185: ‘Radical Transparency’, with Robert Yuen
A conversation with Robert Yuen about exploring radical transparency in architecture, understanding financial metrics, and fostering a culture of accountability and growth, while addressing the need for informed decision-making in the AEC industry.
Robert Yuen joins the podcast to talk about data integrity, the evolving business of architecture, and why “radical transparency” is something the AEC industry must adopt and incorporate. In this conversation, we examine the problems with traditional industry benchmarking, the risks of making decisions based on flawed data, and how Monograph’s new Benchmark Report is reshaping how firms understand performance. Robert shares how real-time, anonymized data is being used to empower teams, improve financial literacy, and shift firm culture toward accountability and alignment. He also discusses how transparency must become the new standard if the profession is to move forward—offering a clear and compelling vision for what sustainable, profitable practice can look like.
Episode links:
Connect with the Guest
Books and Philosophies
- Radical Candor by Kim Scott
- Amazon Link
- A framework for caring personally while challenging directly—parallels Robert Yuen’s approach to radical transparency within firms.
- Patrick Lencioni’s The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
- Wikipedia Overview
- Amazon Link
- Helps explain organizational behavior and why transparency and alignment are critical to high performance.
- Reinventing Organizations by Frederic Laloux
- Official Site
- Amazon Link
- Offers insights into purpose-driven, transparent organizational models—relevant to Monograph’s cultural goals.
Practice Operations and Business Modeling
- Monograph Benchmark Report
- Download the Report
- The focus of the episode—real, anonymized data from architectural firms on revenue per employee, utilization rates, and payment duration.
- Resources by Monograph
- Learning Center
- Learn how to improve the business side of architecture through streamlined processes and better data visibility.
Financial Literacy and Firm Strategy
- Understanding Revenue Per Employee Metrics
- Investopedia: Revenue Per Employee
- A key metric discussed in the episode for benchmarking firm performance.
- Daniel Kahneman’s Thinking, Fast and Slow
- Wikipedia Overview
- Amazon Link
- Understand cognitive bias in decision-making, particularly relevant to financial and strategic operations.
Transparency, Culture, and Leadership
- Buffer’s Open Salary and Transparency Model
- Buffer Transparency Dashboard
- A real-world case study on radical transparency in tech culture, aligned with Monograph’s values.
- IDEO’s Human-Centered Business Design
- IDEO Design Thinking
- An approach to designing culture and business practices, similar to Monograph's human-first software design philosophy.
- Harvard Business Review: “How Salary Transparency Can Help You (and Your Workplace)”
- HBR Article
- Explores the benefits and challenges of transparency in modern organizations.
About Robert Yuen:
Robert Yuen is the CEO and Co-Founder of Monograph, a software company revolutionizing the future of architecture and engineering project management and firm performance. Trained in architecture, Yuen recognized the need for better business tools and developed Monograph to address the challenges facing A&E professionals. As a result, he has become a leading voice in the industry, promoting the importance of A&E business performance and helping firms improve their workflows and profitability. His mission is to always be in service to the design professionals responsible for our built environment, letting them focus on what they love and do best.
