The 2010 Software Best Practices Conferences


CAI and the IT Metrics & Productivity Institute are proud to present

The 2010 Software
Best Practices
Conference Schedule


 

Your Journey to World Class IT  

The 2010 Software Best Practices Conference is about improving the productivity and quality of your entire software development and maintenance organization, through world class IT management.

It is about leveraging best practice and software process improvement theory in order to achieve dramatic business success.

Each conference will feature expert speakers who have extensively researched and successfully applied these principles to the development and maintenance of software.

Their experiences include annual, double-digit software cost reductions along with corresponding service volume increases and software quality increases.

  • Understand the Theory!


  • Learn From Case Studies!


  • Find Out What Steps You Can Take Right Away!


  • Network with Industry Leaders and Colleagues!


You will leave this Conference with a clear, proven approach on how to adapt these lessons to your own IT organization!

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Program / Agenda


Ed Yourdon - Software Best Practices Conferences

Ed Yourdon

Author and International IT Consultant

Speaker Interview

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Learning to Love Software Maintenance

For decades, we've known that maintenance consumes approximately 70% of the typical enterprise software budget; and we also know that maintenance has a reputation for being the most boring, undesirable assignment that a programmer could ever get. Indeed, it's no surprise that we refer to people in our industry as "software developers," and only rarely as "software maintainers." Does this mean we are doomed to tolerate an industry of miserable professionals, doing as little as possible to fulfi ll the demands of a job they hate? Based on his 45 years of experience in the fi eld (which included a lot of maintenance work!), Ed Yourdon will help CIO's and senior IT executives (as well as project managers) transform software maintenance into an activity that has the respect, satisfaction, and excitement it deserves. And he'll offer practical advice for staffing an IT organization so that it can most effectively carry out an enterprise mission that is most likely to devote the majority of its resources to software maintenance.

Ed Yourdon is an internationally-recognized computer consultant, as well as the author of over 500 technical articles and 27 books, including "Byte Wars" , "Managing High-Intensity Internet Projects", "Death March", "Rise and Resurrection of the American Programmer", and "Decline and Fall of the American Programmer." His latest book, "Outsource: Competing in the Global Productivity Race", discusses both current and future trends in offshore outsourcing, and provides practical strategies for individuals, small businesses, and the nation to cope with this unstoppable tidal wave.

2010 Speaking Dates: Miami, 3/11; Philadelphia, 3/25, Trenton, 5/4; Rochester, 10/27

Capers Jones - Software Best Practices Conferences

Capers Jones

Chief Scientist Emeritus of Software Productivity Research, Inc. (SPR) and Author

Speaker Interview

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Analysis of New Technologies

The software industry is extremely active in developing new methodologies and technologies. Many of these are effective, but some are not. This presentation by Capers Jones uses a standard analytic approach for evaluating the effectiveness of new and emerging technologies on software development productivity, software maintenance productivity, and software quality. The current version of this presentation uses recent data to analyze Agile development, extreme programming, the ITIL library, SCRUM sessions, Watts Humphrey's Team Software Process (TSP) and Personal Software Process (PSP), Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA), and Six-Sigma for Software. These technologies are evaluated on the basis of the 12 known ways that software projects can be improved. The evaluation method also includes analysis of the optimal size ranges of the projects for using the technology: 1, 10, 100, 1,000, 10,000, and 100,000 function points. In addition, the evaluation method presentation discusses the suitability of the technologies for six types of software project: information technology (IT) projects, systems software, embedded software, commercial software, outsourced software, web software, and ERP-class projects. Recent productivity and quality data is included.

Capers Jones is Chief Scientist Emeritus of Software Productivity Research (SPR). Mr. Jones is the designer of several software cost and quality estimation tools including SPQR/20™, the first commercial software estimating tool to use function points as the basis for sizing source code and other deliverables such as specifications and user documents. He is also an international consultant on software management topics, a speaker, a seminar leader, and a prolific author. As an author, Mr. Jones has written 14 books including his best seller "Applied Software Measurement: Assuring Productivity and Quality." His most recent book is "Estimating Software Costs."

2010 Speaking Dates: Chicago, 4/29; Baltimore, 9/14; Detroit, 9/28; Tallahassee, 10/07; Philadelphia, 10/21;

Vic Basili - Software Best Practices Conferences

Vic Basili

Founding Executive Director, Fraunhofer Center, University of Maryland

Speaker Interview

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Metrics Based Management as a Core Competency

Managing a software business involves the ability to understand and make visible the processes and products, manage and control the various aspects of development and maintenance, and continually and systematically optimize those processes. It requires the development of core competencies specific to your software business; the ability to capture, analyze and synthesize experiences to provide project support based upon what the organization has learned to date. The key ingredient for establishing these core competences is measurement. In this presentation, Dr. Victor Basili discusses how this approach is reflected in the Goal/Question/Metric Paradigm, the Quality Improvement Paradigm and the Experience Factory Organization. These models are based on the need for measurement and feedback loops, from product to process and project to project. The end goal is the creation of a learning organization for building software competencies.

