Barnes Design Group is a seven-person architectural firm in Virginia Beach that specializes in the design of churches. Gross revenues in 1999 were almost $1 million, and $15 million in construction is under way.

In 1998, Barnes invested in Architectural Desktop 2000 software. This technology allows architects to draw in three dimensions. "It’s a completely different means of drawing," explains Barnes. "It changes our whole paradigm of how we put a project together."

Barnes envisioned a gradual changeover to the new software, probably involving demo projects. "I told our employees we already had strong packages so there was no reason to make a transition immediately, particularly on a large job."

But this edict fell on some deaf ears: Project architect Bart McElfresh installed the new program and started tinkering with it on a live, $2 million project. It wasn’t just any old project: Barnes –– the boss –– had designed it and handed it over to McElfresh to produce.

"Maybe four weeks later," recalls Barnes, "I happened to ask how the project was coming and told him he should plot out what he has. I expected to get a floor plan and a couple of elevations."

What Barnes got was eight or nine printouts showing even the tiniest details, including 3-D drawings of the steeple. Barnes was curious how McElfresh had put the project together so rapidly and in such detail.

"I told him what a great job he did, and he started acting a little sheepish," recalls Barnes. "He smiled and told me he used Architectural Desktop 2000, and I said, ‘You what?!’"

Barnes’ first reaction was management-driven: McElfresh hadn’t done what he was told, and now the firm was at risk if problems arose in the software or if something happened to McElfresh. "The client still had to have this project done by the middle of January," says Barnes.

So he proposed a deal: "I told him if he completed the project before Christmas (using the new program), he could take the additional time off and earn a bonus for saving us so much. If he didn’t finish ... he’d have to work (on the original desktop design program) through the holidays and on weekends to finish the project in time for our client. I gave him the choice and he took the challenge."

McElfresh put the finished product on Barnes’ desk two days before Christmas, collected his bonus and took paid vacation. Barnes Design Group saved nearly 30 days of drafting and 200 man-hours. Everyone was happy and the firm was $5,000 better off.

One year later, the project is "40 percent through construction," say Barnes, and he’s 100 percent behind the new management ethos. "I’ve always said I was interested in individual management growth. It’s one thing to think it and another to do it. Now we stake our profits and jobs on it."

— Mike Ashley