Breaking Down Barriers

One of the responsibilities of a leader is to encourage team communication. That open discussion of strategic goals the company is achieving, projects that need completion, issues that need resolution are all important elements of a successful team. Barriers stop the achievement of these elements. 

WHAT SHOULD A LEADER DO? 

ANSWER - Break down those barriers. Some approaches that make sense. 

• Create consensus - everyone “rowing in the same direction”
• Create a culture of active listening (which helps in creating consensus) Leaders need to participate in discovery, process, and solution of the goals/projects.
• Remove roadblocks - wish I would have understood this earlier in my management career. 

Good leaders can manage to remove barriers in most cases. However, there is a barrier that is hard to overcome. 

THE TEAM MUST WANT TO SUCCEED! 

What would make a team member not want to succeed? I think the crucial part is the word “succeed.” Consensus is not alignment. Alignment of goals, needs, and motivation are overlooked elements to the word “succeed.” What is the difference between an aligned and non-aligned team: 

Alignment to the goals is key. Verifying that your team is in alignment is tougher. Ask the tough questions, set definable benchmarks, and hold the team accountable.

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David Haynes, NCARB, PMP, LEED AP
Ideate Director of Consulting

David is a Registered Architect, Project Management Certified Professional, who previously had his own architectural practice and was President of a commercial design-build construction company for 15 years. A graduate of University of Arizona, he has worked as an Architect, contractor, developer and as a national construction manager for a national retailer. David currently provides business process analysis, virtualization and change management solutions for AEC clients across the United States involved in the design and building industry. Follow David on Twitter: @dhaynestech 

Get it. Know it. Use it.

This post was originally published on David’s blog Connecting the [Data]… 

Ideate, Inc. Launches Ideate Software Website

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, 2/25/2014 - Ideate, Inc., an Autodesk Gold Value Added Reseller, today announced the launch of a new website dedicated exclusively to Ideate Software. This new comprehensive site provides Autodesk Revit users access to the current two Ideate Software solutions, Ideate BIMLink and Ideate Explorer for Revit. Each helps Revit users solve problems in architectural, engineering and construction (AEC) workflows and helps the Revit community leverage Building Information Management (BIM) to its fullest advantage. 

A unique aspect of the December 2013-launched website is the ability for site visitors to see all titles of the extensive video playlists without having to close and open new windows. The intuitive interface makes it easy for solution users to locate and access quick answers that are specific to common AEC workflows. 

Additionally, customers can access Free Live Ideate Software Online Learning instantly on the website. 

Ideate Software was initially developed by Ideate out of Ideate tech team members’ needs to solve customer problems. Over more than a half-decade, Ideate Software has evolved to become a set of far-reaching data management tools. The solutions address the ever-growing need to manage BIM model data in order to:

• delete problem items 
• analyze files quickly 
• improve speed and accuracy in data flow 
• increase collaboration 
• overcome repeated workflow interruptions 

“This new website expresses what Ideate Software is all about—dedication to customer service,” says Bob Palioca, president of Ideate, Inc. “Our goal was to create a venue where Revit- and non-Revit users involved in BIM workflows could quickly identify ways to solve issues, while we also provided the means to solve them. We are delighted to present this clear and informative website to the BIM community.” 

For more information, call 888.662.7238, or contact sales@ideatesoftware.com. For support, contact support@ideatesoftware.com

About Ideate, Inc.
Ideate, Inc. is a leading Autodesk Authorized Developer with 25+ years’ experience in software development and specific focus on Building Information Modeling (BIM). As an Autodesk solutions provider, Ideate has offered quality software, training, support and custom consulting services to the architectural, engineering and construction (AEC) industries since 1992. Headquartered in San Francisco, California and operating Autodesk Authorized Training Centers (ATCs) in California, Oregon and Washington, Ideate is recognized as an Autodesk Gold Partner for Architecture, Engineering and Construction, one of Autodesk’s highest levels of authorization. 

