Live Webinar – November 16th 2012, 12:00-1:00 PM EDT
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

The concepts of delighting your customer, continuous improvement, and self-organized team don’t only live within an Agile project. Some projects based on scope, internal culture, rules and processes require different approaches. But a different approach should not stop professionals for practicing “Agile” values.

It is a principle of Project Management that every project will produce something of value for the Sponsor (Business Value).

This value can be strategic (e.g. creating a new market; improved customer retention) or tactical (e.g. adding new function to a system; optimizing business process).

While the Business Value of a project is always implicit, it is often not clearly defined at the start of a project. This is a mistake.

Without this information, the project manager is left without important guidance on how to plan and execute the project, and realization of intended Business Value is placed at risk.

Project Portfolio Management makes it very clear:
Every project is an investment.

It is essential that all of the players understand what is at stake so that the project can be defined and executed in such a way that Business Value is maximized.

Having clear project objectives allows us to measure the success of the project to the point of its conclusion. Measuring Business Value after project completion goes further, allowing us to measure success at the business level.

It should be the goal of every Project Manager to create a solid foundation for Business Value realization. Making Business Value an integral part of project planning and execution adds depth and power to the most fundamental concepts in project management.

This web seminar establishes a practical definition of Business Value, and then explores what optimization of that value means for our understanding of the role of Project Manager, conduct of the project, and successful realization of Business Goals.

Topics include:

• Project Objectives versus Business Objectives – assigning accountability
• Seeing projects as investments
• Rethinking the roles of Sponsor and Project Manager
• Common project practices that diminish Business Value
• Managing projects to optimize Business Value realization

Click to register for Integrating VALUE Into Long Duration Projects

Live Webinar – November 16th, 2012 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EST
Duration: 1 Hour Credits: 1 PDU Category B – Free PDU
Note: NetObjectives is an REP (#3045) This opportunity is a Category B PDU

ATDD Is More About Understanding What Needs To Be Created
Than It Is About The Testing

Validation of software must begin with validating what is being built, not did we build it correctly. The most expensive way to validate what we think is needed is by writing production code. Improving the conversation between whoever represents the customer, the developers and testers is the most effective, fastest and lowest cost method available.

ATDD is about improving that conversation between these parties early in the development cycle.

One of the first things companies should do is implement ATDD into their development methods, regardless of what they are. This is because ATDD represents more a change in timing of the work.

Little, if any, additional work is required. Yet, much waste in the development process can be avoided.

Hence. for teams that are already overwhelmed and are wondering how they can improve without adding additional burden to their development organizations in doing so, ATDD represents one of the best places to start.

Presenter: Alan Shalloway (Linkedin Profile & @alshalloway) is the founder and CEO of Net Objectives. With 40 years experience, Alan is a thought leader in Lean, Kanban, PPM, Scrum and agile design. He is the author of Design Patterns Explained: A New Perspective on Object-Oriented Design, Lean-Agile Pocket Guide for Scrum Teams, Lean-Agile Software Development: Achieving Enterprise Agility, and Essential Skills for the Agile Developer: A Guide to Better Programming and Design. Alan is a co-founder and board member for the Lean Software and Systems Consortium.

Click to register for Acceptance Test-Driven-Development: A great place to start

Live Webinar November 15th, 2012 – 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm EST
Duration: 1.5 Hours 1.5 Category C PDU – Free PDUs
Presented by: Praxis (REP #1231)

NOTE: Although Praxis is an REP they have stated that this opportunity will not be registered with PMI® as a Category A opportunity. If you have any questions contact Mrs Jamie Morris with Praxis. See below for Category C documentation details.

Spreadsheets are the most prevalent user-created software applications in business today

They’re quick and easy to create, and they’re useful not only for crunching numbers, but also for tracking data.

But, when and how should you validate these tools?

Join Praxis for a discussion of the best practices spreadsheet data and function validation.

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 Spreadsheet Validation

Live Webinar November 14th, 2012 – 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EST
Duration: 1 Hour Credits: 1 PDU Category C – Free PDU
Featured Sponsor : Jama

• How do you deliver great products and services consistently that drive results?
• How do you manage the development process effectively with the entire business?

Product development is now a mission-critical function for organizations and it stretches beyond the engineering team demanding greater coordination and communication company-wide.

There are known challenges such as scope creep, managing change and quality control …

• But what about the hidden challenges?
• How do you avoid the pitfalls that are less obvious and exist in the “white spaces” within your company?

These challenges are very real and have a huge impact on speed, quality and costs.

Join experts from Jama Software and guest presenter Tom Grant from Forrester Research, Inc. as they address the top 5 hidden challenges of product delivery and provide real-world insights for how to solve them. Learn how new technologies are enabling companies to reinvent product delivery to meet their business needs.

Receive A Copy Of The Forrester Report: Webinar attendees will receive a complimentary copy of “High-Value Requirements Are Changing App Dev And Delivery” by Tom Grant, a $499 value.

Topics covered:

• Requirements management
• Product development and delivery
• Managing expectations
• Collaboration and communication

PDU Category C documentation details:

Process Groups: Planning Executing

Knowledge Areas: 4 – Integration 5 – Scope 6 – Time 10 – Communications

• 4.3 Direct and Manage Project Execution
• 5.2 Define Scope
• 6.5 Develop Schedule
• 10.2 Plan Communications

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’

Presenters:
Tom Grant, Ph.D. and Senior Analyst for Application Development and Delivery at Forrester Research, Inc.
Eric Winquist, CEO and co-founder at Jama Software

Click to register for Top 5 Hidden Challenges of Product Delivery That Kill Results