How Can I Share My Knowledge?
Contributions to AIA Best Practices are welcome at any time and in any form. Completed articles are preferred, but ideas and knowledge are most important. If the topic is worthwhile, we will work with you to develop even the barest outline of an idea. Suggestions for topics are also welcome.

We strongly encourage submissions by practicing professionals, allied professionals, strategic partners, and industry consultants. To encourage contributions, there are no submission forms and no submission deadlines. The only criteria are that articles consist of knowledge gained from experience, immediately applicable to a task at hand.

All Best Practices can be viewed on the Web; downloaded as an Adobe Acrobat file to save for future reference; or printed, either from the Web or from the ready-to-print PDF.

If you have developed a practice you would like to share with your colleagues or have encountered a situation in which the knowledge of others would be of value to you, write to us at bestpractices@aia.org.

Best Practices are available as downloadable PDF files.  Need Adobe Acrobat? Download now.

Part I Client

Chapter 01 Understanding Clients
Chapter 02 Clients and Change
Chapter 03 How Clients Choose Architects
Chapter 04 How Architects Choose Clients
Chapter 05 Working with Clients

Part II Business

Chapter 06 Firm Planning 
Chapter 07 Marketing and Outreach 
Chapter 08 Financial Operations
Chapter 09 Human Resources

Part III Delivery

Chapter 10 Delivery Methods and Compensation 
Chapter 11 Contracts and Agreements
Chapter 12 Risk Management
Chapter 13 Technology and Information Systems
Chapter 14 Project Management
Chapter 15 Regulation

Part IV Services

Chapter 16 Defining Services
Chapter 17 Planning-Predesign Services
Chapter 18 Design-Construction Services
Chapter 19 Operations-Maintenance Services

Part V Resources

Chapter 20 The AIA: The National Component
Chapter 21 The AIA: State Components
Chapter 22 The AIA: Local Components
Chapter 23 Resources for the Public

What Are the AIA Best Practices?
AIA Best Practices represent the collective wisdom of AIA members and related professionals. As a group, they are

• A compendium of relevant knowledge gained from experience
• Immediately applicable to a task at hand
• Distilled to their essentials
• Usable information
• Linked to related resources
• Kept relevant and up-to-date by inviting feedback from practicing professionals 

What Knowledge Is Included?
The scope of knowledge and information that can be included in AIA Best Practices is unlimited. The collective knowledge of AIA and allied members is a realm that is constantly expanding. Sources include

• The Architect's Handbook of Professional Practice
• AIArchitect articles
• Articles from Practice Management Digest and other eNewsletters of the AIA knowledge communities
• Seminar materials
• AIA continuing education and online learning programs
• AIA convention workshop presentations
• Case studies and articles sponsored by AIA knowledge communities
• Myriad other sources

In addition, AIA members and many other architectural subject matter experts possess a wealth of intellectual capital and knowledge yet to be tapped for best practices information.

How Are the AIA Best Practices Organized?

• Chapters 1 through 19 correspond to chapters in The Architect’s Handbook of Professional Practice, 13th edition.
• Chapters 20 through 22 respond to members' needs for knowledge specific to the AIA national, state, and local components.
• Chapter 23 provides architecture-related resources for the general public.

What Subject Areas Do Best Practices Cover?

• Business practices and trends
• Delivery methods
• Design
• Financial management
• Human resources management
• Innovation management
• Integrated practice
• Intern development
• International practice
• Ownership transition
• Project management
• Quality management
• Risk management
• Social responsibility management
• Strategic alliances
• Strategic planning

Other areas of interest include public outreach, community services, advocacy for the professional, and communities by design.