The Influence of Business Development Areas on Leadership Positions Within Landscape Architecture Professional Practice

Landscape architecture is a discipline that connects natural, physical, and human sciences, and which operates as a professional design practice. While technical skills and design proficiency have historically been the focus of landscape architecture programs, the literature indicates a recognition of the indispensable role of entrepreneurial skills alongside design expertise (Marsh, 1928; Pray, 1911; Rice, 2017; Shepphard et al., 2018). However, there remains a scarcity of research specifically investigating business development skills within landscape architecture practice (Evans & Leccese, 1991; Gobster et al., 2010; Granet, 2021; Littlefield, 2015; Powers & Walker, 2009). To bridge this gap, this study engaged in interviews with 12 landscape architecture professionals holding senior leadership titles: principal, director, or partner. Their insights underscored the criticality of business development practices for firm success, emphasizing the need for employees to comprehend and engage with these skills relevant to the profession. Concurrently, landscape architecture firms must be viewed as business entities, necessitating the education and instillation of business development tools among employees and leaders for sustained success (AIA, 2003; AIALA, n.d.; Dixon et al., 2018; Marsh, 1928; Sharkey, 1991). The findings of this research show individuals aspiring to leadership roles within the landscape architecture industry should possess both technical acumen and business proficiency to enhance their value as such to firms (Mihail & Elefterie 2006; Rice, 2017; Shepphard et al., 2018). Hence, cultivating business development skills at multiple stages of career progression becomes imperative for career progression into leadership roles. Additionally, the findings underscore the significance of business development skills in shaping individual trajectories and firm development, highlighting critical areas of business development within the profession and the role they play in aspiring leaders' career advancement within the industry.