Autodesk Growth Playbook
Make anything.
Architecture
Standard
Strategy
Acquisition
The Spark
John Walker saw that the drafting table was a thing of the past and that the future of architecture and engineering lay in 'Computer-Aided Design' that could handle million-part assemblies.
The Growth Engine
The 'DWG' File-Format Network Effect & The 'Full-Lifecycle' Monopoly: Autodesk tacticaly won by owning the 'Language' of infrastructure. Their growth engine is 'The Industry-Standard File Format'—where every architect, contractor, and city planner *must* use AutoCAD/Revit to communicate. By aggressively acquiring every relevant niche tool (Maya for VFX, Fusion 360 for manufacturing), they built a 'Cradle-to-Grave' creative monopoly. Their growth relies on 'BIM' (Building Information Modeling) mandates—where government contracts literally require the use of their specific software standards, making competition near-impossible.