Cadalyst - April 2008 - (Page 34)

cadmanager By Robert Green Getting Better — What Should You Learn? By learning more about your software and its intricacies, you can create a more productive work environment. C AD managers are responsible for helping their users learn more about software, work procedures, and standards. But what should CAD managers be learning to do a better job themselves? This reasonable question has many potential answers. In this month’s installment of “CAD Manager,” I’ll endeavor to make some recommendations that will benefit all CAD managers and provide resources to assist in your knowledge quest. If appropriate, I’ll present tips for communicating your learning needs to your boss so you can get it approved. Software Sense I know this seems simple, but it’s something that gets overlooked more often than you might think: To serve your company best, you must know the application software you use backwards and forwards. In fact, you need to know the software so well that you even understand the features you’re not using in case productivity enhancements might be lurking there. You need to do everything you can to immerse yourself in the software, and you need to do so at least as often as each new release. So how can you continue to learn your software? Here are a few hints that have helped me over the years: Beta programs. If you’re not involved with your software company’s beta-testing programs, you should be. It’s the only way to get the jump on new technology before the general public gets it. Activity in beta programs allows you to evaluate and understand new technology before your users start asking you questions. You’ll also find that many beta programs have blog communities that give you great feedback from other beta testers. Ask your software reseller about beta programs or search your software manufacturer’s Web site to get started. User groups. Use the resources I outlined above to ask other CAD managers about software features you don’t understand. Ask for advice about how others are making productive use of features you don’t understand. You’ll be amazed at the great ideas you can glean if you ask. Update training/industry events. I’m not a great fan of sending everyone in a company to software update training, but I do think CAD managers should go. They should also attend the industry events that I outlined above. These types of training environments get you in a room with other people from whom you can learn, and they give you great access to training staff while allowing you to focus on the task at hand (instead of a constantly ringing phone). Ask your software reseller about the programs it has available, sleuth out those industry events, and then get going. Tip. Make sure your boss knows that you can find new productivity ideas, solve existing problems, and cut support time by proactively educating yourself. After your boss understands that he or she will receive good value Your Peer Group Before we talk about anything else, let’s acknowledge that being a CAD manager is a solitary existence. Most companies have only one CAD manager, so there’s nobody to turn to for advice and help. Therefore, you need to find ways to connect with your fellow CAD managers, both in person and digitally, and build a virtual peer group. Where do you find these resources? Here are a few ideas: User groups. For Autodesk customers, try AUGI (www.augi.com) for lists of local user groups. For Bentley customers, try www.be.org; and for SolidWorks customers, try www.solidworks.com. Also contact your software reseller who may have its own local user groups. If in doubt, use Google to find local resources. The key is to find user groups that are frequented by power users and CAD managers and then attend meetings and get to know people. Discussion groups. Check your software manufacturer’s Web sites for CAD manager groups (most have them) and also check the Cadalyst CAD Manager forum at http://forums.cadalyst.com. Start posting questions and read the answers that come back from fellow users. Industry events. If your software manufacturer has an annual technical conference such as Autodesk University (from Autodesk), the BE Conference (from Bentley), or SolidWorks World (from SolidWorks), then seriously consider attending. These types of events get you in close proximity with large numbers of CAD managers and vendors that you’d never get to meet in person otherwise. 34 www.cadalyst.com cadalyst April 2008 http://www.augi.com http://www.be.org http://www.solidworks.com http://forums.cadalyst.com http://www.cadalyst.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Cadalyst - April 2008

Cadalyst - April 2008 Contents Editor's Window Cad Central The Summer of BIM Thin Is In — Large LCD Monitors Caligari trueSpace 7.5 — 3D Modeling Software HP Compaq 8710w — Mobile Workstation Autodesk Design Review 2009 — Design Viewing and Collaboration Software Getting Better — What Should You Learn? Technical Uses for Nontechnical Software AEC on Macs Cad Cartoon Issue Indexes Tips Rain Down on Harry

Cadalyst - April 2008

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