ASPE Free Web Seminars

Web Seminars for Industry Professionals

From quick information-packed insights on the next generation of technology innovation to learning new ways to handle old problems, ASPE Web Seminars are a resource to our customers to stay on top of the curve. Each hour-long session is free, so sign up for as many as you like. Experience the ASPE advantage: proven technical professionals who can teach. Click on the seminar you are interested in attending and fill out the attached form. You will be confirmed into the session instantly. ASPE will follow up your registration with an email detailing how to log onto the seminar within 48 hours of the seminar start date.

Current Web Seminars:

• Enhanced Agile Estimation Techniques - May 22
• The Top 5 Problems with Succession Planning - June 4
• Your Idea is Worthless…Unless you can Powerfully Present it! - June 5
• The Top Agile Pitfalls that Lead to Trouble - June 7
• Agile Primer for Government Managers - June 12
• PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP) Primer - June 14
• The Agile Business Analyst - June 15
• Strategies for Effective Retrospectives - June 21
• Business Analyst Work Plan - June 22
• The Agile PMP - July 12
• Business Analysis in Agile Projects - August 7

Enhanced Agile Estimation Techniques

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Tuesday, May 22, 2012

12:00 pm Eastern Time  |  11:00 am Central Time  |  10:00 am Mountain Time  |  9:00 am Pacific Time

Seminar Description:

In an effort to improve their planning efficiency, Agile teams utilize leaner, lighter written requirements to document the needs for their product. This approach allows teams to focus on creating effective, working software sooner, but also presents a challenge for these teams when they are required to effectively size their project work and predict when they will complete their development. In order to address this dilemma, Agile teams must employ an enhanced estimation technique that allows them to evaluate the level of effort required to deliver their product. This one hour webinar will discuss the method today's Agile teams use to solve the common problem of creating estimates when the complete set of requirements are not known.

Registration is open     Register for this FREE web seminar

Attendees will receive 1 PDU for this web seminar.

The Top 5 Problems with Succession Planning

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Monday, June 4, 2012

12:00 pm Eastern Time  |  11:00 am Central Time  |  10:00 am Mountain Time  |  9:00 am Pacific Time

Seminar Description:

Succession planning is a process of identifying key positions within an organization to ensure employees are recruited, discovered, and developed to fill positions within your workplace. Most people view this as a Human Resources department problem, but it impacts all areas of an organization. Currently 55 percent of organizations do not have a formal succession planning program in place! Whether your workplace is large or small, you cannot afford to let your prime talent walk out the door.

The Internet and books will tell you how to build a succession planning program, but they are not forthcoming about the pitfalls that will snag your success. This web seminar briefly reviews the basics of succession planning and will help you identify the top 5 problems to avoid. No matter your position in your workplace, you can have an impact on succession planning. Learn how to be part of the workplaces that have successfully retained up to 98 percent of their workforce and experienced a recruitment success rate of up to 80 percent.

Seminar Presenter:

Kelley Bruns - Kelley Bruns, PMP, CBAP, CSM and Certified Development Dimensions International Facilitator, has more than years of experience in the learning and development industry. Kelley holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, Iowa and a Master of Science and Adult Education with a concentration in Training and Development from Drake University. She is a PMP and a certified Development Dimensions International Facilitator. Kelley's expertise lies in needs analysis, research, project management, business analysis, problem identification and solving, curriculum development, instructional design, facilitation, succession management, and instructor-led training. Kelley has spent her career helping people learn how to transfer their knowledge to the workplace and their personal lives in order to provide a strong return on investment. Her goal is to apply the knowledge, skills and wisdom she has experienced in her lifetime to help others learn best practices, not having to discover everything the hard way.

Registration is open     Register for this FREE web seminar

Attendees will receive 1 PDU for this web seminar.

Your Idea is Worthless…Unless you can Powerfully Present it!

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Tuesday, June 5, 2012

12:00 pm Eastern Time  |  11:00 am Central Time  |  10:00 am Mountain Time  |  9:00 am Pacific Time

Seminar Description:

A great idea is meaningless and useless unless it can be communicated properly whether written or orally. The problem with writing down great ideas is you have to trust someone will actually read what you wrote. In today's business environment, that is something I would not necessarily trust. The only true, quick way you can get your idea out is through presenting it.