Ideate Software is a comprehensive set of far-reaching BIM data management tools. Ideate BIMLink powers the “I” in BIM, allowing users to pull data from an Autodesk Revit file into Microsoft Excel for fast and precise editing, and push the data back into Revit with equal ease. Ideate Explorer for Revit lets users search, filter, quantify and select to easily manage the 100,000+ elements in a Revit model. Both solutions help Autodesk Revit users solve problems in AEC workflows and help the Revit community leverage BIM to its fullest advantage.


Autodesk, Autodesk Revit and ATC are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. Microsoft Excel is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries.   

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Classroom Training - Open Revit, AutoCAD, and Civil 3D Classes

Know It. Ideate Training.

Position yourself to land dream projects. Tap the full potential of your software solutions. Increase your facility, fluidity and capability to maximize the value of your precision software tools.

3.4-6::Portland
Revit Architecture Fundamentals

3.4-3.6::Sacramento
Revit Architecture Fundamentals

3.11-13::San Francisco
AutoCAD Fundamentals

3.18::San Francisco
Revit Architecture Families

3.25-27::San Jose
Civil 3D Fundamentals

 Know your software. Sign up now!

eLearning - Upcoming Revit Classes

Join the Ideate Tech Experts for eLearning – live online classes that provide your entire organization with easy access to premium education. 

3.4::Revit 201:
Worksharing Best Practices

3.5::Revit 201:
Working with Wall Types in Revit Architecture

3.11::Revit 201:
Creating Custom Curtain Walls, Panels, Storefronts and Mullions

3.18::Revit 201:
Documenting Your Project in Revit MEP

Each class is designed to give you specific, improved results in a particular topic. You can interact with the instructor right from your own office, while eliminating travel time. Because the class schedule rotates, you can easily select your topics of interest and choose the day which best meets your schedule.

Click here for class descriptions, times and registration link. Questions? Contact education@ideateinc.com

Get It. Know It. Use It.

Success Past Detours

There is a workplace strategy in some organizations called "up and to the right". It is viewed as the way success happens. Always moving onward and upward. It is powerful stuff. All motivated team members should be thinking "up and to the right". Is life that way?

                      WHAT DRIVES SUCCESS?

Life's journey is not a continuous up and to the right. Life has a more bumpy road than that. In fact, life's experiences get in the way. Most people end up having the road of "up and to the right" with the following detours (some good, some bad):

• Illness (themselves or loved ones) 
• Economy (everybody remember 2008)
• Divorce
• Children
• Marriage
• Legal (lawsuits and litigation).

What drives success, overcoming these detours, is a combination of three things:

1. Attitude 
2. Persistence
3. Always Learning

Most of life's detours are not in our control. We can control the drivers of success of attitude, persistence, and learning.

                    WHAT WILL IT TAKE FROM ME?

Success, like beauty, is in the eye of the individual. Identify your definition of success and have a great attitude, be unbelievably persistence, and always improve.

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal:  it is the courage to continue that counts"  - Winston Churchill

"If you accept the expectation of others, especially negative ones, then you never will change the outcome" - Michael Jordan.

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David Haynes, NCARB, PMP, LEED AP
Ideate Director of Consulting

David is a Registered Architect, Project Management Certified Professional, who previously had his own architectural practice and was President of a commercial design-build construction company for 15 years. A graduate of University of Arizona, he has worked as an Architect, contractor, developer and as a national construction manager for a national retailer. David currently provides business process analysis, virtualization and change management solutions for AEC clients across the United States involved in the design and building industry. Follow David on Twitter: @dhaynestech 

Get it. Know it. Use it.

This post was originally published on David’s blog Connecting the [Data]… 

eLearning - Upcoming Revit and Ideate BIMLink Classes

Join the Ideate Tech Experts for eLearning – live online classes that provide your entire organization with easy access to premium education. 

