RMJM Architects is the global design firm behind the world's acutely leaning man-made tower: Abu Dhabi's Capital Gate. Peter Morrison, the chief executive, discusses the challenges - and his solutions - in coordinating the creative energies of more than 800 employees spread around the world.
q How do you create efficiencies when you have so many remote offices?
a The process is pretty simple: you need to be there. We're on the ground. So we spend a lot of time on planes and in airports. And we all travel to each of the regions almost continuously because we believe there is a requirement to be on the ground, to be seen to talking to clients and to be talking to our own people.
q What tools help you facilitate communication?
a I'm a big fan of any mobile technology. We're on the move the whole time. It is very irregular for us to be in any one place for any length of time. We've worked hard at making life as efficient as possible. We have video-conferencing and phone-conferencing in all the offices. We'll each be on two or three conference calls a day and, perhaps, one video conference a day. The new iPhone has the new tele-presence [FaceTime], and it's absolutely fantastic. Mobile video-conferencing capability - that's the next thing.
q What mobile devices do you use?
a I use the iPad a lot. I don't use a laptop anymore; I only use that to operate my business. Our core objective is to ensure we are as efficient as possible and save as much time as possible.
q How do you increase your own efficiency?
a The way I operate is I always try to book my flight time. I always spend two or three days a week sleeping on planes. That is a great way because you end up not wasting your day. I've had weeks where I've not actually been in hotel rooms, just been on planes to get to the right places. And that's great because at the end of the day if I can get home every weekend and see my family I feel good about that.
q Do you have any personal obsessions?
a My BlackBerry is perhaps my worst obsession. I've been known to hear my BlackBerry buzzing in the night and respond to email and phone calls in a very addictive and abnormal way that irritates my wife beyond belief. I am absolutely diabolical, I have to say. It's a compete and utter obsession.
q So what do you do for fun?
a Well, I've got three children who are 4, 5 and 6 years old. My fun largely relates to getting home and spending as much time with them as humanly possible.
* Kevin Brass
