What would you want to learn first

bnemec · August 5, 2021, 2:17pm

Well, your business analyst is not a subject-matter expert- well not normally. The reason for this is because the analyst role is to document how things are done, by whom, using what guidance, what decisions are being made, etc. If you are the subject matter expert (SME) you already have learned decisions making processes that will more than likely get missed- because the decision is second nature. You really need an independent person doing this- asking the very basic questions.

Then you take that information and report on it. That’s kinda step 1. Next, the BA will look at the future state (where you want to be) repeat the same process. Step 3 is to do the gap analysis to see what needs to be done to get from point A (current state) to point B (future state). Finally, a report is created; “This is what needs to happen.” Once you have your gap analysis you can then start building your solutions to “bridge the gap”.

When it comes to switching CAD systems you really should be looking at more than just feature and functionality. You should be looking at your customers of the data you create- the whole PLM thing. You may change your authoring system but if your customers downstream can’t use your data what the point of the change? It’s all about the big process and how your organization is going to utilize your data. If you want to be a healthy company you really need to look at the big picture of your data. If you are creating your CAD data just for 2D drawings..well..your organization might be left behind. If you are taking your CAD data and enhancing it with meta-data and smart features that downstream tools can use and possibly upstream tools can leverage later (reporting artifacts). Then you are starting to see how important a BA can be to an organization. Honestly, this is all a continuous improvement type of process.

I hope that helps…oh and when it comes to training…have SME write your training is a bad idea too…same reason…they make mental decsions as second nature. That usually doesn’t make it into training materials.

Hope this helps!

Thanks, that breakdown of it makes much more sense. I can see your point that using SME for steps 1 and 2 and training, that all makes sense. Wouldn’t the person doing gap analysis in step 3 need to know details about all the stuff you mentioned in the third paragraph? If not how would they know that a current practice is not supported in the new system? Or even more importantly an engrained work around due to inability in old system is no longer needed in the new system? I believe what you’re saying is about 95% missed. To be frank, I don’t know see enough value difference between most CAD to justify the cost of changing. IF we would have convinced the exec team that we needed money to fund the gap analysis, AND it was done properly, I’m sure we would still be using Solid Edge and still be looking for a PDM system. So the funds invested in a gap analysis would have likely been well spent.

SPerman · August 5, 2021, 2:30pm

I wish I could afford NX. I really miss it.

When I’m get some time, I’m going to start a thread on SE vs. SW pricing. From what I remember, SE looked good at first glance, but once I got all of the features that came with SW professional, it was no longer price competitive. But that was over a year ago and my memory sucks.

MJuric · August 5, 2021, 3:58pm

FWIW that is also the impression I walked away with. SE seemed to have a ton of “Modules” that just aren’t there with SW. In order to get similar level packages you end up buying many modules in SE.

jcapriotti · August 10, 2021, 5:48pm

Me: Is your software going to the cloud or do you refer to it as platform?
Them: Yes
Me: ‘Runs away’

Frederick_Law · August 11, 2021, 2:22pm

Start with tutorial if they got one.
Begin with simple models and get used to commands and interface.
Of course will start testing Master Sketch.