due to the construction boom in all Russian regions. A similar trend was reflected in the ready-made business market.

In order to properly organize your own business, you first need to draw up a business plan for an architectural bureau, carefully analyzing the range of all proposed services. The wider the range of work performed, the more requests from customers can be expected, of course, provided that only qualified specialists will deal with them. But this is not the only criterion for future success.

The easiest way to start developing a business such as an architectural design bureau is for professionals who are familiar with this type of activity firsthand. Equally important is experience with skills, as well as a good reputation and the existence of an already established customer base.

The architectural and urban planning bureau must be registered as entity. This must be done in order to obtain the appropriate license allowing for design, repair, as well as finishing or construction work.

Before opening a design organization from scratch, it is necessary to draw up a business plan for an architectural bureau.

If the manager is a professional engineer and he already has a license for individual activity, you don't need to get another permission for the organization he created.

Business specifics

Basically, the architectural bureau offers its clients the following services:

Design project with accompanying documentation;

Development draft proposal, which includes the style concept of the interior;

Project documentation and engineering drawings;

Coordination of redevelopment in the relevant authorities with subsequent changes in plans;

Completion of the object with furniture and various finishing materials.

As a rule, the bulk of clients come to an architectural and design bureau with an order to develop an interior design for their property, in the future choosing services such as coordination, construction and architectural supervision.

The business plan of the architectural bureau involves a separate payment for each of the activities.

Today, standard prices have already been formed in companies that work with residential real estate. For example, the development of the entire interior in an apartment today costs about fifty conventional units for each square meter, a design project - about two hundred, and you will have to pay about a thousand USD for architectural supervision. e. per month.

Income

Those who are interested in the question of how to open an engineering firm are probably also concerned about profitability this business. I must say that experts estimate the profitability of this type of activity, as a rule, at two hundred percent, and in some cases even several times more.

In this case, we are talking specifically about the work of architects and designers. In addition, for those who know how to open a design office, additional income comes from working with building materials, which is formed due to a thirty percent trade margin on the wholesale price or through intermediary profits received directly from sellers whose goods the company recommends to its customers.

Implementation repair work also applies to sufficient profitable areas this business. Most architectural and design bureaus have at their disposal several partner construction teams, from which certain remuneration is transferred to them for mediation.

An equally profitable direction of this business is the complete provision of the client with various exclusive items for design, which are bought from famous artists or created by employees.

Required documents

As a rule, the secrets of how to open a design organization from scratch are primarily known to professionals who already have a good reputation in this business area and have gathered an impressive circle of regular customers. the federal law, which regulates architectural activity in the Russian Federation, clearly regulates all issues related to the development of engineering projects.

He also defines legal aspects for the work of architects. Legal organization, carrying out such activities, must have an appropriate license, giving the right to carry out both design and repair and construction work.

The applicant for this permit must meet all established by law criteria. An important role in this is played by the qualifications of the staff of specialists, as well as their production experience. Each organization, in accordance with the regulation on conducting ongoing supervision, during the validity period of the license, is repeatedly inspected by the relevant authority issuing this permit. These are the State Foreign Department Expertise, the State Architectural Supervision Authority and the State Housing Inspectorate.

Company office

As a rule, before opening an engineering firm, you need to rent at least a small office area of ​​​​up to one hundred square meters, which has a separate entrance and preferably located in one of the prestigious areas. Naturally, the room should be very bright. The office will need to be equipped with furniture and modern computer technology that meets the needs of the business.