Victor R. Basili is currently Professor Emeritus at the University of Maryland and Chief Scientist at the Fraunhofer Center-Maryland, where he was founding director and was also one of the Founders and Principals in the NASA Goddard Software Engineering Laboratory (SEL). He has worked on measuring, evaluating, and improving the software development process and product and developed methods such as the Goal Question Metric Approach (GQM), the Quality Improvement paradigm (QIP), and the Experience Factory organization (EF) to help bring a sense of order to the ad-hoc development so prevalent in the software engineering field. Dr. Basili has developed, tailored, evaluated and evolved these techniques for many organizations and government agencies, including AT&T Bell Labs, Boeing, Coopers and Lybrand, Daimler, DoD, Ericsson, FAA, Fujitsu, GE, GTE, Hughes, IBM, Lucent, MCC, Motorola, Mutsuhito Panasonic, NASA, NEC, Nokia, Ricoh, and Sogei.

2010 Speaking Dates: Chicago, 4/29

Vic Basili - Software Best Practices Conferences

Tom Salvaggio

Managing Director, CAI

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The Application Support Opportunity

Tom Salvaggio will conduct an interactive discussion on how to reduce IT spend without cutting corners on quality, uptime, or business driven enhancements. By focusing on the application support arena, Tom will provide examples of how shifting your application support strategy to encompass structured processes and performance visibility leads to immediate and tangible business benefits. Including double-digit cost savings!

Tom Salvaggio serves as Managing Director for Computer Aid, Inc. (CAI).CAI is an Information Technology consulting and outsourcing services organization with over 2,500 associate world-wide. In his role, Tom is responsible for strategic planning, as well as the fi scal and operational management of a 600-person operating region. Tom's region spans eight states as well as Canada and the United Kingdom. Tom also serves as a member of Computer Aid's Inc. Executive Board and holds board positions for the company's Canadian and Philippine subsidiaries. Tom graduated from the Pennsylvania State University where he earned a B.S. in Finance in 1990.


Bob Charette - Software Best Practices Conferences

Bob Charette

President, ITABHI Corporation

Speaker Interview

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Why Do Software Projects Fail?

Why do software projects fail? It's simple, really. They're unaffordable. Why aren't they affordable? Because projects become overwhelmed by unplanned work and rework? Why does that happen? Because of a myriad of known but poorly managed risks, ranging from unrealistic project goals to sloppy development practices to commercial pressures that encourage taking gambles. All in all, software projects fail because the organization fails.  In this talk, Robert Charette will talk about why software projects fail, and what can be done from both a project and organizational perspective to minimize failure.

Dr. Robert Charette is the President of the ITABHI Corporation, an international high technology company involved in enterprise and program risk management consulting. He is the author of over 80 articles on software, systems, and business management in addition to the following books: "Software Engineering Environments: Concepts and Technology" (1986), "Software Engineering Risk Analysis & Management" (1989), "Applications Strategies for Risk Analysis" (1990), "Introduction to the Management of Risk" (1994, "A Unified Methodology for Systems Development" (1987) and "Decision Empowerment: A Parent's Guide to Raising Good Decision Makers' (2007). Several new books on managing enterprise risk are in progress.

2010 Speaking Dates: Miami, 3/11; Orlando, 4/8; Chicago, 4/29; Rochester, 10/27

Bob Charette - Software Best Practices Conferences

John Keith

Former CIO of Unilever North America

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Application Service Management - Using Metrics to Drive Results

John Keith will provide a business case for using metrics to drive results in the application operations and support arena. His discussion will include the benefits realized and a realistic approach to improving the support organization.

John Keith, former CIO of Unilever North America IT, worked 31 years for Unilever United States and its predecessor company, Bestfoods. While at Unilever, he held many senior leadership roles in fi nance and information technology, including VP Finance for Bestfoods North American Retail and VP Information Technology for Unilever in North America. John recently led the Project Vital initiative at Unilever which was one of the company's largest and most strategic business transformation projects. IT delivered savings to the business from both a cost reduction and efficiency perspective. John is a Certifi ed Public Accountant licensed in the State of New Jersey. He received a BS in Finance and History from Monmouth University in 1971.

2010 Speaking Dates: San Antonio, 3/18; Toronto, 5/25;

Bob Charette - Software Best Practices Conferences

Donald Reifer

President, RCI

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Twelve Myths of Software Maintenance

In this presentation, Don Reifer unravels the twelve most common myths about software maintenance. As part of his talk, Don will discuss how IT organizations can put the information he provides to work to improve the manner in which they perform their software maintenance tasks.  For example, Don will recommend that IT groups focus on regression testing because such revalidation and testing represent as much as seventy-five percent of the work organizations perform during the operations and support phase of the life cycle.

Don Reifer is an internationally-recognized software consultant. During his over 38 years in the software field, he has served as a consultant, built businesses, managed major projects, led recovery teams, served on red and greybeard teams, prepared proposals and served in executive positions in both industry and government. He has also served as a Visiting Associate at the Center for Systems and Software Engineering at the University of Southern California.Don has published more than one hundred papers and seven books. His many awards include the AIAA Software Engineering Award, the Frieman Award and the Secretary of Defense's Medal for Outstanding Public Service.

