Live Webinar – November 13th 2012, 12:00-1:00 PM EST
Offered by ASPE (REP 2161) 1 Category A PDU – Free PDU
This is a 1 hour seminar and attendees will be awarded 1 PDU for participating

As Agile grows, people who learned about it at a 5th, 6th or 7th degree of separation from the “founding fathers” of Agile sometimes see it as process or a science type method.

That sentiment about Agile isn’t 100% incorrect, but the reality is that Agile is much more at its core.

1. It is based on a core perspective from which process/methods flow out.
2. It is about – seeing the world, conducting yourself, working in a team, and doing actual work the Agile way.

Sounds like a cult, right?

Well, in some cases it is. But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If a “utopian” work environment is something you are looking to be a part of, Agile can possibly take you there.

Remember the four basic values:

• Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
• Working software over comprehensive documentation
• Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
• Responding to change over following a plan

If done right you can gain high morale and develop a highly productive work environment (maybe even utopian depending on your perspective). The interesting thing about these values though, is that they pretty much run counter to how we currently conduct business, and how human beings naturally think, act and react.

In this presentation you will learn about the methods around these four basic values and learn about the change management challenges that come with agile adoption.

We will touch on what Scrum means, how to conduct an iteration, what is a task board, how to do a proper retrospective, and how planning is handled in Agile.

On top of that we will review government adaption of agile and use our experience with the VA as a semi-case study on Agile in government. Finally, the topic of certification will be reviewed with a detailed discussion of both Scrum Alliance certification programs and the new PMI-ACP credential.

This session will give you a working knowledge of agile and allow you dig deeper into its methods and practices with a solid, foundational understanding. We will also discuss Federal government policies and procedures and how those are impacted by agile deployment.

Presenter: Russ Fletcher (LinkedIn profile) is a seasoned IT executive with broad business experience. For nearly 20 years Mr. Fletcher has been consulting with, improving or leading technical businesses or IT departments with an eye toward making IT a competitive advantage and a strategic strength. Using humor mixed with real-world experience, Russ’ training classes and follow-on consulting help his teams succeed and improve dramatically

Click to register for Agile Primer for Government Managers

Live Webinar November 14th, 2012 11:00 am – 12:00 pm EST
Duration: 1 hour Credits: 1 PDU Category B – Free PDU
Presented by PROJECTinsight (Metafuse Inc)

Integration is the second most important job of the project manager,
After communication

• How do you manage the interfaces between the PMBOK® Guide process groups to achieve a smoother integration between initiating, planning, and executing the project?
• When is it most important to control the project?
• How do the processes lead to a successful close?

Attend this webinar with Project Insight to find out.

Learn To:

• Describe the process flow of initiation, planning, executing, monitoring and control and closing
• Identify techniques to transition from planning to executing
• Monitor and control a project throughout its life cycle
• Define best practices to implement within Project Insight

Who should attend:

• Project managers, Portfolio managers,
• Project team members, Project Leads,
• Project sponsors & function/business unit managers,
• Subject Matter Experts, Business Analysts, Scheduling Specialists and ….
• Other business stakeholders.

Click to register for Integration: Working the Project Flow

Live Webinar November 12th, 2012 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm EST
Duration: 1 hour Webcast + Q & A – 1 Category C PDU – Free PDU
Event Code: 162120 A Microsoft Event Presented by: Imaginet

TFS provides a robust, enterprise-grade version control system

But how you use that system will determine your level of success?

Much has been written about the ‘right way’ to branch and merge your code. But the fact is, there is no one single best way.

This Webinar will discuss the common patterns used for branching and merging code and, more importantly, why to adopt one.

Imaginet will talk through aggregate branching models, trade-offs for release management and development, and how to evolve your existing code into the right branching model. Join us for this session and learn how to define the right branching and merging strategy for your team!

PDU Category C documentation details:

Process Groups: Executing

Knowledge Areas: 4- Integration 6 – Time 8 – Quality 9 – Human Resources

• 4.3 Direct and Monitor Project Execution
• 6.1 Define Activities
• 8.1 Plan Quality
• 9.3 Develop Project Team

As a Category C ‘Self Directed Learning Activity’ remember to document your learning experience and its relationship to project management for your ‘PDU Audit Trail Folder’

Please Note: In order to attend the webinar series attendees will need to have a Windows Live ID. A link to set up this ID is located on the registration site. Please do this prior to the session

Click to register for Branching and Merging and Bears, Oh My!