What does that mean though? Is a presentation something speakers do at events? The reality is you present every time you have an oral communication with someone. A presentation can be one to one, one to two, or one to hundred. It can also be a group discussion with each person contributing to a team or on a panel. The dynamic to focus on, whether you are with one person or a group, is that you are presenting to them. This element creates a number of challenges but can also be used to your advantage.

When you write, you can hide behind your words. When you present you are your words. Your audience creates an instant image of you as you begin, and then that image ebbs and flows during your presentation. That image, when not managed correctly, can overshadow or even block the message you are trying to convey.

In this web seminar we will review very pragmatic skills, tools and techniques to properly prepare and execute a successful presentation. We will look at planning, preparation, delivery techniques and delivery challenges. This is very little on theory. The focus is on actions you can do before and during the presentation to increase the power of your message and the success of your idea.

Seminar Presenter:

David Mantica

Registration is open     Register for this FREE web seminar

Attendees will receive 1 PDU for this web seminar.

The Top Agile Pitfalls that Lead to Trouble

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Thursday, June 7, 2012

12:00 pm Eastern Time  |  11:00 am Central Time  |  10:00 am Mountain Time  |  9:00 am Pacific Time

Seminar Description:

Although Agile has proven to provide incredible benefits in software development and delivery, it is not foolproof, nor a "Silver Bullet." Plenty of factors need to be considered before attempting this highly disciplined approach. Learn from the mistakes other organizations have made and discover which pitfalls to avoid to ensure that your first attempt at applying an Agile approach will be met with a successful outcome. This hour-long web seminar will explore these areas and provide clear steps your team and organization should consider to provide a clear set of tools to maximize the opportunity for best results possible.

Registration is open     Register for this FREE web seminar

Attendees will receive 1 PDU for this web seminar.

Agile Primer for Government Managers

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Tuesday, June 12, 2012

12:00 pm Eastern Time  |  11:00 am Central Time  |  10:00 am Mountain Time  |  9:00 am Pacific Time

Seminar Description:

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. It is based on a core perspective from which process/methods flow out. 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.

Registration is open     Register for this FREE web seminar

Attendees will receive 1 PDU for this web seminar.

PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP) Primer

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Thursday, June 14, 2012

12:00 pm Eastern Time  |  11:00 am Central Time  |  10:00 am Mountain Time  |  9:00 am Pacific Time

Seminar Description:

It is here. Testing for the pilot PMI Agile Certified Practitioner finished in December, and the exam is here. With ASPE's leadership position in both Agile and Project Management, ASPE-SDLC feels uniquely qualified to provide this primer session to help you prepare yourself to obtain this certification. Many of our instructors have taken and passed the exam.

Overview:

• Application Requirements
• Fees
• Exam content overview
• Domains and tasks for Agile Certification
• Training options
• Where this certification fits with the Scrum Alliance certifications
• Q&A

Registration is open     Register for this FREE web seminar

Attendees will receive 1 PDU for this web seminar.

The Agile Business Analyst

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Friday, June 15, 2012

12:00 pm Eastern Time  |  11:00 am Central Time  |  10:00 am Mountain Time  |  9:00 am Pacific Time

Seminar Description:

There is a lot of confusion, misconceptions, and heated debates about the role of a business analyst in Agile projects. But think of it this way: Agile projects, like all projects, have requirements—and requirements are not just "user stories." There is a need to go from high-level stories to the detailed requirements needed to implement specific functionality.

In this web seminar, we will explore the role of a business analyst in that requirements-development process, and discover other ways a business analyst adds value to an Agile project throughout its life cycle.

Registration is open     Register for this FREE web seminar

Attendees will receive 1 PDU for this web seminar.

Strategies for Effective Retrospectives

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Thursday, June 21, 2012

12:00 pm Eastern Time  |  11:00 am Central Time  |  10:00 am Mountain Time  |  9:00 am Pacific Time

Seminar Description:

One of the most important foundational components for effectively utilizing an Agile approach is the team retrospective, yet it is often poorly executed by teams, resulting in little to no value. Conducting an effective, efficient team retrospective isn't difficult, but many teams and Scrum Masters forget to focus on a few key areas essential for an effective forum. This hour long webinar will share with you the secrets employed by successful Agile teams and great Scrum Masters in their mission for continuous, incremental improvement.

