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Most recent blog entries
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Manufacturing Automation editorial: SaaS not profitable? |
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Joel Orr
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By Joel Orr on
7/28/2008
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In an interesting editorial, Jeff Moad quotes Larry Ellison to the effect that Oracle has not managed to make money with "software as a service" (SaaS) applications, and that he thinks it's a major challenge that is probably slowing down some rollouts.
It's a fascinating point - and a sobering one. Investors and customers alike seem to be demanding that software vendors convert to SaaS as soon as possible. The customer benefits are obvious--less hardware; less IT management; easier to expense; software is always up to date. But if it is to work for vendors, the economics have to make sense.
According to Moad, Salesforce.com, SAP, and others simply set prices too low. That surprises me; was the expectation to make it up in volume?
CAD vendors are saluting the SaaS flag with more and more vigor, although bandwidth issues have limited full-blown transition t ...
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Ashby on Variety |
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Jack Ring
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By Jack Ring on
7/27/2008
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Variety clarified.
As we discern system behaviors that are dubbed 'complexity' by those less able to navigate the three facets of Extent, Variety and Ambiguity, a clear understanding of what at least Ashby meant by 'variety' may be useful. The seminal article, Ashby W.R. (1958) "Requisite variety and its implications for the control of complex systems," Cybernetica 1:2, p. 83-99, It is now available for download from the Principia Cybernetica site:
http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/Books/AshbyReqVar.pdf
&l ...
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Model-driven Engineering? |
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Jack Ring
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By Jack Ring on
7/23/2008
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Now that specification-based engineering is being supeseded by modeling how shall we avoid confusion about modeling?
A recent CfP stated "Model-Driven Engineering is about creating, transforming, generating, interpreting, weaving models using modelling languages, tools, etc."
Made me wonder where the problem statement came from that triggers such engineering.
Does the author mean Model-Building Engineering (as in We Are Driven) instead of Model-driven?
If the author described MDE properly, then in what ways is model-based systems engineering, MBSE, distinct from this MDE?
And should we first model the problematic siituation in order to make sure that the engineering effort addresses the right problem?
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CAD History book available on-line |
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David Weisberg
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By Dave Weisberg on
7/23/2008
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For the past five years, I have been working on a book covering the history of the CAD industry. At COFES 2008 I announced that the book, The Engineering Design Revolution - The People, Companies and Computer Systems that Changed Forever the Practice of Engineering, would be made freely available on-line. That has occurred and the book can be accessed at www.cadhistory.net. Each chapter can be individually downloaded or the entire book is available as a single download.
Accoding to Jon Peddie, this is now an $8 billion industry. The book describes how this all started shortly after World War II when MIT began applying its early computer technology to the development of NC machine tools. The Engineering Design Revolution covers how this led to SKETCHPAD, the Electronic Drafting Machine (Itek and CDC) and the formation of Computervision and Applicon. There are 22 chapters that des ...
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ANSYS Added to Russell 1000 Index |
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Russ Henke
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By Russ Henke on
7/8/2008 9:07 AM
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In the June 29, 2008 blog entry in this space, entitled, “Will the ‘Big 3’ EDA Vendors soon become the ‘Big 2’??”, it was parenthetically mentioned that MCAE vendor ANSYS was in the process of absorbing EDA vendor ANSOFT.
ANSYS and ANSOFT had agreed that ANSYS would acquire ANSOFT for a purchase price of approximately $832 million in a mix of cash and ANSYS common stock based on the 10-day trailing average closing price of ANSYS common stock prior to the original announcement of the pending transaction on March 31, 2008.
ANSYS received SEC clearance for the ANSOFT acquisition on June 23, 2008. A special meeting of the ANSOFT stockholders to approve the transaction has been set for July 23, 2008.
Meanwhile, on July 8, 2008, ANSYS announced that it has been listed on this year's Russell 1000(R) stock index. ANSYS was one of six companies in the technology sector just added to the Russell large-cap index.< ...
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My granddaughter, Ruth Cooper, is a new mom! |
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Joel Orr
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By Joel Orr on
7/1/2008
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If you've been to COFES, you've met Ruth. Her husband Jason called me a little while ago to say that Ruth gave birth today at 8:27 pm EDT to a healthy boy! Name, weight, etc. to follow...Ruth is feeling great, as is Jason the new dad - and of course, the entire family!
Happy great-grandpa Joel
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Will the ‘Big 3’ EDA Vendors soon become the ‘Big 2’ ?? |
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Russ Henke
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By Russ Henke on
6/29/2008 7:43 AM
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Mergers & Acquisitions are hardly rare in the world of Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) or Computer Aided Design (CAD). Indeed, seldom does a quarter pass without one Electronic Design Automation (EDA) vendor buying another. The same is true in the Mechanical CAE and Mechanical CAD/PLM industries.
Indeed, being acquired by one of the top three vendors in EDA or in MCAD is a favorite exit strategy for small start-ups that develop a specialized or breakthrough technology. This exit path is especially attractive as the IPO market for venture-backed companies dries up.
While EDA companies usually buy smaller EDA companies, and MCAD companies likewise, it’s not unheard of for crossover to occur. For example, MCAE vendor ANSYS recently acquired EDA vendor ANSOFT.
More unusual, however, is for one of the leading EDA or MCAD vendor companies to acquire one of the other members of their respective oligopolies.
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Just in time for the 2008 Summer Solstice |
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Russ Henke
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By Russ Henke on
6/19/2008 5:12 PM
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The latest the AP-Ipsos survey results are just in, measured in mid-June. And guess what! More Americans than ever say the country is going in the wrong direction! Seventy six percent (76%) now say the country is definitely on the wrong track. That's up from 71% in April and 66% near the end of 2007.
Some 17% still (inexplicably) insist that the country is going in the right direction. That’s the lowest percentage of die-hards ever recorded by the survey.
The overall level of US pessimism is the worst in almost 30 years, worse than Bush 43’s first recession, worse than Bush 41’s recession, and worse than Reagan’s economic dips. Consumer confidence alone is now the lowest it’s been in 28 years. Most blame the current rising food and gas prices, falling home values and unending war. Imagine that! Asked about Bush 43’s handling of the US economy, 72% said they disapproved.
"Fo ...
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