2010 Speaking Dates: Detroit, 4/20; Baltimore, 9/14

Bob Lawhorn - Software Best Practices Conferences

Bob Lawhorn

Chief Technology Officer, Computer Aid (CAI)

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Transforming IT Management to Achieve Dramatic Business Success

There are three main challenges that organizations getting started with a software process improvement program frequently face: 1) how to develop a workable method for gathering the metrics needed; 2) how to conduct meaningful analysis on that data, despite the fundamental comparison problems that arise across projects, teams, and technologies; and 3) how to institutionalize and market such a program so that it will overcome the inevitable resistance of an organization's various constituents. In this presentation by Bob Lawhorn, CTO of CAI, an automated approach to data collection is outlined that can address these challenges, at both a technological and a cultural level, while at the same time institutionalizing standard processes throughout an organization so that the data we wind up with, in the end, can be analyzed in a meaningful and consistent manner.

Bob Lawhorn has over 40 years of experience in software development, software measurement, and software project estimation. He spent his first twenty years at Bethlehem Steel working on applications related to steel, mining, and ship building and his next twenty years at CAI, where he is credited with the invention of CAI's application development methodologies and fixed price estimating matrices. Bob is currently CTO of CAI where he spends most of time consulting with companies and government agencies on how to implement application development best practices within their own organizations.

2010 Speaking Dates: Tampa, 2/23; Miami, 3/11; Orlando, 4/8; Chicago, 4/29; Albany, 5/20; Tallahassee, 10/07; Rochester, 10/27; Miami, 11/04 


David Garmus - Software Best Practices Conferences

David Garmus

Founder, The David Consulting Group and former President, IFPUG

Speaker Interview

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What Are You Getting For Your Software Maintenance Dollars?

Do you have difficulty in maintaining your legacy software systems? Have you been discouraged by the difficulty in transitioning to new technologies, languages and platforms? In this presentation, David Garmus will discuss current issues in maintaining legacy systems and identify those systems that have the greatest potential for outsourcing or replacement.

David Garmus is a Founder of The David Consulting Group (DCG), an SEI CMMI® Approved Transition Partner and a PSM Transition Organization that supports software development organizations in achieving software excellence with a metric-centered approach. David is an acknowledged authority in the sizing, measurement and estimation of software application development and maintenance. He serves as a Past President of the International Function Point Users Group (IFPUG) and as a member of the IFPUG Counting Practices Committee. He is also a member of QAI, PMI (and their Information Systems Specific Interest Group) SEI and the IEEE Computer Society (and their Standards Association). David is the author, along with David Herron, of "Measuring The Software Process: A Practical Guide To Functional Measurements" and "Function Point Analysis: Measurement Practices for Successful Software Projects."

2010 Speaking Dates: Tampa, 2/23; Detroit, 4/20; Philadelphia, 10/21

Herb Krasner - Software Best Practices Conferences

Larry Dribin

Former Director, Chicago Software Process Improvement Network (SPIN)

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What Gets Measured Gets Done

An approach to organizational improvement that has been successful focuses on improving an organization's internal processes through best practices. For this approach to work, a strong measurement system is needed to guide the process improvement. This presentation by Larry Dribin will discuss how software measurement programs can increase the effectiveness of process improvement initiatives.

Dr. Larry Dribin is a process improvement consultant and President of the Pearl Street Group, Inc., (PSG). Pearl Street provides process improvement and measurement consulting services to Information Technology and Business organizations. Dr. Dribin utilizes industry best practice frameworks such as the SEI's CMMI, itSMF's ITIL, PMI's PMBOK and Six Sigma to develop solutions for clients. He incorporates organizational change management techniques to speed the change process and make it more enduring. Dr. Dribin holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology from Illinois Institute of Technology, an MBA from Loyola University of Chicago, and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology. Dr. Dribin is also an adjunct Professor in Software Engineering at DePaul University of Chicago. He is active in local professional groups where he has been past Director with the Chicago Software Process Improvement Network (C-SPIN) and the Chicago Quality Assurance Association (CQAA).

2010 Speaking Dates: Albany, 5/20; Baltimore, 9/14; Rochester, 10/27 

Herb Krasner - Software Best Practices Conferences

Janet Russac

Principal, Software Measurement Expertise (SME)

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Techniques for Better Project Management

Improved performance in software development delivery can be realized by better management of project resources and staff as well as maintaining continuous communication with customers and business managers to manage their expectations. In this presentation, Janet Russac will identify quantitative and qualitative measurement indicators that are critical in managing your software development process. She will review project management techniques and a metrics program that will enable improved tracking and reporting of projects throughout the development cycle.

Janet Russac has over 25 years of experience as a programmer, analyst and measurement specialist in software application development and maintenance. She recently started her own company, Software Measurement Expertise, Inc. (SME). She has worked for The David Consulting Group, Software Productivity Research, IBM Global Services and Prudential Insurance as a lead function point analyst, software measurement specialist and function point instructor. She has implemented software development measurement programs and used various software development metrics, including function points, to recommend business decisions and identify best practices and process improvements in client organizations.

2010 Speaking Dates: Tampa, 2/23;

Herb Krasner - Software Best Practices Conferences

David Herron

Founder, David Consulting Group (DCG)

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I'm Late, for a Very Important Date; Project Delivery & Managing Customer Expectations

Welcome to Wonderland. I wonder when we will be finished with this project? I wonder how much this will cost? Does your customer live in Wonderland; constantly wondering when their project will be delivered. Wondering if it will be on time and within budget? Managing the technical resources and the programming staff is what project managers do, but what about managing the customer? One of the criteria for a successful project is that it meets customer expectations. However, we often pay little attention to properly setting and then managing our customers expectations. This presentation by David Herron will demonstrate how basic project management tools and techniques can be more effectively used to help manage customer expectations. Help your customers get out of Wonderland!

