CADD Manager Journal

I N T H I S I S S U E

Seven Ways to Solidify a New CAD Manager Position

Seven points that may help you get ahead in a new CAD Manager position.

Refreshing a long term CAD Manager

If you have been a CAD Manager for a while, then here are some tips for you.

April Survey Says - Are you moving ahead? Moving to AutoCAD 2007? How soon are you moving? See what the survey tells us.

A R T I C L E S

Seven Ways to Solidify a New CAD Manager Position

In October of 2005 I ran an article in CMJ called “New CAD Manager Position? - Hit the Ground Running”. I looked at some bullet points for new CAD Managers to take into account in the first 100 days in the position. I wanted to revisit this topic and take a longer look at it.

I talk with many new CAD Managers who have taken many roads to get to the position. Some have developed internally and have grown into the role. Some have been hired in as a veteran from other firms. Some are now pulling this duty without the title. But all of them have one thing in common. They want to solidify the position and make strides toward advancement.

Here are seven tips for first time CAD Managers:

Take the time to listen to others.

Listening is a lost art. Get good at it. Learn to ask the right questions. Open ended questions that help others respond. Don’t ask “Is the software working?” This is a closed ended question. Ask “What do you wish worked better in the software?” This allows someone to comment about their perspective on how well it is working. It lets them complain (and we all like to do that).

More on the Web...

Refreshing a long term CAD Manager

If you have been a CAD Manager for a while, then here are some tips for you.

Those of us that have been in the CAD Manager roll for many years sometimes need to be refreshed and reminded about why we love this kind of work. If you have been a CAD Manager for a while, then here are some tips for you.

1. Stay close to the new users and hot shots coming up through the ranks. They are a great source of refreshing perspectives on CAD and other subjects. They are typically younger and have already embraced the newer technologies that will revive and expand your CAD setup.
2. Keep reading about technology. You may have stopped or slowed down because you have so many years of experience and think that you don't need to keep pounding on it.

More on the Web...

April 2006 - Survey Says

We asked about software upgrades and now I want to compare it to last years survey on the same subject.

Subscription use went up from 68% last year to 74% this year. So many of you have jumped on board with the subscription model of software ownership.

Most firms are looking to upgrade about as quickly as last year. Last year there were 48% who said they were updating immediately or within the next 6 months. In 2006 the number nudged up to 49%. But a greater majority seem to be waiting a little longer as the 22% who said they were jumping up to 2006 when the survey was done, down to only 15% jumping up to 2007 now.

The biggest difference can be seen in the feeling that Autodesk is rolling out software too fast. Last year 58% thought they were. This year it is up to almost 75%.

See the results from April 2005

See the results from April 2006

Take the May Survey - Do You DWF?

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CADD Manager Journal is a publication of the Core Technology Group
Editor: Mark W. Kiker
mark.kiker@caddmanager.com © 2006 by CTG.