gantthead wants to know what project managers think of the industry trade shows.
There are a couple of big project management trade shows and several small ones every year. How important are these shows to you as a project manager? Do you attend the seminars and other learning opportunities, just the exhibition floor, or do you skip the shows altogether? If you could only attend one trade show this year, which one would you go to? Why? Saving Changes...
You say "there are a couple of big project management trade shows and several small ones every year". I would like to know which ones are these? I am not aware of trade shows specifically for project management. Saving Changes...
Never could justify flight for a PM trade show as I could for industry-specific trade shows. Driving to Los Angeles from elsewhere in California is reasonable and justified, though. Free food and key note speeches are always a draw for that... Saving Changes...
Anonymous
I visited ProjectWorld this year in London, which was very informative. Lots of information on Resource scheduling, Integrated Project Support Offices and Project 2002. Unfortunately I could not justify listening to the seminars, which was a shame as I believe listening to the Project Gurus would have been very useful. I would recommend it. Saving Changes...
I would love to go. I've gone to Gartner conferences several times if for no other reason than to interact with others who have real world experience in project management. I think a lot of the value you get out of these relates to the value you put into it. I've often found several products I didn't know about that provided help, or have learned about products I knew were coming in my organization.
My criteria is that if you can't produce an internal white paper on the items you've learned you've wasted your time. Every time I go I try to bring back something new for the organization. We're always learning!
Libby, Sounds like an ROI request for marketing to me. I attend PMI S/S every year since 98. I have also attended several ProjectWorlds. I do hit the floors during these events. The philosophy is normally along several endeavors. 1) Check out the competition 2) Look for employment 3) See what's new.
Normally in that order, I think the same applies to most attendees, however the order may be different. Saving Changes...
I've attended ProjectWorld in Toronto several times. The fact that this is local is a selling feature. I try to make the most of the conference by attending the seminars, workshops and the trade floor. I picked up some useful books this year. Saving Changes...
Within the pharmaceutical industry, there are a number of valuable trade shows each year. The one I attend most regularly is DIA. This year the meeting is being in Chicago (June 17-20) and they have scheduled a number of sessions on Project Management strategies. Saving Changes...
Bill BiglerProject Scheduler| Booz Allen HamiltonCentreville, Va, United States
Because our division's clients are involved in military healthcare, we support the HIMSS conference with a company booth and my government project also has a booth. We are getting a project management special interest group off the ground and have our annual meeting in connection with the overall HIMSS conference.
In addition, the company supports my going to the PMI annual meeting and the Primavera annual meeting (our client has selected the Primavera tool suite). Saving Changes...
Anonymous
I think there is good and bad with each Project Management conference. I think as a Project/Program Manager, you need to attend at least one conference a year to see what others are doing in this field. I attend to listen to how others have solved various challenges. If we never get out of our environment, we limit our growth and that of our company. I was most impressed with Project World's vendor area this year. There seemed to be an emphasis placed on demonstrations and comparisons between products (advantages/disadvantages). The session speakers were not as consistent however. They had some really great presenters discussing important topics and then there were a couple that were just trying to sell their services. I still think PMI's World Conference is the show to attend each year. Saving Changes...