David Herron is a Founder of  The David Consulting Group.  Mr. Herron is an authority in areas such as Functional Measurement and Software Process Improvement. He has over 25 years of experience in software development. During the past ten years he has served as a consultant to Fortune 1000 companies in the areas of software metrics, software process improvement and applications outsourcing management. He is an acknowledged authority in the measurement and estimation of software productivity and quality, specializing in the determination of software project size, effort and cost. His engagements have supported clients on the use of metrics to monitor the impact of IT on the business, on the advancement of IT organizations to higher levels on the Software Engineering Institute's Capability Maturity Model and on the governance of offshore outsourcing arrangements. Mr. Herron is also the author, along with David Garmus, of Function Point Analysis: Measurement Practices for Successful Software Projects.

2010 Speaking Dates: Miami, 3/11; Orlando, 4/08

Pat O'Toole - Software Best Practices Conferences

Beth Layman

Principal, Layman & Layman Consulting

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Techniques for Improving Software Quality

Improved performance in software development can be achieved by investing in continuous and methodical best software development practices. In this presentation, Beth Layman will review proven quality assurance techniques used by project teams throughout the life cycle, including Prototyping, Peer Reviews and Inspections, Testing, and static and dynamic Code Analysis.

Beth Layman has more than 20 years of experience in the software industry as a senior manager and professional consultant. Her work experience encompasses a wide range of markets and industries including commercial, government, aerospace, IT services, and product software organizations. Beth has provided process improvement-related training, assessments and consulting services, using various models including CMMI, and is an SEI SCAMPI Authorized Lead Assessor. Beth is a recognized authority on software measurement and quality management, and is a co-author of Practical Software Measurement: Objective Information for Decision Makers. 

2010 Speaking Dates: Detroit, 9/28

Pat O'Toole - Software Best Practices Conferences

Pat O'Toole

Lead CMM Assessor and Visiting Scientist, SEI

Speaker Interview

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Do's and Dont's of Software Process Improvement

This highly interactive presentation by Pat O'Toole, Lead CMM Assessor, provides practical advice that will help attendees jump-start or re-invigorate their process improvement program and avoid the pitfalls that have bogged down many that have gone before. Blending real world examples, practical advice, and humorous analogies, Mr. O'Toole's pragmatic approach will help participants think more robustly about their own process improvement program while giving them proven approaches that they can implement immediately upon their return to work.

Pat O'Toole is the Principal Consultant at Process Assessment, Consulting & Training (PACT) where he provides a full range of services to his process improvement clients. Pat is one of the most active CMMI lead appraisers, and has led appraisals spanning all maturity levels, including one of the largest and most complex CMM Level 5 assessment conducted to date. He is an SEI authorized instructor for the "Intro to CMMI" course who has taught this course more than 40 times in 6 countries. Pat is a Visiting Scientist at the SEI, and teaches the "Intermediate Concepts of CMMI" course on their behalf.

2010 Speaking Dates: Baton Rouge, 2/9

David Herron - Software Best Practices Conferences

Ian Brown

Booz Allen Hamilton

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10 Habits of Highly Effective Measurement Programs

Accurately measuring product quality and process capabilities is challenging in any software organization. Most organizations do not attempt any real measurement at all, and the ones that do often fail miserably. In this presentation, Ian Brown presents ten keys to measurement success, including: devising measurements directly related to articulated business goals; automating measurement collection tools, and integrating measurement into the process.

Ian Brown, a senior associate with Booz Allen Hamilton, leads the firm's Quantitative Software Analysis capability. He has 8 years of experience in software measurement and analysis, CMM/CMMI, and goal-question-metric (GQM) implementation. Ian was elected to the Board of Directors of the International Function Point Users Group (IFPUG) in 2004 and serves as the Secretary and Director of Communications and Marketing. Ian is a Certified Function Point Specialist (CFPS) and has earned a bachelors degree from Cornell University and a master degree in public policy from Harvard University. He has worked closely with the firm's Earned Value Management (EVM) capability to integrate software measurement concepts with EVM and is currently implementing the approach on a large maintenance and enhancement task at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

2010 Speaking Dates: Detroit, 4/20; Trenton, 5/04; Albany 5/20; Tallahassee, 10/7; Philadelphia, 10/21; Rochester, 10/27

David Herron - Software Best Practices Conferences

Carl Pritchard

Founder, Pritchard Management Associates

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Math Free Risk Management

Risk management is often seen as a deep mystery wrapped in higher mathematics. In this presentation, Carl Pritchard will examine the non-mathematical aspects of risk, and the importance of using qualitative, rather than quantitative practices to generate an organizational culture that effectively communicates and resolves risks.

Carl Pritchard is the principal and founder of Pritchard Management Associates (PMA). He is a recognized lecturer, author, researcher, and instructor. He is the lead chapter author for risk management in the 4th Edition of the Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, the ANSI standard for project management. His work as an instructor has taken him around the world, training with some of the leading international training organizations, as well as for private clients and the Project Management Institute®. He has presented at each of the last 13 North American Project Management Institute Symposia and Congresses. He is the U.S. Correspondent for the U.K. project management journal, Project Manager Today.

