Grassroots Leadership Conference participants expressed their opinions on six topics—architecture education, financial realignment, the profession, communications, knowledge, and membership—during the annual Issues Forum, March 10, in Washington, D.C. Now it’s your turn. Please respond to the following seven questions about the fifth topic: knowledge. AIArchitect will run polls of the other topics, tally the results, and share them in our convention issue, May 9. See also readers’ comments from past polls (right).

Knowledge

1. From your perspective as an architect, what do you most need to know to become successful?
Practice/project management
Design
Construction technology
Leadership
Business skills

2. From the client and community point of view, what does an architect most need to know to become successful?
Practice/project management
Design
Construction technology
Leadership
Business skills

3. To which of the current priority areas should the AIA give more focus?
Scholarly research
Best practices
Programs developed for and delivered by AIA components
Topic- or market-specific knowledge communities (“PIAs”)

4. What would be most effective in demonstrating the value of architects to clients and the public?
Research demonstrating the impact of design
National recognition through awards programs
Opportunities for knowledge-sharing among architects and clients about specific building types

5. On which of the following topics do AIA members need the greatest amount of additional knowledge?
Sustainability
Livable communities
Security

6. What is the most significant obstacle in creating and sharing knowledge within the profession?
Limited time/money to participate
An attitude of not sharing professional knowledge
Matching knowledge needs to available resources
Sense of maintaining a competitive edge

7. Architects could improve their perceived value by clients and the public if they were able to quantifiably prove the value of design.
Strongly agree
Agree
No opinion
Disagree
Strongly disagree.