2.11::Revit 201:
Scheduling 201

2.13::Ideate Software - Ideate BIMLink:
What's New in Ideate BIMLink

2.14::Ideate Software - Ideate Explorer:
Revit Auditing with Ideate Explorer

2.19::Ideate Software - Ideate BIMLink:
Revit Project Management with Ideate BIMLink

2.20::Ideate Software - Ideate BIMLink:
What's New in Ideate BIMLink

2.21::Ideate Software - Ideate BIMLink:
What's New in Ideate BIMLink

2.24::Revit 201:
Conceptual Design

2.25::Revit 201:
Working with Roofs in Revit

3.4::Revit 201:
Worksharing Best Practices

3.5::Revit 201:
Working with Wall Types in Revit Architecture

3.11::Revit 201:
Creating Custom Curtain Walls, Panels, Storefronts and Mullions

3.17::Ideate Software - Ideate Explorer:
Revit Auditing with Ideate Explorer

3.18::Revit 201:
Documenting Your Project in Revit MEP

3.26::Ideate Software - Ideate BIMLink:
Revit Project Management with Ideate BIMLink

Each class is designed to give you specific, improved results in a particular topic. You can interact with the instructor right from your own office, while eliminating travel time. Because the class schedule rotates, you can easily select your topics of interest and choose the day which best meets your schedule.

Click here for class descriptions, times and registration link. Questions? Contact education@ideateinc.com

Get It. Know It. Use It.

Classroom Training - Open Revit, AutoCAD, Navisworks, and Civil 3D Classes

Know It. Ideate Training.

Position yourself to land dream projects. Tap the full potential of your software solutions. Increase your facility, fluidity and capability to maximize the value of your precision software tools.

2.11-13::San Jose
Revit MEP Electrical Fundamentals

2.13-14::San Francisco
Navisworks Fundamentals

2.18-20::San Francisco
Civil 3D Fundamentals

2.18-20::San Jose
Revit Architecture Fundamentals

2.25-27::San Francisco
Revit Architecture Fundamentals

2.25-27::Seattle
Revit Architecture Fundamentals

3.4-6::Portland
Revit Architecture Fundamentals

3.4-5::Sacramento
Revit Architecture Fundamentals

3.11-13::San Francisco
AutoCAD Fundamentals

3.18::San Francisco
Revit Architecture Families

 Know your software. Sign up now!

SF Revit User Group - Advanced Techniques for Managing Building Data in Autodesk Revit

The collection and management of building data, including the requirements for rooms, equipment, and other needs, as it evolves from early design through construction documentation and as a basis for facility management, can be enhanced through advanced techniques in Autodesk Revit software. This includes linking to an external data source, automating the creation of areas and rooms, creating room data sheets, and other graphic and non-graphic processes that complement BIM. This class covers basic database theory, the structure of objects and their relation to data management, and Revit techniques for implementing this general theory in actual projects. We will also discuss third-party software and customizations, and how they are used to further advance these processes. The class goes beyond learning Revit commands and looks at the underlying information requirements of emerging integration in project delivery.

This is a repeat of a class presented at Autodesk University in December of last year.

Who Should Attend 
The class will be of interest to AEC industry professionals and software developers who are concerned with how information is managed. The topics are fairly advanced and theoretical, not focused on learning Revit commands.

When
February 12th 2014 - 11:30am - 1:00pm 

Where
AIA San Francisco
130 Sutter St. Suite 600
San Francisco, CA 94104 

Register Now!

About the Presenter 
Mario Guttman, AIA, LEED AP, is a Senior Design Technology Specialist with CASE, a consultancy that provides technology-driven process innovation to the AECO industry. In this role he is engaged in research and development of work processes and software, and their application to design practice.

Mario holds degrees in mathematics and architecture, and is a licensed architect who has practiced for over 30 years. He has also worked in software development, computer-aided facility management, and construction. He is an active participant in industry standards organizations, and a frequent speaker in support of Building Information Modeling and Integrated Project Delivery. His recent work has focused on strategies for engaging users, overcoming their objections, and providing solutions to the difficulties they encounter. He is an avid computer programmer, using rapid prototyping strategies to promote best practice and advanced design capability, and to provide direct value to projects.

