Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - (Page 18)

some of those IT duties,” Experts and out- based firm with 53 employees, outsourced she explains. The expectasourcing veterans agree many functions and double-tasked employtion of a shared workload that small firm owners ees when the firm was in its fledgling stages. is typical, especially at should take a close look But at 40 employees, it was time to hire a smaller firms. at a firm’s objectives, full-time network manager and a human Today, with 15 employcritical infrastructure, resources (HR) manager. ees and a positive ecobudgets and in-house “Our best move was to hire an HR pronomic outlook, the firm expertise before deciding fessional when we got to 40 people,” says continues to pull more to outsource. Chairman Gregg S. Ten Eyck. “We should back-office expertise inhave done that when we were 25 or 30 house while still outsourc- “We like the thirdWho Should people. It makes such a difference to have Outsource? ing other functions. a professional that knows, understands and party review of Friese credits outsourcFirms with fewer than 25 is passionate about HR matters, which in ing with providing the monthly profit/ employees are the best turn frees up our principals to work with firm with affordable exper- loss statements for candidates for outsourc- clients and staff on project matters. The tise, particularly in its security reasons; it ing functions such as consistency of our policy message has startup days. “It definitely bookkeeping, insurance improved, too.” is nice to have that costs less than a full-time and information techemployee,” she says of outside review of nology maintenance. “If What Should Be Outsourced? the practice. “As we grow, monthly operations. you have got fewer than Firms typically outsource functions that when that cost grows to It’s too easy to be too 20 people, you ought are not critical to business strategy, but match what we could pay not to have a dedicated amid a troubled economy and a rapidly close to the day-tosomeone full-time, then in-house person for any changing industry, determining what we will move that func- day operation and one of those functions,” functions should be deemed “noncritical” tion in-house. Right now, miss some larger Braley says. is difficult. though, it’s just one of the issue.” At 25 to 30 employBraley says business leaders should connecessary costs of doing GReGG S. TeN eYCK ees, Braley suggests, sider asking this question: “What business business.” it’s time to start think- are we in?” “The perennial answer is: not Leonard rice engineers, inc. Indeed, the practice of ing about part-time in the accounting or payroll business,” he outsourcing, commonly employees for specific says. “So those tasks can most easily be referred to as contracting out, noncritical jobs. “You should have someone who does outsourced.” business functions has grown in popularity not only accounting but bookkeeping, Outside experts can also help on the among small and mid-size firms. According payables, HR issues, reception and office financial side, providing a fresh pair of to the 2010 ACEC Industry Trends Survey management,” he says. eyes on billings and of Member Firms, 38 percent outsource But Braley cautions that statements for firms of payroll services, 32 percent outsource infor- keeping outside contracany size, as well as expermation technology (IT) and 16 percent tors for these functions tise in frequently changoutsource accounting services. as the company grows ing state and federal tax Though firms can save money by hiring into a mid-size or large regulations. outside contractors and eliminating the cost firm can reach a point of “We like the thirdof a full-time employee’s (FTE’s) vacation diminishing returns, and party review of monthly pay and health care, proponents say the eventually might deprive profit/loss statements benefits of outsourcing often go beyond the company of valuable for security reasons; it is traditional cost savings. Outsourcing incor- mentoring and leadership nice to have that outside porates valuable third-party perspectives opportunities. “When “Don’t just hand review of monthly operaand enables existing staff to focus on proj- you outsource, you’re lostions,” Ten Eyck says. ects that grow the business. “For the same ing the ability for some- everything over. “It’s too easy to be too cost base, a 20-person firm can dedicate one in your firm to help Really check your close to the day-to-day one more FTE to doing project work and the function grow and to references, and make operation and miss some serving clients, as opposed to that one per- mentor younger employ- sure you choose larger issue. We use our son sitting in the backroom doing payroll,” ees. You can outsource accountant about four says Scott Braley, partner at Braley Consult- the back-room stuff, but someone that you hours a month for those ing and Training in Atlanta. maintain the strategy and think is really good. services.” Also, “state Leaders at firms that don’t outsource leadership component to And check up on and federal tax regulasay keeping functions in-house and cross- continue growth in your them.” tions are always changtraining existing employees ensures every- firm,” he says. ing, and we can’t imagine KAReN FRieSe one stays busy and reduces the potential Leonard Rice Engi- K Friese and associates, inc. what it would be like to for staff layoffs. neers, Inc., a Denvertry to develop the exper18 eNGINeerING INc. November / December 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010

Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010
Contents
From ACEC to You
News and Notes
Market Watch
Legislative Action
Power Play
2010 Fall Conference Highlights
Ins and Outs
Re-energized
Business Insights
Young Professionals of the Year
Members in the News

Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010

Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 (Page Cover1)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 (Page Cover2)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - Contents (Page 1)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - From ACEC to You (Page 2)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - From ACEC to You (Page 3)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - News and Notes (Page 4)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - Market Watch (Page 5)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - Legislative Action (Page 6)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - Legislative Action (Page 7)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - Power Play (Page 8)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - Power Play (Page 9)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - Power Play (Page 10)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - Power Play (Page 11)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - 2010 Fall Conference Highlights (Page 12)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - 2010 Fall Conference Highlights (Page 13)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - 2010 Fall Conference Highlights (Page 14)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - 2010 Fall Conference Highlights (Page 15)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - Ins and Outs (Page 16)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - Ins and Outs (Page 17)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - Ins and Outs (Page 18)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - Ins and Outs (Page 19)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - Re-energized (Page 20)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - Re-energized (Page 21)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - Re-energized (Page 22)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - Re-energized (Page 23)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - Re-energized (Page 24)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - Re-energized (Page 25)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - Business Insights (Page 26)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - Business Insights (Page 27)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - Young Professionals of the Year (Page 28)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - Members in the News (Page 29)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - Members in the News (Page 30)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - Members in the News (Page 31)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - Members in the News (Page 32)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - Members in the News (Page Cover3)
Engineering Inc. - November/December 2010 - Members in the News (Page Cover4)
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