What is office management?

Office management means organizing and managing the environment and the people of the workplace
may it be planning, designing or setting house rules that every employee could follow for a harmonious work and
efficiency.It also includes making sure and being clear about the responsibilities and task, guiding and having
good communication. The success of these activities helps in the company’s success as well. It also includes
involves having maintenance and making sure that the resources are available as well as the employees are
trained.With office management it will be easier to identify what approach may be effective for the productivity of
every individual and considering what needs more improvement to deliver efficiently the work and impose good
records with clients that will help the company gain more projects.
Just like in other field, office management in architecture is also an important part of establishing a firm
and a name in the industry. In architectural practice which ranges in various services , in terms of management can
fall office management and in construction management. With the complexity and expanded role of architects in
nation building, creating first an organize and well managed team with expertise to be able to design and build in
accordance to function and aesthetics. Team or members with proper education and skills technically, socially and
financial to contractual.In architectural office management it is important to impose managerial knowledge, to
make sure everyone is prepared for their individual task with proper assistance from those seniors. Making sure
that every part/job from researches to preparation of documents that members are supervised and monitored with
proper communication to solve problems and come up with solutions and quality of designs and work.Nd lastly, It
is important to practice as well positive architect and members relationship with clients to make up a team with
common goals.

What are the responsibilities of an office manager?

An office manager responsibilities in architectural practice includes :

Responsibility in Operations and Communication services
Responsibilities in Coordination of Human Resources
 Responsibilities in Payroll department

Responsibility in Operations and Communication services

As the office manager, scope of work and responsibility includes coordinating with clients or inquiries
that came, providing them quality service and warmth hospitality .As well as providing information regarding their
inquiry, contact details, mails and directions if necessary. The will also be the one to check for architectural and office
supplies.

Responsibilities in Coordination of Human Resources

As the office manager, scope of work and responsibility includes coordinating having meeting with
the Head or Seniors in the firm to identify and set their qualification measures in hiring new employees or
firm members. In connection with these means working with employment agencies and Coordinating with job
application, candidates, their processes. Maintaining the employees, work files and data and the benefits in
contracts.

Responsibilities in Payroll department

As the office manager, scope of work and responsibility includes processing the maintaining status
and reports in payments. Including reports the firm needed. Reporst and monitoring of employees performances.

An office manager should be highly organized and able to effectively manage multiple projects and
responsibilities simultaneously

What is project management?

Architectural Management means management and monitoring of activities including construction

process. Even time/period or scheduled and control of time, cost and quantity of of materials needed. During project
management the task focuses on completing projects in accordance with your contract, preparing you to budget,
coordinate, supervise, and carry out a project.
Architectural project's design and construction is the responsibility of an architectural project manager.The
link between the architect or company and construction workers as an architectural project manager.It’s the
responsibility to ensure that the structure conforms to the architect's vision.You keep track of every stage of the
building process and frequently discuss the progress of the project, including the budget, schedule, and contractor
hiring, with the architect, the site project manager, and other construction professionals. The project manager can be
architect if the firm covers the design and build or can be an individual or firm . Project management is a crucial part
that includes coordination and communication among the architect, client and allied services to be able to transform a
program and design into a building.

What must be the traits and abilities of a project manager?

A project manager must be:

Skilled and imposes constructive criticism towards team members
Highly organized and determined in making schedules, plans for cost and time control of the project
Have strong and good communication skills to be able to coordinate to everyone that is part of the project and
to carry out concerns/problems and be able to provide immediate and appropriate actions or solutions helpful for
project completion
Proficient in using software or digital programs to easily plan for project managements
Knowledgeable or experienced in materials and cost estimates
Able to handle multiple project s or task to carry out
Skills in using Microsoft Programs/software
Able to handle or manage people and manage time and to handle pressure of workloads
Familiar to building codes and construction processes

What is small-scale project management?]

Small-scale project management means project management in small scale projects may it be a micro-
business or projects involving small task. It may also include those that only need small number of people to
work, small budget allocations in managing the the project and delivering it as a building. In this there should be a
balance between time and cost of materials and work however it must be done efficiently and effectively the same
as large scale projects

Define project team, project operation and project control.

Project team
 These are the member, people and professionals that have distinct but important role in making the project.
It includes the owner, Architect/Firm, contractor,Engineers/Allied services and project manager.

Project operation
It is defined as the phase, activities or stages where the project undergo as it continues to be developed and
eventually be built. Project operation includes :

Pre -Design
Schematic Design
Design Development
Construction Documents
Bidding or Negotiation
Construction

Project Control
Project control are activities or methods used to be able to comply with schedule of project
completion.Wherein decision-making are necessary and help to manage risk, with project control it can be
concluded to find ways to complete the project. This also mean seeing and making sure that the budget, work
loads , time or schedule are still inline with the plan prepared.In order to keep costs and schedules on track, project
controls are procedures for gathering and analyzing project data.Initiating, planning, monitoring, and controlling
project costs and schedules are all functions of project controls. They also communicate and close the project.In the
end, project controls are repeatable procedures for determining the status of the project, forecasting the likely
outcomes based on those measurements, and then enhancing the performance of the project in the event that those
projected outcomes are unsatisfactory.

Activities under the umbrella of project controls may include:

 Aligning projects with portfolio/organization goals and objectives

 Developing a work-breakdown structure (WBS)
 Collaborating on initial project schedules
 Developing a risk management plan
 Project budgeting and forecasting
 Monitoring project costs
 Feedback and reporting
 Optimizing project strategies to enable better outcomes in the future

What are the effective project team characteristics?

Team characteristics should include having :

Mutual respect to every team member/ worker and professionals

Having shared goals and objectives for the project
Communication to each and everyone
Skills and knowledge on specific aligned work
Positive attitude and constructive criticism towards work and project
Clear roles and functions in the project
Leadership
Being open for collaboration and sharing knowledge

REFERENCES:
https://resources.owllabs.com/blog/office-management
https://acumen.architecture.com.au/practice/office-administration/
https://www.livecareer.com/job-description/examples/architecture/manager#:~:text=Architectural%20managers
%20are%20responsible%20for,the%20scope%20of%20each%20project
https://trahanarchitects.com/careers/office-manager/
https://www.4cornerresources.com/job-descriptions/architectural-project-manager/#:~:text=Architectural%20project
%20managers%20oversee%20the,all%20safety%20and%20environmental%20standards.
https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/rtf-fresh-perspectives/a1001-project-management-for-architects-a-necessity-or-
just-career-option/
https://www.4cornerresources.com/job-descriptions/architectural-project-manager/#:~:text=Architectural%20project
%20managers%20oversee%20the,all%20safety%20and%20environmental%20standards.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small-scale_project_management
https://www.buildings.com/home/article/10193363/building-the-perfect-project-team
https://wc-studio.com/journal/2019/7/5/working-with-an-architect-understanding-phases-of-design-construction
http://philarchitecturenotes.weebly.com/spp-202-design-services.html
https://www.ecosys.net/knowledge/what-is-project-controls/