Pros
The potential to work with many different companies and disciplines was promising when our firm joined AECOM. If this comes to pass, it could be fun and effective for the firm and the clients.
Cons
In discussions to join AECOM and even after, we were told that the firms would retain their brand, culture, and successful ways of conducting business. That wasn't true, although transition to one name could work over time. There are insufficient checks to leadership inproprieties despite the positive corporate policies on ethics. The strong focus on large projects diminishes the recognition of how important smaller projects are. During the recession-caused layoffs of about 10-15% of staff, many brilliant entrepreneurial staff were permanently let go. Staff are working in fear and jaded from the corporate changes imposed and the apparent lack of power and will of their own office leaders.