Registration is open     Register for this FREE web seminar

Attendees will receive 1 PDU for this web seminar.

Business Analyst Work Plan

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Friday, June 22, 2012

12:00 pm Eastern Time  |  11:00 am Central Time  |  10:00 am Mountain Time  |  9:00 am Pacific Time

Seminar Description:

As a business analyst, you are most likely highly organized, but without the planning tools and business analysis expectations; you may have the appearance of being disorganized in your plight to deliver effective requirements. If we do not pause to plan our work, it is as if you are trying to ride a bicycle before the wheels have been attached. You might be able to sit on the bike and think about where you want to go, but you won't get anywhere at all. In a rush to provide a solution, the problem still might not be resolved because users are still unskilled. So the cycle of design a solution, find a problem, design a solution, and find a problem just continues, with everyone who is involved still unhappy and unproductive.

Most organizations have identified productivity as a strategic goal for all employees. Business analysts can contribute by developing their plans and working toward the plans. We are challenged to deliver with speed, increased productivity & efficiency, and to help deliver a competitive advantage. Management will most likely press to complete the analysis phase quicker than possible. The plans will provide you the ammunition to discuss the options to meet aggressive timelines. This web seminar will give you some hints and tips for producing key business analysis plans. If you are currently in the role of a business analyst, or interface with business analysts, then this business analyst training web seminar is for you.

Seminar Presenter:

Billie Johnson - Billie Johnson, CBAP, has 20+ years of experience in the field of business analysis spanning financial, manufacturing, consulting, education, and government industries. As an early adopter of the IIBA® and CBAP® certification, she received her CBAP® certification in May 2007. The concepts, tasks, and techniques defined as good practice by the BABOK® are practices that have served her well in providing a structured approach to complex problems and opportunities. She is currently a Business Analysis Instructor/Coach/Mentor and enjoys furthering the field of business analysis by touching those in the field with tools to face their unique problems/opportunities for organizations today.

Registration is open     Register for this FREE web seminar

Attendees will receive 1 PDU for this web seminar.

The Agile PMP

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Thursday, July 12, 2012

12:00 pm Eastern Time  |  11:00 am Central Time  |  10:00 am Mountain Time  |  9:00 am Pacific Time

Seminar Description:

Many of today's accredited Project Management Professionals (PMPs) are finding themselves leading and managing Agile development teams, only to find that many of the tools and techniques applied when utilizing a traditional project management approach no longer work as effectively or at all. In order to do more than survive in this iterative development environment, today's PMP must employ additional project management tools and techniques to effectively lead their teams and deliver their projects.

This hour long webinar will explore how today's PMP can easily and successfully make the transition to an effective Agile PMP.

Registration is open     Register for this FREE web seminar

Attendees will receive 1 PDU for this web seminar.

Business Analysis in Agile Projects

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Tuesday, August 7, 2012

12:00 pm Eastern Time  |  11:00 am Central Time  |  10:00 am Mountain Time  |  9:00 am Pacific Time

Seminar Description:

Business analysis is an essential function in every project, whether it be traditional or Agile. Effective analysis performed by competent business analysts can make the difference between successful and challenged or failed projects--even Agile projects. This practical webinar provides participants with an overview and understanding of the role of the BA, the tools and techniques best suited to Agile projects, and the timing for performing key tasks and events during the project.

Seminar Presenter:

Kris Ashton - ASPE Instructor Kris Ashton has more than 20 years of experience as a business analyst, systems analyst, network engineer and database administrator. This rich experience supports her unique talent for developing smart solutions that produce strong results for customers and clients. She helps clients incorporate technology, process and people into their project success strategies. With many years of experience, Kris is an expert in eliciting, and documenting and managing requirements for IT projects. Kris was the co-author of Inside DOS 6.2, as well as a contributing author to Inside OS/2 and Mastering Windows NT Server. She currently holds Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, Microsoft Certified Trainer, and Certified Technical Trainer ratings. She also co-founded a Denver technology-based consulting firm where she does "everything except write code."

Registration is open     Register for this FREE web seminar

Attendees will receive 1 PDU for this web seminar.