2010 Speaking Dates: Tampa, 2/23; Detroit, 4/20; Baltimore, 9/14 

Bob Charette - Software Best Practices Conferences

Dan Galorath

President, Galorath, Inc.

Speaker Interview

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Sizing, Cost, Schedule and Risk for Software: A 10 Step Process

The focus of this presentation will show IT professionals how to make software projects more successful by properly estimating and planning costs, schedules, risks, and resources. It begins by covering the fundamental problems of unreasonable software estimation: not planning up front; failure to use viable estimates as the bases of an achievable project plan, not updating the plan and estimates when a project changes, and failing to consider the uncertainties inherent in estimates. Most estimates are prepared early on in the life cycle of a project, when there are typically a large number of undefined areas related to the project. The steps presented in this presentation provide a complete method for developing estimates and plans. This presentation essentially proposes a 10-step estimation process that begins by addressing the need for project metrics and fundamental software estimation concepts. It shows how to build a viable project estimate, which includes the work involved in the actual generation of an estimate, including sizing the software, generating the actual software project estimate, and performing risk/uncertainty analysis. Finally the process rounds out with a discussion on validation of the estimate, obtaining lessons learned, and use of the estimate throughout the project.

Dan Galorath is one of the principal developers of the SEER-SEM™ software evaluation model. His teaching experience includes development and presentation of courses in Software Cost, Schedule, and Risk Analysis; Software Management; Software Engineering; and Weapons Systems Architecture. His company, Galorath Incorporated, has developed tools, methods, and training for software cost, schedule, risk analysis, and management decision support. Among Mr. Galorath's published works are papers encompassing software cost modeling, testing theory, software life cycle error prediction and reduction, and software and systems requirements definition. Most recently, Mr. Galorath was named winner of the 2001 International Society of Parametric Analysts (ISPA) Freiman Award. awarded to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the theoretical or applied aspects of parametric modeling. Dan is also the author of "Software Sizing, Estimation, and Risk Management."

2010 Speaking Dates: Miami, 11/04;
 

Herb Krasner - Software Best Practices Conferences

Dr. Leon Kappelman

Director Emeritus of the IS Research Center

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Early Warning Signs of IT Project Failure

Postmortem examinations of IT projects often reveal that long before problems and failures materialize there are significant "early warning signs" (EWSs) of trouble.  EWSs are events or conditions that alert one of impending problems.  EWSs indicate risks, probable future pain, or failure.  Managers need to ask themselves as early as possible to what extent any EWS warrants project redirection or even termination.  In this presentation  Professor Leon Kappelman reports on a study of seasoned IT project professionals that ranks the importance of EWSs, describes four main sources of IT project risk (the Four Horseman of Project Pain); and provides practical advice about how to spot EWSs and what to do about them.

Dr. Leon Kappelman is a research scientist, teacher, author, speaker, and consultant whose research, publications, and presentations in software project management, enterprise architecture, and technology management have received world-wide recognition.  He is Director Emeritus of the Information Systems Research Center and a Professor of Information Systems in the College of Business at the University of North Texas, where he is also a Fellow of the Texas Center for Digital Knowledge.  His professional expertise includes software project management; technology-related legal and ethical issues including intellectual property; continuity of operations; performance measurement; system development and maintenance; enterprise architecture and strategy; and high-tech and public policy matters like privacy, security, and software quality.  He currently serves as chair of the Society for information Management's Enterprise Architecture Working Group and contributed to and edited the SIM Guide to Enterprise Architecture (CRC Press, 2010).

2010 Speaking Dates: Orlando, 4/08; Albany, 5/20;

Herb Krasner - Software Best Practices Conferences

Herb Krasner

Founder, Software Quality Institute and Lead CMM Assessor

Speaker Interview

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The ROI for Improving Software Quality

Leading organizations have learned that whenever proactive quality management with measurable outputs is used as a foundation for action, the concept of financial ROI is applicable. But what is software quality's ROI and how can it be measured? This presentation with Dr. Herb Krasner explores the following basic questions: 1. How can "good" software quality increase ROI? and; 2. How can "poor" software quality decrease ROI? Examples and cases of actual company software quality ROI results will be presented, and their implications discussed.

Dr. Herb Krasner is a senior faculty member at the University of Texas at Austin, and the Director of the Software Engineering Industry Affiliates Program. He is best known for his leading edge work on modeling the costs of software quality, reporting the ROI data for software process improvement, coaching organizational improvement programs and reporting the results from his empirical studies of professional programmers. He has published over 55 papers, articles and book sections and has been lead CMM assessor on over 40 CMM capability assessments.

2010 Speaking Dates: Philadelphia, 3/25; Detroit, 9/28;

Herb Krasner - Software Best Practices Conferences

Joe Burns

Director, Vericenter

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Applying QA Testing in an Agile Development Methodology

The growing popularity of utilizing the Agile Development methodology to develop systems has changed the way software is tested. In this presentation, Joe Burns will discuss the appropriate approaches, artifacts, and metrics for successfully delivering high quality products on time in an Agile methodology.  Customer experiences and real world examples will be included.

