How FOPP Gets It Done


Some of the key FOPP ingredients that make the program so effective are:

  • Working with a mentor throughout the distance-learning portion, especially in the selection and development of a meaningful research project. Click here to see FOPP 28’s Top-Ten Research Projects.
  • Required reading: Practice Management for Design and Environmental Professionals, by John Philip Bachner.
  • John Bachner’s close review of everything each FOPP participant writes, including e-mails and texts, with hard-edged commentary designed to have an impact.
  • Role-playing throughout the distance-learning portion and at the course-concluding seminar, for the dispute-resolution program in particular.
  • Engaging, expert seminar instructors.
  • Public speaking at the seminar: a five-minute self-introduction and a ten-minute research-project summary, each followed by Q&A—and critiques!

Case Study


One of the assignments requires the FOPP participant to establish a sales organization within one of the firm’s offices. A few of the initial steps: Identify four organizations that the firm would like to have as clients, research each, identify appropriate representatives of the four, research each, and contact one representative per target.

Following instructions and gaining assistance from FOPP staff, the individual who chose this assignment explained to each of the four prospective-client representatives that he was enrolled in FOPP and wanted to learn what each considered the most important traits among their various service providers, in both their personal and professional pursuits. The FOPP participant who undertook the assignment learned what was needed and, better yet, three of the four organizations became clients.

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