PCM Section 3 - Confused by correct answers

Practice Management
1

The question reads: "A startup firm is interested in developing their service offerings to include design-build and construction management services.

What benefits might the firm experience by offering these new services? Check the three that apply."

One of the correct answers was “Collaboration with different kinds of designers”. Can somebody help explain this one to me? I thought having a design build service might limit the number of designers you might work with as it’s more consolidated and designed to have a clearer vision with continuity throughout the design process into construction. I don’t recall this being a clear benefit of design build or construction management. If the answer is more so it being the nature of the service, can somebody help explain how I might address/ anticipate this implicit reasoning in the real exam?

Thank you!

2

Welcome to the Black Spectacles Community @jcoats! Thanks for your question.

Good question! The intent here is less about design-build inherently involving more designers and more about the benefits of expanding the firm’s service offerings. Moving into design-build and construction management can expose the firm to new project teams, consultants, contractors, and designers it may not otherwise work with, expanding its professional network.

For the exam, pay close attention to the broader scenario being tested. In this case, service diversification is the focus. It’s also important to consider the best answer choices among those provided.

Hope this helps!

Kiara Galicinao, AIA, NCARB
Product Coordinator
Black Spectacles