Joe Burns has over 20 years experience developing and implementing products and services for the quality assurance industry. He is an entrepreneur and enjoys building world class QA solutions.   He has successfully founded and developed testing products which are integrated with companies like IBM, TIBCO, and webMethods.  He is one of only a handful of people that developed a startup product that is now being commercially sold all over the world.  This product is currently on the Gartner's Magic Quadrant for Integration Testing. He is an expert in QA tools and processes and enjoys sharing his real life experiences with his audience.

2010 Speaking Dates: Philadelphia, 3/25; Detroit, 9/28;

Herb Krasner - Software Best Practices Conferences

James P Ryan

Director, CAI Consulting

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IT and the World Wide Manufacturing Revolution

For 30 years, manufacturing companies have gone through a revolutionary journey that has resulted in dramatically higher productivity, lower costs, and improved quality. In this presentation, Jim Ryan will examine this journey and will draws parallels between the manufacturing revolution and current trends in information technology.  Jim will explain how many of the initiatives to come out of the manufacturing revolution are the same initiatives we need to undertake within IT over the next 5-10 years. Topics covered: productivity, standard process initiatives, metrics based management, the importance of standard estimating.

James Ryan is the Director of the CAI Consulring Practice in Wilmington, DE.  His expertise is in business and technology transformation, process reengineering, performance management, and customer relationship management.  Mr. Ryan has over forty years of experience in the information management industry helping clients redesign more effective businesses that result in the growth of profitable revenue streams as well as lower cost structures.  He has worked with a wide variety of clients. He has worked in a variety of industries with a wide variety of clients including distribution, healthcare, manufacturing, development engineering, utilities, finance services and insurance.

2010 Speaking Dates: Chicago, 4/29; Detroit, 4/20; Trenton, 5/4; Baltimore, 9/14; Philadelphia, 10/21; Miami, 11/4

 

Each event will showcase 4-5 speakers. All speakers subject to change.




"Outstanding!"

"I look for principles, because if a principle works in one situation it should be applicable to other situations. I thought the speakers were outstanding and provided an excellent array of information. You and your team deserve great credit for providing an outstanding Software Best Practices Seminar!"

Jerry Kastning

Division Chief for the Strategic Planning
and Policy Division of the Operations
Directorate for the Software Engineering Center

The best opportunity this year to learn how to dramatically increase the effectiveness of your ENTIRE software organization.

 

Spring 2010 Schedule


Albany, NY


Register Now for the 2008 Software Best Practices Conferences

2009 Software Best Practices ConferenceThursday May 20, 2010

Albany Marriott
189 Wolf Road
Albany, New York 12205 
Tel: 518-458-8444

Click Here to Register for the Conference!


Chicago, IL


Register Now for the 2008 Software Best Practices Conferences 

2009 Software Best Practices ConferenceThursday Apr 29, 2010

Hyatt Regency Chicago
151 East Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60601 
Tel: 312-565-1234

Click Here to Register for the Conference!

The Entire Conference will be Broadcast Online at No Charge.
Click Here to Register for the Online Broadcast!


Detroit, MI


Register Now for the 2008 Software Best Practices Conferences

2009 Software Best Practices ConferenceTuesday Apr 20, 2010

Hyatt Regency Dearborn
600 Town Center Drive
Dearborn, MI  48126-2793
Tel: 313-593-1234

Click Here to Register for the Conference!


The Entire Conference will be Broadcast Online at No Charge.
Click Here to Register for the Online Broadcast!


New York City, NY


Register Now for the 2008 Software Best Practices Conferences

2009 Software Best Practices ConferenceTuesday May 18, 2010                         

New York Marriott East Side
525 Lexington Avenue at 49th Street
New York, NY 10017
Tel: 212-755-4000

Click Here to Register for the Conference!


Philadelphia, PA


Register Now for the 2008 Software Best Practices Conferences

2009 Software Best Practices ConferenceThursday Mar 25, 2010

Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue
200 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Tel: 215-893-1234

Click Here to Register for the Conference!

The Entire Conference will be Broadcast Online at No Charge.
Click Here to Register for the Online Broadcast!


Philadelphia, PA


Register Now for the 2008 Software Best Practices Conferences

2009 Software Best Practices ConferenceThursday Apr 15, 2010

Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue
200 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Tel: 215-893-1234

Click Here to Register for the Conference!

The Entire Conference will be Broadcast Online at No Charge.
Click Here to Register for the Online Broadcast!


San Antonio, TX


Register Now for the 2008 Software Best Practices Conferences

2009 Software Best Practices ConferenceThursday Mar 18, 2010                         

The Westin La Cantera Resort
16641 La Cantera Parkway
San Antonio, TX 78256 
Tel: 210-558-6500

Click Here to Register for the Conference!

The Entire Conference will be Broadcast Online at No Charge.
Click Here to Register for the Online Broadcast! 


Tampa, FL


Register Now for the 2008 Software Best Practices Conferences 

2009 Software Best Practices ConferenceTuesday Feb 23, 2010

Tampa Marriott Westshore
1001 N Westshore Boulevard
Tampa, FL 33607 
Tel: 813-287-2555

Click Here to Register for the Conference!


The Entire Conference will be Broadcast Online at No Charge.
Click Here to Register for the Online Broadcast!


Toronto, Canada


Register Now for the 2008 Software Best Practices Conferences 

2009 Software Best Practices ConferenceTuesday May 25, 2010

Park Hyatt Toronto
4 Avenue Road
Toronto, ON M5R 2E8 Canada 
Tel: 416-925-1234

Click Here to Register for the Conference!

