© 2011 Autodesk

CAD Geeks Inside: Starting, Maintaining and Enabling a Company User GroupKevin RobinsonCAD Geekkrob1@hotmail.com

Image courtesy of Engineering Center LTD, Russia

© 2011 Autodesk

Introduction

15+ years experience with Autodesk technology Over 10 years as a full time CAD geek 12th AU …. I think….. 6th year as a AU speaker Have used Inventor since day one….. 9 User Group start ups in the last 7 years Created a repeatable, managed process for sharing our CAD geek knowledge

internally and externally User Groups Blog Etc

Explored and implemented various technologies to keep it all going.

© 2011 Autodesk

Class Description

Internal CAD tribes and user groups are mission-critical to ensuring your company is able to leverage all the software’s capabilities. This class will cover best practices and technology enablers that will help empower you and your co-workers to get the most out of your CAD investments.

© 2011 Autodesk

Class Objectives

Discussion on WHY user groups are so important Learn how easy it is to get a company user group started Understand the dynamics required to keep it going Explore different technology enablers that can empower many In depth review of the “Law of compounding productivity gains” Open Q and A

© 2011 Autodesk

Importance of user groups

Ways companies invest in CAD…. Elements of Success End User Adoption Spreads out the knowledge

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Ways companies get CAD software….

Buy

Buy and Hope

Buy and "We got this one guy…..“

Buy, Basic Training, Install

Invest, Tailored Training and Implementation, A few days on the books left over

Plan, Invest, Custom Everything, On going training plan

© 2011 Autodesk

Possible Elements of Success

Training Customer Champion / Change Mgr Business Goal Alignment Client and Network Hardware Templates and Standards File Sharing / Data Locations Non-Engineering Impact Customer Vision / Enablement Target Metrics / Plan Helpdesk / Lifeline New tool Methods / Advanced Workflows

© 2011 Autodesk

Forced Ranked Elements of Success

Customer Vision / Enablement Business Goal Alignment Customer Champion / Change Mgr New tool Methods / Advanced Workflows Training

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End User Adoption

Open Communication Understand the hurdles or roadblocks Share the Influence of change

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Spreads out the knowledge

Distributes the load of the support system Enables future input and direction Supports common workflows vs. every person for them self

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Getting one started - Critical Elements

YOU Some spare time Excitement and Passion

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Getting one started – the process

Send out a user survey Get some speakers or create content Pick a date that works for most people Find out what type of food people want Set an agenda and forward 2 days in advance Run the meeting Ask the users who wants to present at the next meeting…..

WRONG

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Getting one started – the process – TAKE TWO

Borrow / Steal some content from your reseller or the internet (I hear those cad geeks have some stuff we can use….)

Pick an upcoming Friday around lunchtime Tell some co-workers when and where they can find free food Run the meeting Have a sign in sheet and a place where they can fill in future topics Run the same meeting a few more times

© 2011 Autodesk

Keeping it going….we had a few meetings now what?

Formalize the basics Content, Content, Content Steady trickle….. Knowledge Management planning

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Formalize the basics

Set an agenda the users can count on: Basics review Intermediate What's New Open Discussion

Establish the meeting frequency Monthly Duration

Meeting location Notification process Feedback Loop

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Content, Content, Content

Content Sources: Common questions and helpdesk issues from your company AUGI Existing Local user group Your reseller AOTC books from autodesk.com The internet Guest Speaker

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Steady Trickle….weekly

Forward in Article from AUGI Send something new YOU learned this week Send a link to a you tube video (cad related of course) Forward content you subscribe to, but tailor to the work you do

© 2011 Autodesk

Getting started with Knowledge Management

Establish a running list of topics that anyone cad add to Maintain an archive of past content for review Work with other end users and see “how they do it”, document it Work with HR on understanding how they track knowledge and skills and look for

synergy and or sponsorship

© 2011 Autodesk

Technology enablers

Autodesk Elements Stocking Stuffers Under the radar IT / Management involvement

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Autodesk Elements

Subscription Center Log issues with Autodesk eLearning

Communication Center / CAD Mgr Utility RSS feeds CAD Mgr Channel CAD standards link

discussion.autodesk.com Autodesk Blogs

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Stocking Stuffers

Techsmith Jing – www.jingproject.com Quick capture of image or video Create link to share with co-workers Leverage screencast as backbone for sharing – www.screencast.com

Blogger.com If you want to share you ideas in thoughts with your co-workers and let them post comments

and questions.

© 2011 Autodesk

Under the radar

Techsmith Jing Pro - $20 per year Allows more video formats Smaller files Plus more

Techsmith Snagit - $40 Fast and east screen grabs Also does video capture Very powerful editing and markup tools Great for creating user group content

Ning – www.ning.com - $19.95 a month Affordable web based community building tool Blogs, photos, discussions, videos, etc Can be set to private

© 2011 Autodesk

IT / Management involvement

www.gotomeeting.com - $500 per year Great for remote employees Great for enabling remote guest speakers Has nice tracking and survey tools

Techsmith Camtasia Studio / Snag it bundle - $350 Everything from Snagit + Full feature video capture and editing tools

www.myigetit.com - $95 a user + Publishing tool $ Learning paths Video, text, PPT and PDF content support Reporting tools for

Microsoft SharePoint - $$ Discussion Groups, Lists, Alerts, outlook syncing

© 2011 Autodesk

Summary

Hopefully you are ready to start a user group at your company Better understand some speaking points to create some urgency Seen some technology that might enable you to gain momentum

© 2011 Autodesk

CAD Geek ResourcesTata Technologies CAD Geek Blog – Daily tips about Autodesk Manufacturing technologies.http://askthecadgeek.blogspot.com/

Web based Inventor user group – meetings every month online over the web, its free to anyone with a web connection and a passion for Inventor.http://tatatechnologies.com/autodesk

Inventor Users Site – Over 1300 Inventor users in one place sharing tips and trickshttp://autodeskinventorusers.ning.com/

Inventor Users Group on LinkedIn.com – Great place to network with over 2000 Inventor users to discuss industry trends and grow your professional network, simply join linkedin.com and search for the group “Autodesk Inventor Users”

Become a Fan on Facebook.com – Search for Tata Technologies CAD Geeks on facebook

© 2011 Autodesk

Open Discussion

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Contact Info

Kevin Robinson513-226-6945Krob1@hotmail.com