Last minute seat sale! Certified Scope Manager (CSM) workshops Apr 27-May 1, 2009 TAMPA FL

Dear colleague,

A few months ago I conducted a series of webinars on Scope Management and the Certified Scope Manager (CSM). Now our scheduled training is fast approaching, and for loyal blog readers, we're having a seat sale!

In just over 2 weeks, (April 27-May 1, 2009!) we are conducting Certified Scope Manager workshops in Tampa, FL. As a blog reader here, you are entitled to a 20% discount for any single or multiple workshop - so register today! (Simply indicate "BLOG" beside your name on the registration form and we'll adjust the total for you.)

Please visit http://www.qualityplustech.com/CSM_training.html to register. Purchase orders and payment arrangements can be made for this seat sale. Register today and make a difference in your organization and your career!

We hope to see you in Tampa April 27- May 1, 2009.

Have a nice week!

Regards,
Carol Dekkers
Carol Dekkers email: dekkers@qualityplustech.com
http://www.qualityplustech.com/
http://www.caroldekkers.com/
Contact Carol to keynote your upcoming event - her style translates technical matters into digestible soundbites, humorously and forthright.
View also Carol Dekkers' general blog at http://caroldekkers.wordpress.com/ ============Copyright 2009, Carol Dekkers ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ============= Posted by Carol Dekkers Labels: Communication,

Scope Management for IT Customers - it's the right thing to do!

I spoke on the topic of Scope Management ("Scope Management - Is it the rainbow or the pot of gold") at the Quality Management Division (of ASQ) conference in Irvine, CA on Friday, March 6, 2009. Building on the 12 steps of the Northern Scope(TM) process and presenting how scope management addresses the major IT development deficiencies cited by the Standish Group's CHAOS report, it became obvious that formalized Scope Management is simply due diligence for IT programmes. It provides the means for Customers to direct the programme and to ensure that what they receive as the software solution matches and solves their business problems. While the IT Supplier side of the equation has been working diligently to improve their processes over the past years (via the Capability Maturity Model and other models of improvement), their focus is on providing the software solution. Where the IT development still struggles lies with dysfunctional behaviors on the part of both sides - but it really has little to do with the building and construction process once the piece(s) of software are well defined. Where the dysfunction is rooted is in the dynamics of the fundamental customer/supplier relationship and how work is contracted:

1. Customers need technology solutions to their business problems and understand that such solution will be a major financial and people investment. Due to factors such as history (past IT projects that exceeded their budgets), time pressure (the director announced that this unnamed project will be delivered by xx date), budget cycles (we need to allocate the right amount of dollars now) -- customers demand firm fixed price estimates before requirements for a program of work. This arrangement is always a losing proposition because the supplier is forced to estimate something as amorphous as ether - in other words to give a firm price for a "bag of work" for which there is not yet a definition! This is like me wanting a new house somewhere (TBD) - and demanding a price before the location, floorplan, or even my needs are known.

2. Suppliers faced with demands for a fixed price solution before the problem is even known endeavor to be paid for the work that they will do to fulfill the customer's needs. Because there is so much uncertainty at this preliminary stage, suppliers see that they will expend hours to develop and deliver the software and systems solution. They want to be paid for hours they work on the programme.

There are several fundamental disconnects at play here:
a) The "bag of work" is undefined. If someone could examine the basic components of the work to be done (new software developed, conversion of existing data, fixing of old system programs, etc) - and divide it up into discrete "projects", that would be a start;
b) Firm fixed price will never work before requirements are known. The work at this preliminary point can be priced based on unit pricing (similar to cost per square foot) by the type of work identified in a.
c) Because both major parties to the programme (the customer and the supplier) have different expertise and speak different languages (the customer speaks business while the supplier speaks techie), communication can be less than optimal. While a business analyst or project manager can assist with this translation of business and techie language there can still be miscommunication because the goals of the partnership (minimize the investment to get the best possible solution versus be paid for the work done) are diametrically opposed.

Here is where scope management and a certified scope manager (CSM) fits in. A certified scope manager (CSM) is a bonafide and experienced IT and business professional who acts as the customer advocate throughout the software intensive system project. A CSM works on average a mere 2-3 person days per project per month - a minor investment when one considers the substantial savings in cost, morale, and communication it guarantees.

Customers no longer have to dread project meetings - in fact, when a neutral scope manager is involved, meetings typically run smoother and the customer receives more professional and honest answers about the work in progress than without.

A Certified Scope Manager (CSM) is a designation bestowed on an individual who has taken the 4 day CSM mandatory training courses plus any pre-requisite refresher workshops (4x 1day) and is qualified to assist the customer side of the IT development equation to ensure success with their project involvement -- and more importantly - with the outcome!