The Entire Conference will be Broadcast Online at No Charge.
Click Here to Register for the Online Broadcast!


Trenton, NJ


Register Now for the 2008 Software Best Practices Conferences

2009 Software Best Practices ConferenceTuesday May 4, 2010

Trenton Marriott
1 West Lafayette Street
Trenton, New Jersey 08608 
Tel: 609-421-4000

Click Here to Register for the Conference!

The Entire Conference will be Broadcast Online at No Charge.
Click Here to Register for the Online Broadcast!


 

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Register For One of Our Upcoming, Free Best Practices Webinars

Feb. 9th: Changes to PMI's PMBoK Fourth Edition
   
Feb. 10th: Software Maintenance, Support and Enhancements - How Much? How Many? How Often? 
   
Feb. 11th: Are Your Project Stakeholders Satisfied  
   
Feb. 12th: Practical Approaches to Managing Risk in Outsourcing
   
Feb. 16th: Improving Performance Through Effective Application of IT Service Management Models
   
Feb. 17th: Productivity of Software Maintenance  
   
Feb. 18th: Webinar Series: Transforming IT Management to Achieve Dramatic Business Success - 25% More Work or Less Cost! (Part #1 - Managing Application Support to Yield Your Desired Business Outcomes)  
   
Feb. 23th: Live from Tampa - The Software Best Practices Conference - Full Day Webinar! 
   
Feb. 24th: Getting the Most Out of Your Consulting Engagement:  Understanding the Consulting Engagement Life Cycle
   
Feb. 25th: How to Effectively Lead an Offshore Team

To find out more or to register, please visit our Webinars page at: http://www.itmpi.org/webinars

Click here to download all 2010 webinar registration links & descriptions!

Click Here to Access our Library of Webinar Recordings!

 

Fall 2010 Schedule


Baltimore, MD              

2009 Software Best Practices ConferenceTuesday Sept 14, 2010

 

 

The Entire Conference will be Broadcast Online at No Charge.
Click Here to Register for the Online Broadcast!                                                                


Detroit, MI

2009 Software Best Practices ConferenceTuesday Sept 28, 2010

 

 

The Entire Conference will be Broadcast Online at No Charge.
Click Here to Register for the Online Broadcast! 


Miami, FL

2009 Software Best Practices ConferenceTuesday Nov 16, 2010

 

 

The Entire Conference will be Broadcast Online at No Charge.
Click Here to Register for the Online Broadcast! 


Orlando, FL

2009 Software Best Practices ConferenceWednesday Oct 13, 2010

Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress
One Grand Cypress Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32836
Tel: 407-239-1234



Philadelphia, PA

2009 Software Best Practices ConferenceThursday Oct 21, 2010

 

 


Rochester, NY

2009 Software Best Practices ConferenceWednesday Oct 27, 2010

Genesee Valley Club
421 East Avenue
Rochester, NY 14607
Tel: 585-271-1197


Sydney, Australia

2009 Software Best Practices ConferenceTuesday Sept 21, 2010

 

 


Tallahassee, FL

2009 Software Best Practices ConferenceThursday Oct 7, 2010

 

 

The Entire Conference will be Broadcast Online at No Charge.
Click Here to Register for the Online Broadcast! 


 

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2010 FULL-DAY CONFERENCE DETAILS

Date

City

Scheduled Topics

Feb 23, 2010

Tampa, FL

GarmusImproving Project Development Success

Russac: Techinques for Better Project Manageme

Pritchard: Math Free Risk Management

To Be Determined

Lawhorn: Ensuring Project Sucess Through Automated Project Governance

Apr 15, 2010

Philadelphia, PA

Wei: IT Outsourcing, Trends, and Opportunities in China

Broderick: Transitioning IT Work to China: How To Mitigate Risk and Achieve Success

Bendis: Innovation with, and in, China

Ching: Setting up Business in China: Legal and Non-Legal Considerations

 

Apr 20, 2010

Detroit, MI

Reifer: 12 Myths of Software Maintenance

 Garmus: What are you getting for your Software Maintenance Dollars?

Brown: How to Answer 5 Key Software Maintanence Questions

Pritchard: The Truth About Transition Management

Ryan: Transforming IT Management for Dramatic Business Success

Apr 29, 2010

Chicago, IL

Jones: Analysis of New Technologies

Nickels:  ITIL for Service Management v.3

Basili: Metrics Based Management as a Core Competency

Charette:Risk and Software Management

Lawhorn: Transforming IT Management for Dramatic Business Success

May 20, 2010

Albany, NY

Kappelman: IT, Enterprise Architecture, and the Information Age Organization

Brown: Key Factors for Successful Service Level Agreements

Lawhorn: TBD

Dribin: Service Level Agreements: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

 

Sept 14, 2010

Baltimore, MD

Jones: Geriatric Care for Aging Software

Reifer: 12 Myths of Software Maintenance

Pritchard: The Truth Aboust Transition Management

Dribin: Using Metrics to Become Excellent at Software Maintenance

Ryan: Transforming IT Management for Dramatic Business Success

Sept 28, 2010

Detroit, MI

Krasner: ROI for Improving Software Quality

Jones: Software Quality in 2010 - The State of the Art

Layman: Techniques for Improving Software Quality

Burns: Practical QA Testing in a Configurable World

 

Oct 13, 2010

Orlando, FL

Herron: I'm Late, For a Very Important Date!

