CAD Manager's Newsletter #135
24 Aug, 2005 By: Robert GreenSend your feedback for my annual questionnaire that takes the pulse of the CAD manager community
I have the good fortune to speak to many CAD managers throughout the United States and Canada each year, and one of the topics I'm always asked about is my annual CAD Manager's Survey. This year has been no different. In fact, I've been hearing more questions from CAD managers on more topics than ever.
Given the increased interest, I'll be undertaking this year's survey in a slightly different manner by asking you to help me build the survey questions. I'll list the main areas of concern that I hear from CAD managers and tell you what I'd like to measure, along with ideas for the types of questions I'll ask. It?s my hope that you'll tell me what I've missed. Read more >>
How can I convince my upper management that CAD management is a worthwhile job? Right now they seem to view me as overhead.
Robert Green answers: The only way to convince anyone that something is necessary is to prove it. In the CAD manager's role, you simply have to show your management that you're providing a worthwhile function for the company. A worthwhile function is one that pays for itself and returns profit to the company. Put another way: You have to prove that you can pay for yourself! Read more >>
Submit your questions to Robert Green atrgreen@greenconsulting.com.
Training for Dummies: If training is one of your CAD management responsibilities but it's not your forte, a good book might be the answer. Training For Dummies is a new resource that offers advice for all levels of trainers -- from "accidental trainers" tapped to teach coworkers a new computer system to seasoned professionals who simply want to enhance skills -- including how to custom-design training courses, adapt to different learning styles and enhance participation and learning. It also offers suggestions for selling company management on the value of a good training program. The book is available at national bookstores and online booksellers.
Inside Line to the IT World: For CAD managers forging their way into the IT world, OSTG (Open Source Technology Group) is the cornerstone of the Open Source movement and the leading online network for IT managers and development professionals, according to the group. The Web site offers a combination of news, original articles, downloadable resources and community forums to help IT and development professionals make critical decisions about IT products and services. OSTG's umbrella of sites include a category for IT managers and staff, a group for developers and end-users and more. The ITMJ Communiqué newsletter is designed to help IT professionals stay ahead of the curve on the trends, products and ideas in the IT landscape. http://www.ostg.com
Send us the address of your favorite Web site or other resource and a few words about why you like it. E-maileditors@cadalyst.com.
Fourth Annual Midwest SolidWorks User Conference: September 13-15, 2005, Lake Lawn Resort, Delavan, Wisconsin. Organized by Graphics Systems Corp., the conference includes productivity seminars, management sessions, product presentations and networking opportunities. http://www.gxsc.com/newsevents_annualconference.htm
ESRI User Group Meeting: September 14, 2005, Embassy Suites Hotel, San Luis Obispo, California. Information and registration forms for all ESRI user group meetings and other events for September are available at http://gis.esri.com/events/.
2006 International ANSYS Conference: May 2-4, 2006, David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. User event designed for engineers and analysts from all disciplines of computer-aided engineering will address how to improve products and processes by using automated and integrated ANSYS simulation software to drive design. Training sessions offered April 30-May 1. http://www1.ansys.com/conf2006/
For Cadalyst's full calendar of events, click here>>