East Bay Revit User Group - Advanced Techniques for Managing Building Data in Autodesk Revit

The collection and management of building data, including the requirements for rooms, equipment, and other needs, as it evolves from early design through construction documentation and as a basis for facility management, can be enhanced through advanced techniques in Autodesk Revit software. This includes linking to an external data source, automating the creation of areas and rooms, creating room data sheets, and other graphic and non-graphic processes that complement BIM. This class covers basic database theory, the structure of objects and their relation to data management, and Revit techniques for implementing this general theory in actual projects. We will also discuss third-party software and customizations, and how they are used to further advance these processes. The class goes beyond learning Revit commands and looks at the underlying information requirements of emerging integration in project delivery.

This is a repeat of a class presented at Autodesk University in December of last year.

Who Should Attend 
The class will be of interest to AEC industry professionals and software developers who are concerned with how information is managed. The topics are fairly advanced and theoretical, not focused on learning Revit commands.

When
February 11th 2014 - 11:30am - 1:00pm 

Where
AIA East Bay
1405 Clay Street
Oakland, CA 94612 

Register Now!

About the Presenter 
Mario Guttman, AIA, LEED AP, is a Senior Design Technology Specialist with CASE, a consultancy that provides technology-driven process innovation to the AECO industry. In this role he is engaged in research and development of work processes and software, and their application to design practice.

Mario holds degrees in mathematics and architecture, and is a licensed architect who has practiced for over 30 years. He has also worked in software development, computer-aided facility management, and construction. He is an active participant in industry standards organizations, and a frequent speaker in support of Building Information Modeling and Integrated Project Delivery. His recent work has focused on strategies for engaging users, overcoming their objections, and providing solutions to the difficulties they encounter. He is an avid computer programmer, using rapid prototyping strategies to promote best practice and advanced design capability, and to provide direct value to projects.

The 80/20 Rule

The phrase 80/20 rule gets used by a lot of pundits to describe "that 80 percent of all our results in business and in life stem from a mere 20 percent of our efforts."

The original 80/20 rule came from the Pareto Principal which talks about root cause analysis - 80% of effects come from 20% of the causes. 

My 80/20 Rule 
It has been my experience that the first 80% of any task or project takes 20% of the time - and - the last 20% of a task or project takes 80% of the time.

Here are some examples:

1. Trade partners (construction subcontractors) will get about 80% of the work done, leaving 20% to be found by others. 
2. Students will prepare for about 80% of the test material, hoping the last 20% will not be on the test. 
3. Kids will clean 80% of their room, and hide the last 20% under the bed or closet.
4. Team members are gung-ho to finish the first 80%, but have other priorities at the last 20%. 

Why Does the Last 20% Need the Most Attention? 
It needs the attention because that is where the 'finish' zone is. The finish zone is where all the: 

• Synthesis is done. 
• Customer receives the value of the service. 
• The job /task/project is DONE and COMPLETE. 

The last 20% may be the hardest part, but it is worthy of the same attention and dedication and thoughtfulness as the first 80%. Here are some strategies: 

1. Understand the last 20% will be harder and give it the appropriate amount of project time. 
2. Give the effort that is required. It is hard being the last 20% team member, but I say it is rewarding to be a part of the 'finishing' team. 
3. Use more checks and balances so the last 20% is not so much about fixing things (see Last Planner, Agile methodology, and writing effective requirements.)

Finally, the pundits say "that 80 percent of all our results in business and in life stem from a mere 20 percent of our efforts." I think here they are talking about most of our time in life and business is not spent in productive pursuits. How much time do we spend trying to find that email the boss sent out that he/she wants an answer on? Too much time, I agree.

A job worth doing is worth doing well (and to completion). Planning well and good execution are the keys to success. 

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David Haynes, NCARB, PMP, LEED AP
Ideate Director of Consulting

David is a Registered Architect, Project Management Certified Professional, who previously had his own architectural practice and was President of a commercial design-build construction company for 15 years. A graduate of University of Arizona, he has worked as an Architect, contractor, developer and as a national construction manager for a national retailer. David currently provides business process analysis, virtualization and change management solutions for AEC clients across the United States involved in the design and building industry. Follow David on Twitter: @dhaynestech 

Get it. Know it. Use it.

This post was originally published on David’s blog Connecting the [Data]…