Kappelman:  Early Warning Signs of IT Project Failure

Charette: Why Do Software Projects Fail?

To Be Determined 

Lawhorn: Ensuring Project Sucess Through Automated Project Governance

Oct 27, 2010

Rochester, NY

Yourdon: TBD

Dribin: TBD

Charette: Risk & Maintenance

Lawhorn: TBD

Brown: TBD

Nov 16, 2010

Miami, FL

Yourdon: Ten Most Important Software Engineering Ideas

Kappelman:  Early Warning Signs of IT Project Failure

Charette: Why Do Software Projects Fail?

To Be Determined

Lawhorn: Ensuring Project Sucess Through Automated Project Governance

2010 HALF-DAY CONFERENCE DETAILS

Date

City

Scheduled Topics

Mar 18, 2010

San Antonio, TX

Charette: Risk Management &  Maintenance

Hessmiller: Solving The IT Application Support Puzzle

Keith: Application Service Management - Using Metrics to Drive Results

Mar 25, 2010

Philadelphia, PA

Krasner: ROI for Improving Software Quality

Yourdon: Testing as a Proactive Strategy for Increasing Quality

Burns: Applying QA Testing in an Agile Development Methodology

May 04, 2010

Trenton, NJ

Yourdon: Learning to Love Software Maintenance

Brown: How to Answer 5 Key Software Maintanence Questions

Ryan: Transforming IT Management for Dramatic Business Success

May 18, 2010

New York, NY

To Be Determined

To Be Determined

To Be Determined

May 25, 2010

Toronto, ON

Ed Nemes: IT Cost Reduction

Rob Lokinger: Improving Performance of IT Teams with a Domain Oriented Approach to Application Knowledge Management

Keith: Application Service Management

Sept 21, 2010

Sydney, AUS

To Be Determined

To Be Determined

 

Oct 07, 2010

Tallahassee, FL

Jones: Software Maintenance and Enhancements

Brown: How to Answer 5 Key Software Maintenance Questions

Lawhorn: Transforming IT Management for Dramatic Business Success

Oct 21, 2010

Philadelphia, PA

Brown: How to Answer 5 Key Software Maintenance Questions

Garmus: What Are You Getting For Your Software Maintenance Dollars?

Ryan: Transforming IT Management for Dramatic Business Success

Registration


Registration Fee

Register now to ensure a seat in the 2010 Software Best Practices Conference.

The fee for conference is $695.

The conference is free to executives and managers in Federal and State government agencies. Official government identification must be presented at event registration.

Your registration fee covers attendance at all sessions of the Software Best Practices Conference, breakfast, breaks and lunch.


How to Register in the US

Click one of the registration links above or call by phone at: (610) 530-5225


How to Register in the UK

In the UK, please register by phone at +44 (0) 122325-7856


Special Needs

Please notify the IT Metrics and Productivity Institute help desk at (610) 530-5225 or by email at events@itmpi.org at least one week before the event if the registrant has special dietary needs or other requirements.


Contact Us


Additional Information

System Requirements for online broadcast

Please note that all webinars are conducted from the United States. Therefore, anyone trying to access the telephone dial-in phone number will have to use the appropriate country code. For additional information on the Conference or the IT Metrics and Productivity Institute please contact us at:

IT Metrics and Productivity Institute
1390 Ridgeview Drive
Allentown, PA 18104
(610) 530-5225 phone
(610) 530-5293 fax
events@itmpi.org


About the IT Metrics and Productivity Institute

The IT Metrics and Productivity Institute is an organization founded by CAI to improve the practice and management of software development and maintenance. The IT Metrics and Productivity Institute seeks to accomplish its mission through the promotion of best practices in the areas of Process, Metrics, Estimation, and IT Governance. Through the IT Metrics and Productivity Institute, CAI is able to share with the industry the process management insights they have acquired from over 25 years of experience serving Fortune 1000 and public sector clients.


FREE eZine NEWSLETTER!

The IT Metrics and Productivity Institute publishes a bimonthly eZine newsletter focusing on critical management issues in software development and maintenance. The IT Metrics and Productivity Journal provides readers with brief summaries of, and links to, valuable software management best practices resources. In addition, the IT Metrics and Productivity Journal features informative interviews with CIOs, thought leaders, and IT researchers from around the world. Click here to subscribe now.

World Wide Conferences

The 2010 Software Best Practices Conferences are the most important software process improvement events for IT executives in 2010. They provide educational insight and networking opportunities for IT executives and managers who need to continually expand their technology knowledge base while remaining up-to-date on innovative products and services.If you are interested in sponsoring the 2010 Software Best Practices Conference, please contact:

Michael Milutis
Executive Director
IT Metrics and Productivity Institute
1390 Ridgeview Drive
Allentown, PA 18104
(610) 530-5141


Sponsorship Opportunities

If you are interested in sponsoring the 2010 Software Best Practices Conferences, please click here to download our sponsorship package.

Or contact:

Michael Milutis
Executive Director
IT Metrics and Productivity Institute
1390 Ridgeview Drive
Allentown, PA 18104
(610) 530-5141

 

Our Sponsors

Computer Aid, Inc.