The only way to alleviate this concern is to have everything documented and filed away. In order to determine whether or not upgrading the CAD systems was worth the effort, it will be necessary to gauge the overall effectiveness. First on the list is cost. How much money was spent, and how long did it take are sure to be the first two questions asked by senior management. Another concern is the affect that the upgrade had on active projects.
Lengthy delays show up on the project's bottom line.
Evaluating the users is another good way to gauge the effectiveness of the upgrade. Questionnaires and assessments are an excellent way to establish a benchmark to rate the upgrade against. If users show improvement in their understanding of the software and feel more capable to do their jobs, then the upgrade was a success. If they are confused, uncomfortable, and the projects were delayed, then it is safe to say that something went wrong. Summary Upgrading CAD systems is a challenging task.