| Plexus Consulting Group | Success Stories | ||
| Urban Land Institute - Best Practices in Association Education Programs |
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Plexus Consulting Group, LLC |
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The Urban Land Institute is a nonprofit research and education organization
supported by its members. Founded in 1936, the institute now has more
than 29,000 members worldwide representing the entire spectrum of
land use and real estate development disciplines, working in private
enterprise and public service. The Challenge | The Solution | The Process | Unforseen Benefits | Measurements & Results | Lessons Learned
To professionalize real estate development and create a forum for developers to interact and learn. In 1936, the Urban Land Institute was created to respond to the need
to weave a community around the emerging real estate development industry
that would share knowledge and facilitate developers’ access to information.
As universities and other educational institutions lacked the incentive
and motivation to be such a source of knowledge and education for
the real estate development community, the founders of ULI took it
upon themselves to create such an institution. The solution was to organize developers and create the opportunity for them to share their experiences and learn from each other. Real estate development, despite being a locally focused industry, follows certain fundamental principles that do not change from place to place. Engaging the people involved in all sectors of real estate and creating a space for them to share their ideas, their experiences and their mistakes, allows them to showcase their talent, experiences and ability, and thus spread information. All people present have the opportunity to ask questions, receive detailed information and draw conclusions from first-hand experience, in addition to the more traditional delivery methods of textbooks and instructors.
ULI members initially organized themselves in groups of approximately 50 people called “councils.” Organized by product sector, members are appointed to the group and serve up to five years. Each council includes a cross-section of professionals from diverse backgrounds. These groups change very little and meet twice yearly to create and maintain a feeling of trust and intimacy between the members in the groups. This also allows the members themselves to control the agenda, rather than having the organization do it. Council members discuss their professional experiences, problems, ask questions, organize real estate-related activities, etc., at their own pace and according to their desires and needs. ULI also documents best practices in a variety of ways for maximum distribution. Methods include books, magazines, internet-based services, workshops, etc. Advisory services are also offered: experienced members volunteer to work on multi-disciplinary teams tackling specific land use problems. Clients cover costs, but pro bono members consistently claim that they learn more from the experience than what they give. ULI’s continuing education workshops provide a source of structure
and theory for members; people who attend the workshops already have
hands-on experience of real estate development, but they often lack
a theoretical frame of reference. ULI creates the opportunities, but
everything is left in the hands of the members. Due to the collaborative
nature of real estate development, members already possess the incentive
and desire to participate, which makes the learning experience more
genuine and reciprocal. Measurements & Results • ULI membership, workshop attendance, and publication sales have
doubled in the last five years. “Sharing mistakes made, lessons learned. “ It is possible to attach people to non-profits without lobbying activities. By trying to be a problem-solver within the real estate development community rather than a political agent, the organization involves all people concerned with issues pertaining to real estate development rather than taking sides in the political game. Also, it is important to acknowledge how adults really learn; they
do not want to be taught by instructors, who tend to have their own
approach and biases. Rather, they prefer to learn from others who
are faced with similar problems as their own, are knowledgeable about
the industry and are not trying to push an agenda or prove themselves
as good teachers. “ULI’s education is not about teaching, it is about
learning; it is not about staff, it is about members.”
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