Date
Thursday, 08 Mar 2018 10:30 AM
• What we’ll do
We have two items on our agenda this week:
(1) PROJECT MANAGEMENT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT PROJECT MANAGERS
Let’s face it, as developers we spend most of our time doing the actual work of gathering requirements, designing and developing, installing and supporting and troubleshooting.
The last (ahem, LAST) thing we want to spend our time doing is managing projects, scheduling status meetings, reporting on budget, tracking scope, and managing the umpteen to-do’s associated with setting up, managing, and closing down a job.
For some of us, sticking toothpicks under our fingernails sounds like a more pleasant way to spend our time.
Our guest speaker, Susan Fennema, CEO of Beyond the Chaos, knows project management AND she knows the FileMaker development world. Susan worked in a number of industries and then for an FBA Platinum member before founding her project management consulting firm, Beyond the Chaos. She also spoke on a panel at DevCon last year and is scheduled to speak again this year. Susan’s company already serves several “notable name” FBAs that you will immediately recognize as well as some members in our FMPUG!
As you will see, she gets us, she gets our world, she gets the challenges we face, she just gets it! If you find yourself consistently exceeding the defined project scope and responding to the “squeaky wheel” as the highest priority, Susan can help you learn to control your chaos and manage like you mean it. Learn to run your projects, rather than letting them run you. She will help prove that it is possible (heavens to Besty!) to FINISH projects, in scope, on time and within budget. (2) LESSONS LEARNED: BEFORE THE “YES” TO WORK ON A DATABASE CREATED BY OTHERS. We’ve all done it – picked up work on a solution created by someone else. It’s not impossible by any means, but you can save some “skin off yer backside” by following a few simple steps that include some pre-evaluation, expectation-setting, defining process and budget realities, and keeping an open dialogue with your clients. Jim will share some fresh (and not very painful) lessons recently learned to stimulate a discussion that will help us all when we get that next client call.
LUNCH ORDER
Guess what – pizza! If you are eating with the group, please plan on a suggested donation of $7.
However, if pizza (or a sandwich) isn’t your thing, please feel free to bring your own lunch. There is a fridge, freezer, microwave, and toaster oven available – release your inner chef! Drinks provided with your donation.
• What to bring
• Important to know