CSM training is scheduled the third week in April 2009 in Tampa, FL. All are invited to attend whether you represent a software consumer or a software supplier or builder. See http://www.qualityplustech.com/ for registration and payment details

Have a nice week!

Regards,
Carol Dekkers
Carol Dekkers email: dekkers@qualityplustech.com
http://www.qualityplustech.com/
http://www.caroldekkers.com/

Contact Carol to keynote your upcoming event - her style translates technical matters into digestible soundbites, humorously and forthright.

View also Carol Dekkers' general blog at http://caroldekkers.wordpress.com/ ============Copyright 2009, Carol Dekkers ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ============= Posted by Carol Dekkers Labels: Communication,

Certified Scope Manager - the new IT Job Role - FREE webinar this Wed. Dec. 3, 2008

The Professional Certified Scope Manager (CSM) - a New IT Job Role. – A webinar presented by Carol Dekkers
December 3rd, 2008-- 11:00 am - 12:30 pm Eastern Time

To register (there is no charge to attend this webinar), visit: http://solutions.compaid.com/forms/WebinarA20081203?ProcessType=PreReg

Are you worried about your job when we're all expected to do the same as yesterday but achieve better results? All this while we have tightened budgets, less time to complete our work, and little time for rework or risk-laden technology investments. Learn from Carol Dekkers, a main partner in the European Certificates Association for the Certified Scope Manager (CSM) job role, how becoming a Certified Scope Manager could insulate you from a potential job cut.
Recessions bring many things including added stress and discomfort for customers needing to streamline their business with uncertain technology solutions. Fixed price budgets do not serve either suppliers or customers well without solid requirements and in a down-turned economy, timeframes and resources are tightened even further.

The impact of rework, missed deadlines, budget excesses, and projects with missing or incorrect requirements is difficult to gauge, but blame increasingly is found to be shared equally between the customer and supplier. As a result of the ongoing frustration and the lack of an objective third party similar to a real estate agent, software intensive systems development may continue to derail until such time as accountants step in with their own cost-based accounting and other manufacturing approaches to remedy what they see as the issues.

This doesn’t need to happen. In the same way as a homebuyer hires a real estate agent to assist them in their search, evaluation, inspection, acquisition, financing (mortgage), and closure of a property to meet their needs (which may include construction and renovation); a new IT job role – that of a Certified Scope Manager (CSM) – can serve an analogous role on IT projects. Scope management is an emerging concept whereby a "scope manager" works throughout the preliminary requirements through to final delivery with software acquirers and suppliers to alleviate the scope management related ills that plague software intensive systems.

In this webinar, join 4SUM Partner, and Quality Plus Technologies President, Carol Dekkers and find out what is involved in the emerging job role of a Certified Scope Manager as defined by the European Certificates Association and the northernSCOPE™ concept from Finland. Ms. Dekkers is the author of two 2008 books related to scope management: Program Management Toolkit for software and systems development (published by Talentum) and The IT Measurement Compendium: Estimating and benchmarking success with Functional Size Measurement (published by Springer). Carol is heavily involved as a main partner in the European Certificates association for the Certified Scope Manager (CSM) job role, and she frequently gives keynote presentations on software measurement, scope management, global software development, and project management at international software conferences.

Target audience: Anyone who has a role in the success of a software or systems project including project managers, systems analysts, business analysts, quality assurance specialists, software and systems acquirers, metrics specialists, steering committee members, project sponsors, prospective scope managers, etc.

Learning takeaways from this webinar:
· Learn why scope management alleviates six of the top ten reasons for project failure
· Understand the 12 steps necessary for success with the northernSCOPE™ concept
· Discover if your skills match up with the mandatory pre-requisite and acquirable job requirements to become a CSM
· Identify the critical success factors for a CSM to make a clear difference on software intensive systems projects anywhere in the world.

To register (there is no charge to attend this webinar), visit: http://solutions.compaid.com/forms/WebinarA20081203?ProcessType=PreReg

Have a good week!
Carol
Carol Dekkers
email: dekkers@qualityplustech.com
http://www.qualityplustech.com/
http://www.caroldekkers.com/

Contact Carol for your keynote and speaking needs - she translates technical subjects into easily digestible soundbites - in a humorous and forthright manner. See http://www.caroldekkers.com/ for details of topics and opportunities.

View also Carol Dekkers' general blog at http://caroldekkers.wordpress.com/

============Copyright 2008, Carol Dekkers ALL RIGHTS RESERVED =============