Live Webinar August 27th, 2014 – 9:30 pm – 11:00 pm EDT or
Live Webinar August 27th, 2014 – 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm EDT
Duration: 1.5 Hr Webinar Credits: 1.5 PDU Category A – Free PDU
Sponsored by: RBCS (REP #2986)

The hot trend these days is to talk about cross-functional, self-organizing teams, and to disparage specialization.

For example, Ken Schwaber wrote, “You don’t have to be a tester to test, or a designer to design.” But is that really true?

Would you accept the following statements?

• If you’re a baseball player, you don’t have to be a pitcher to pitch, or a catcher to catch.
• If you’re a musician, you don’t have to be a violinist to play violin, or a pianist to play piano.

If those statements make you uncomfortable, you’re not alone.

In this webinar, Rex will explain:

1.  Why specialization matters.
2. He will explain the science and psychology behind specialization.
3. He will offer three specific case studies where a lack of specialized skills contributed to dramatic failures,
4. And … three case studies where the presence of skills averted similar failures.

You’ll go away with some food for thought, and perhaps a determination to reorganize the way you manage your teams.

Presenter: Rex Black (Amazon profile) is President of RBCS, a leader in software, hardware, and systems testing. RBCS employs the industry’s most experienced and recognized consultants, RBCS conducts product testing, builds and improves testing groups and hires testing staff for hundreds of clients worldwide. As the leader of RBCS, Rex is the most prolific author practicing in the field of software testing today.

Check Out some of Rex Black’s Great Books:

1. Foundations of Software Testing ISTQB Certification
2. Managing the Testing Process: Practical Tools and Techniques for Managing Hardware and Software Testing
3. Advanced Software Testing – Vol. 1: Guide to the ISTQB Advanced Certification as an Advanced Test Analyst (Rockynook Computing)
4. Advanced Software Testing – Vol. 2: Guide to the Istqb Advanced Certification as an Advanced Test Manager
5. Advanced Software Testing – Vol. 3: Guide to the ISTQB Advanced Certification as an Advanced Technical Test Analyst
6. Critical Testing Processes: Plan, Prepare, Perform, Perfect
7. Pragmatic Software Testing: Becoming an Effective and Efficient Test Professional
8. ISTQB Foundation Exam Preparation Guide
9. ISTQB Advanced Test Manager Exam Preparation Guide 2nd edition

Click to register for the 9:30 pm – 11:00 pm EDT presentation of In Praise of Specialization

Click to register for the 2:00 am – 3:30 pm EDT presentation of In Praise of Specialization

Live Webinar – August 26th, 2014 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm  EDT
Presented by: Eclipse Project Portfolio Management
Duration: 1 hour 1 PDUs Credits: Category C 1 PDU- Free PDU

During the project intake process all projects are considered critical, all others never get approved. So how do you decide which “critical” projects are most critical?

These decisions are typically made politically, emotionally or without consistency.

The Impact:

• Poor resource utilization
• Frustrated resources
• Projects not aligned with strategic objectives
• Higher risk and lower ROI

Solution Q invites you to attend a webinar demonstrating a balanced approach to prioritizing initiatives. Projects affect many aspects of your business; all factors should be considered when taking on a new project. Learn the prioritization secrets of successful companies using a Project Portfolio Management mentality.

The Result:

• Decreased risk
• Higher ROI
• Optimized resource utilization
• Maximum aggregate value of projects

Who should attend this webinar?
Managers/Directors of PMOs, Project Managers

NOTE: You may have to hit the MORE… link to register for this session on the registration page.

PDU Category C (PMBOK 5) documentation details:

Process Groups: Planning, Monitoring & Controlling
Knowledge Areas: 4 – Integration

• 4.1 Develop Project Charter
• 4.2 Develop Project Management Plan

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 to Prioritize Projects When Each One is Critical

Online Webinar – Recorded June 4th, 2014
Duration: 48 min Hour ea Credits: .75 Category C – Free PDU
Presented by: HR.com & 7 Geese

In June of 2014 Wendy Pat Fong  Director of Customer Success at  7 Geese presented a webinar on “How to Implement OKRs to align your team and drive performance”.

What was covered during the webinar:

• What are OKRs
• How OKRs drive performance
• How to set OKRs
• What to do with OKRs in the end
• Frequently asked questions
• Using OKRs at 7Geese and a Q&A session

Presenter: Wendy Pat Fong (LinkedIn profile, @WendyPFong) holds a BA in psychology and a Diploma in HR Management. She helps 7Geese customers with onboarding, training, and adoption. She is also an OKRs coach, consulting customers who want to adopt the Objectives and Key Results methodology.

PDU Category C documentation details (for this conference):
Process Groups: Executing
Knowledge Areas: 9 – Human Resources

• 4.3 Direct and Manage Project Work
• 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 view  How To Drive Performance: Objectives & Key Results (OKRs) (and slide down that page)

Live Webinar August 26th, 2014 – 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm EDT
Presented by:  Human Capital Institute
Webinar Duration: 1 Hour Credits: 1 Category C PDU – Free PDU

Recruitment & Employee Engagement Are Linked

Employee engagement starts long before an employee ever thinks about applying to your organization. That’s why today’s employers are taking a more holistic approach when it comes to workplace engagement.

Same holds true for onboarding. There’s an opportunity to build an onboarding process that does more than provide the typical orientation experience.

Join Sharlyn Lauby Author of The HR Bartender Blog (LinkedIn profile) for a discussion about the current state of employee engagement and five ways organizations can build engagement strategies into their orientation process.

She will also talk about the best way to integrate these new ideas into your existing onboarding program.

PDU Category C (PMBOK 5) documentation details
Process Groups: Executing
Knowledge Areas: 9 – Human Resources

• 9.2 Acquire 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 5 Ways Your Onboarding Process Can Improve Employee Engagement