Peer Review

GBA applies 51 years of peer experience to help you prosper, and one of the most visible ways it does this is through GBA Peer Review. GBA Peer Review provides valuable feedback on your existing business practices so you can improve.

More than one of every four GBA Member Firms has used GBA Peer Review to:

  • evaluate policies that affect the quality of the firm’s services,
  • assess the extent to which those policies are followed,
  • identify opportunities for improvement, and
  • identify specific methods to achieve improvement.

Among its many other benefits, GBA Peer Review can be an important marketing attribute when clients regard participation in the Peer Review process as an important credential. It can help enhance the quality of your practice while simultaneously reducing your exposure to professional liability claims and losses.

Engineering News-Record lauded GBA (then ASFE) Peer Review as one of the 125 most significant construction industry innovations of the prior 125 years. GBA Peer Review was the only association program cited. Several insurers reimburse most of their insureds’ GBA Peer Review cost, a procedure initiated by Terra Insurance Company.

GBA Peer Review is voluntary. It is not used to grade a firm; it does not lead to a certification of any kind. The process has been designed solely to provide a framework for improvement. Firms participating in GBA Peer Review recognize that no one can better render informed guidance than peers who themselves have extensive, successful management experience.

Start your GBA Peer Review today to learn what your firm can do to be more successful.

Overview of the GBA Peer Review Process

Initiate a GBA Peer Review by selecting a peer review team captain who will serve as your trusted adviser throughout the process. The team captain will work closely with you to develop a detailed scope of service and to choose GBA Peer Review Team Members whose experience will help achieve your specific objectives. All peer reviewers are obliged to adhere to written ethical requirements.

The GBA Peer Review team reviews firm-supplied documentation, such as the strategic plan, organization chart, job descriptions, and policy statements, as well as responses to client and staff questionnaires. Participating firms that do not have documentation are advised to not prepare it until the review is complete, so it can reflect the GBA Peer Review team’s findings and suggestions.

On-site reviews commonly take two to three days, during which the team interviews selected employees, reviews additional documents, and examines management procedures. Peer reviewers evaluate their findings and, before leaving, provide an oral report. Although a written report is optional, almost all participating firms request one for use as a planning tool.

Start Your GBA Peer Review

GBA Peer Review is a voluntary program through which knowledgeable peer practitioners evaluate policies and procedures affecting the quality of a firm’s services, and assess the effectiveness with which those policies and procedures are implemented. GBA recommends that firms undergo a GBA Peer Review at least once every five years. The GBA Peer Review program is open only to GBA members.

Steps to Start a GBA Peer Review

  1. Review GBA Peer Review Resources
  2. E-mail the GBA office, to request the GBA Peer Review control number that you, GBA, and all members of the GBA Peer Review team will use to refer to your GBA Peer Review.
  3. Select a peer review team captain (GBA’s Peer Review User’s Guide conveys some how-to guidance).
  4. Complete the GBA Peer Review Application Form below and submit it.

There is a GBA Peer Review administration fee of $ 500.00 to be paid after the completion of the Peer Review proces.

When you start a GBA Peer Review, your peer review team captain will work closely with you to develop a detailed scope of service for the GBA Peer Review and based on what you agree should be done, will help choose peer review team members whose knowledge and experience will help you achieve your specific objectives.

GBA Peer Review Application Form

To schedule a Peer Review, complete the form below and click “Submit”. This form presupposes that you will have only one office peer reviewed. If yours is a multi-office firm and you want to obtain a firm-wide GBA Peer Review, please Contact GBA.

By submitting this application to start a GBA Peer Review, you have indicated that your firm realizes that certain restrictions apply to the manner in which your firm publicizes its participation in GBA Peer Review, and you have further indicated that your firm agrees to abide by these restrictions as part of the consideration required for its involvement in Peer Review.

    Firm Name *

    Firm Address Line 1*

    Firm Address Line 2

    Firm City*

    Firm State/Province

    Firm Zip/Postal Code

    Firm Country*

    Name of the Peer Review Coordinator in your Office (Should be a principal)*

    E-mail*

    Coordinator Phone*

    When would you like your office peer-reviewed?*

    How many full-time employees are in your office?*

    Your technical pursuits involve*

    Name of Your Team Captain*

    Team Member 1 (If already selected)

    Team Member 2 (If already selected)

    Name of Person Submitting This Form (This will serve as a signature on behalf of the firm)*

    Resources

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    Several GBA Peer Review resources are available to help firms with the GBA Peer Review process. GBA Peer Review resources are listed below. If you are interested in becoming a peer reviewer, check out the Peer Review: Team Captain Home Refresher Course.

