ERG International: Planning and Managing for Rapid Growth.

ROBBINS, Claude; ROBBINS, Sherrie

This article focuses on the planning and managing strategy of Environmental Research Groups International, Inc. (ERG), an engineering consulting company that specializes in the areas of energy, natural resources, and the environment. The services offered by ERG included analysis of energy usage and recommendations for alternative energy systems in non-residential buildings, energy-use management programs for gas and electric utilities, and technical workshops and seminars. In October 1992, ERG had seven technical staff members. All technical staff reported to president Claude Robbins. Jim Christensen, the office manager, Caroline Hughes, the accounts manager, and Sandy Knudson, the workshop coordinator, reported directly to CEO Sherrie Robbins. Most ERG documents and correspondence were maintained electronically. State-of-the-art Macintosh computers and in-house software development allowed ERG to customize reports and brochures for individual clients. All project files were kept electronically and everyone was electronically networked to each other. A monthly schedule which showed who was working on what project was also maintained on an electronic spreadsheet. An ERG employee developed electronic timesheets that automatically recorded each person's billable-time projects into the accounting system.