managing multi-office, multi-platform mayhem: robert green
TRANSCRIPT
Robert Green quick biography
Mechanical engineer turned CAD manager
Private consultant since 1991
Focus: CAD standards and management
Cadalyst Magazine author contributing editor
21 year AU speaker
Facebook: CAD Managers Unite!
Web site: www.CAD-Manager.com
All these different offices, devices and platforms
make my head hurt!
Most CAD managers have said this.
What I hear from senior management
Our offices should be able to work share
We are one company, not four companies
We need to “load balance” our work
Remote workers need to be supported
I don’t understand why things don’t work better …
The barriers I often see …
Budgets differ
Branch offices have • Different management philosophies
• Different cultures
• Different budgets
Just get it done mentality
Voluntary lack of compliance …
The barriers that are often not seen …
WAN issues
Document storage issues
Differing devices and apps
Bad/slow processes forced on users
Lack of willingness to address these…
So What Do We Do About It? Lead with consistency, performance, and
simplicity so users want to follow.
Get everybody in sync!
No not like that!
Get everybody in sync!
Like this!
Systems make it happen …
WAN issues are paramount!
Consistency of applications is a must
Files must be managed (secured)
Management must commit to systems
Do these things and you can win
Do them not and you will fail …
Make Sure the WAN Works! What constitutes “works” though?
The WAN is central …
It is the bedrock of all shared tools
It supports collaboration
It holds centralized files
It is what makes work sharing possible …
A WAN works when …
It is fast!
It is faster!
It is even faster than that!
Users avoid slow WANs like the plague!
Slow WANs invite non-compliance …
Optimize the WAN!
But how and at what cost?
To speed your WAN …
Maximize bandwidth
Hardware solutions (Riverbed)
Software solutions (DFSR, PEER Software) Note: Distributed File System Replication
Doing them all works best
It does cost though …
The costs …
Maximize bandwidth
• Monthly fee $8K/year and up
Hardware solutions
• Riverbed: Per office node $8K to $30K
Software solutions (DFSR, PEER)
• MS DFSR: With Windows Server
• PEER: Per office node $5K …
If you don’t optimize …
Applications slow
Files can’t be accessed
Users bypass the WAN (going to LAN)
Files are copied multiple times
Revisions are lost
Offices fall out of sync
Entropy takes hold …
Talk to your management …
Stress costs of being out of sync
Stress the necessity
Stress the frustration of working in a disorganized
and undercapitalized WAN
Do this NOW so budgets can be adjusted …
Nothing facilitates better multi-office
coordination/collaboration than a killer WAN.
Show users a fast WAN and they will use it!
Manage the Files With the right tools on the best network
Simple rules …
One master file
In one secure place
At the right revision level
With file relationships kept in tact
Under company policy/control …
Not so simple to do …
Users copy files to LAN
Users copy files to personal devices
Duplicate copies abound
Revisions overwritten
One word: Anarchy
What is the #1 file management tool …
You Need a Tool to Help That is CAD centric and workflow aware
Proper file management is the bedrock of CAD
and BIM. Without it your projects will come
undone. It may not be the flashiest thing you do
but it is the most important thing you do.
Proper file management is only achievable with a
functional WAN and the right tools!
Stopping BYOD Madness! BYOD – Bring Your Own Device
Let’s Discuss
Simple rules …
BYOD’s won’t just go away
Treat a BYOD device like a work computer
Treat apps like a work software tools
Treat app data like company property
Now what happens …
Some immediate results …
Sensitive data can’t reside on BYOD’s
Sensitive data can’t be in Dropbox
BYOD’s are subject to policies
Policies must be enforced
This is a BIG IT issue …
Talk to your management …
Stress the risk
De-emphasize the “cool factor”
Bring up data loss scenarios
Get IT involved
Force the discussion now …
Ignoring BYOD issues is a clear threat to the
security of CAD/BIM data yet IT often doesn’t
understand the threat. Stressing risk is key.
License Smart
To avoid hassles
Keep Tools Current/Consistent How else can you get everybody
on the same page?
Let’s Discuss “The Cloud”
Goals …
The right software at each location
The ability to pool licenses
Software resource leveling
To support remote workers
To secure company assets …
Talk to your management (and reseller) …
Stress ease of management
Stress security of data
Stress application stability
Stress flexibility of workforce
Stress consistency of versions
Stress costs of ignoring the above …
Controlling your licensing to achieve a consistent
user experience and inter-office application
sharing is vital. Don’t just wing it.
The Fork in the Road Take the steps we’ve discussed to get on the
road to multi-office multi-platform success.
Get rolling …
Plan it NOW – do not wait!
Fight for budgets/tools – you need it!
Stress business logic
Think secure and well managed
Get your boss in the game …
