President’s Letter: Our Human Network
In an article written for Harvard Business Review, Christopher Meyer outlines what he thought were the components of a "human network" made up of people gathered around an idea, concept, or purpose. He states that there are five basic tasks of these networks that are most successful.
They scan the horizon for patterns with implication on future strategy
They solve problems common to the group
They innovate for the benefit of the members
They exert influence by banding together
They allocate resources for the betterment of the network
When I read this article, I was reminded about how AUGI fills these tasks and how we collectively are a human network devoted to bettering our members in their use of Autodesk technology.
AUGI scans the horizon. The Forums and events allow our members to communicate what they see over the horizon. By interacting with each other, our members are able to peer into the distance. They are standing on the shoulders of those who have looked toward the horizon before and it allows them to see even farther.
AUGI solves problems. It does not take too long to see how AUGI helps you and all members answer those tough questions and bring new ideas to others that solve their problems. A quick scan of the Forums and you can see the daily exuberance of our members to find answers and provide them.
AUGI innovates. The collection of all these questions and answers allows our members to generate new ideas and ways of using the tools. Ways to work faster. Ways to be more productive. Ways to do things that have not been done before.
AUGI exerts influence. Our members communicate our desires for the tools by way of the AUGI Wish Lists. These provide an organized method of feedback to Autodesk. The formal process gives them a regular stream of ideas from the most well informed and trained users on the planet. This process is event driven in the submission of wishes and the ranking of them. The constant flow of ideas comes from interacting with Autodesk employees on the forums, at our events, and via our publications. The influence that AUGI has on the development of the tools we all use should not be underestimated.
AUGI allocates resources for the betterment of the members. The Board of Directors listens to the members and the industries we serve. We listen to the technology landscape to see what can benefit our members. We then plan for the increase of benefits, the introduction of new features, and the refinement of what we have now. The greatest allocation is done by our member volunteers. It is their time, given to the members at large, that supports the continuation of the group. Without the volunteers, we could not continue to do what we are doing.
AUGI is a network of people - members who desire to better themselves through interaction with other like-minded members. This is done online, at events, through our publications, and directly with each other via personal friendships that develop over years of interaction. We seek to expand these areas of interaction and enable even more sharing of knowledge.