Live Webinar – November 14th, 2012 1:00 – 2:00 PM EST
Duration: 1 Hours + QA – 1 Category C Self Directed Learning PDUs
Presented by: SD Times (Software Development Times)

Smart organizations are always on the hunt for software development methods that bridge the gap between business objectives and development activity.

Despite hiring highly intelligent people on both sides of the divide, achieving business objectives based on predictable project outcomes remains a challenge. Unless there’s a concerted effort to recognize and bridge this divide the “geek gap” will always exist.

Software is now the primary interface to most businesses, which means that developers’ daily coding decisions are ultimately business decisions.

Today, businesses are effectively allowing developers to make critical decisions that impact the security, performance, functionality, and reliability of the application.

In this webinar, SD Times will explore why and how to close this geek gap by leveraging a centralized development testing platform.

They Will Cover:

• Reasons for the geek gap and the business risks associated with it
• How to assess the severity of your organization’s geek gap
• How a centralized development testing platform can bridge this gap in a way that not only delivers more predictable project outcomes, but also provides the opportunity for continuous process improvement.

Presenters :
Wayne Ariola, (LinkedIn profile) Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development, leads the development and execution of Parasoft’s long-term strategy. Wayne has contributed to the design of core Parasoft technologies and has been awarded several patents for his inventions.

Arthur Hicken, (LinkedIn profile) Evangelist for Parasoft, has been involved in automating various practices at Parasoft for almost 20 years. Arthur has worked on projects including database development, the software development lifecycle, web publishing and monitoring, and integration with legacy systems.

PDU Category C documentation details:

Process Groups: Planning Executing

Knowledge Areas: 4 – Integration 5 – Scope 8 – Quality

• 4.3 Direct and Manage Project Execution
• 4.4 Monitor & Control Project Work
• 5.2 Define Scope
• 8.1 Plan Quality

As a Category C, ‘Self Directed Learning’, activity remember to document your learning experience and its relationship to project management for your ‘PDU Audit Trail Folder.’

Click to register for Closing the Geek Gap with a Development Testing Platform

Live Webinar – November 14th, 2012 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EST
Presented by: Training Magazine
Duration: 1 Hour 1 Category C PDU – Free PDU

We all use a variety of thinking styles in our daily lives, but we tend to favor some and rarely use others-and that hurts our ability to make good decisions. Taking a thinking assessment can help you find the right balance, so you can make the best choices, in life and at work.

Join Training magazine and TalentLens, a Pearson business, for a special complimentary webinar November 14 and learn how to improve your effectiveness and that of your team by leveraging new thinking styles.

When you register for the webinar, you will have the opportunity to take the My Thinking Styles assessment and receive your free personalized development report. Then, during the Webinar, Dr. Judy Chartrand, chief scientist at TalentLens, will give a brief overview of the seven thinking styles and help you interpret your results.

The Seven Powerful Thinking Styles include:

• Analytical
• Inquisitive
• Insightful
• Open-Minded
• Systematic
• Timely
• Truth Seeking

Knowing your preferred style will help you approach problems and decisions with the right mindset. Your development report will unlock a unique combination that will help you be more successful with your decisions, relationships, projects, and every aspect of your life-so don’t miss this opportunity!

Presenter: Judy Chartrand (LinkedIn profile) is the author of Now You’re Thinking!: Change Your Thinking…Transform Your Life. As the the chief scientist at Pearson TalentLens, she works with corporate and consulting clients, helping them implement assessment solutions that foster employee development, teambuilding, retention, high-potential engagement, career management, and succession planning.

PDU Category C documentation details

Process Groups: Executing

Knowledge Areas: 9 – Human Resources

• 9.3 Develop Project Team
• 9.4 Manage Project Team

As a Category C ‘Self Directed Learning Activity’ remember to document your learning experience and its relationship to project management for your ‘PDU Audit Trail Folder’

Click to register for How Do YOU Think? And Can You Think Better for Better Results?