Create a Technology
Plan
Begin with the end in mind...
When you take a new position you need to quickly gain a
vision of where the firm should be in the next 6 months to 2
years.
Where should you be in one year? New software
platform? New collaboration tools? Adding new training
program?
You need to create a Technology Plan. Here are the
steps you need to take to get your thought down on paper.
Start making a list of possible options. Include
hardware, software, training, staff issues, production needs,
etc. Do not worry about if it is possible or cost
effective, just list them all out. Add your wish list
items, blue sky dreams and "they will never go for
that" items. Add other people wish list items.
Get input from everyone you can. Listen to users, ask your
reseller, look on AUGI, pull in items from all over the
place. This is not just a list of things to spend money
on. Add updates to you standards, writing out policies,
developing procedures, etc. This is a giant "to
do" list.
Next - sort it by dates. When do you think they
need to be completed or purchased. Make categories for 3
months, 6 months, one year and two years or beyond. I push
this out for two years, but not beyond. It is very hard to
predict where your industry will go after the next two
years. But I include 2 year items because I want my firm
to know that I am thinking that far out and I want them to know
what I am thinking about. I start selling the concepts
long before I start budgeting for them.
Now refine it down to a plan for CAD technology.
Make it flexible, but keep it focused. Define items in
your plan by date and timeline. 3 month goals, 6 month
goals and 1-2 year goals. Include items that are not
software or hardware, like training and general procedures and
process that need to be updated. Set the long range goals
under the 1-2 year plans. Place the immediate needs under
the 3 month plan.
Present the Plan. I usually place a Topic area
and then Recommendations. Here is an example:
Training:
There are difficulties arising from new employees not
following the company standards on project files.
There is also a concern related to adopting new tools in the
software. We need to reinstate our training of new
staff as they come on board and provide training in the new
tools as projects adopt the,.
Recommendation:
1. Set up training for new hires within 2 weeks of
joining the company. Training to include new software
releases and company standards.
2. Hire a consultant to provide training for ADT
Project Navigator, Stair creation and development of
schedules. Training to be provided to project teams
lasting no more than 4 hours per topic.
Hopefully you get the point. I include the problem, the
solution and the plan to proceed.
Develop this as a document to share with your staff and
management. Once the plan is in place you can move on to
your budget.