    Peer Review User’s Guide

    This booklet provides the easy-to-follow
    guidance you need to know to get your firm’s GBA Peer Review going!

    If you still have questions after reading this guide, just Contact GBA staff. Download as PDF or MSWord.

    A Guide to Achieving Quality in Professional Practice

    This booklet has been recently revised and published as the 4th edition. It was designed and developed by the Peer Review Committee to help all firms help themselves, by presenting more than 150
    best management practices addressed in terms of the nine core management
    components (CMCs) all firms deal with: image and culture, business management, financial management, marketing and business development,  project management, health and safety,  human resources management, professional development and facilities and electronic resources management. Member Price: Free.

    Peer Review Team Member and Team Captain Qualifications

    As general pre-requisites, peer reviewers must be a licensed and/or degreed professional, and an active member of GBA. To qualify, new team members must have at least ten years’ experience with a GBA member firm and must have attended a GBA conference within the past 5 years. Reviewers must have extensive knowledge of the talents and techniques required to manage professional service firms effectively. They must have at least five years’ office management experience and must have served as an officer, associate, or senior professional of a GBA member firm.

    Attributes common to successful Peer Reviewers include:
    • Interview skills like those discussed in Appendix S of The GBA Peer Review, Reviewer’s Guide (The Guide).
    • Constructive feedback skills like those discussed in Appendix U of The Guide.
    • Willingness to keep current with the Peer Review Program – following and keeping up with changes to The Guide.
    • Belief and advocacy of the peer review process including a desire to help improve the program.
    • Inquisitive and good listening skills.

    Competencies necessary to be a successful Peer Reviewer include:

    • Possess a working knowledge of the Core Management Components discussed in The Guide. Specialized or specific expertise in any one or two of the Core Management Components may be sought for any given Peer Review Team.
    • Familiar with current best practices and procedures found in well-run consulting firms.
    • Commitment to the time and intensity of effort required during a peer review.
    Currently, there are no training requirements so those interested in participating as a reviewer will be responsible for becoming familiar with GBA Peer Review guidance documents, filing a completed Reviewer Background and Experience Form, and making Team Captains aware of their desire to serve on a review team. It is highly recommended that those desiring to serve as a reviewer join the Peer Review Committee.  GBA Staff can provide the background and experience form upon request.

    Qualifying as a Team Captain: 

    Team Captains must have served on at least three Peer Review teams, and must have received reviews indicating that the Team Member is ready to serve as a Captain. Team Captains must be recently active in GBA and cannot serve as a Captain if she or he has not participated in a Peer Review (in any capacity) within the previous five years.
    However, if the former Captain actively participates in Peer Review Committee activity, including updating and making recommendations for improving the process, the 5-year sunsetting requirement will be waived for 3 additional years, and will continued to be waived for 3 additional years if further process reviews and contributions are provided.

    If you are interested in becoming a Peer Reviewer or a Team Captain, please fill up the Peer Reviewer Background Experience Form.

    Additional Resources

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    Resources for Team Captains and Team Members

    List of Qualified Peer Review Team Members

    Peer Review Peer Reviewer’s Guide

    Designed to guide Peer Review Team Captains and Team Members through the process. The guide provides detailed information along with forms and checklists. Download as PDF or MSWord.

    Peer Review Exit Interview Form 

    Overview of Peer Review Online Survey Tool

    It’s not just for formal Peer Review procedures! The on-line Peer Review survey tool can be used to survey client representatives and/or staff members who can respond anonymously.

    GBA offers team captains a survey tool with client and staff survey templates already set up. Team captains just have to do some minor customization to prepare the surveys for use. Read this for an overview of the online survey tool. If you decide you want to use it, then submit this form to request use of the survey tool. GBA staff will follow up with detailed instructions.

    Request use of GBA’s Online Survey Tool for your Client and Staff surveys:

      Team Captain Name *

      E-mail*

      Firm being peer-reviewed*

      Peer review control number*

      Which surveys do you need? *


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      Peer-Reviewed Member Firms

      Alaska Test Lab

      Allwest Testing & Engineering

      Atlas Geotechnical Services

      Blackburn Consulting

      BSK Associates

      CMT Technical Services

      DOWL

      Eustis Engineering

      Foundation Design

      G2 Consulting Group

      GeoEngineers, Inc.

      Geomat

      Geoprofessional Innovation Corporation (GPI)

      Geotechnical Consultants, Inc.

      GRI

      NTH Consultants, Inc.

      STRATA

      Southern Engineering and Testing, P.C.