Debut of new presentation to attendees of PMI Global Congress destined to help business analysts and project managers worldwide achieve a new level of success
Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) October 8, 2007 — Today, Watermark Learning, a globally recognized provider of business requirements analysis and project management training, will once again transform the way project professionals manage their projects with the debut of its presentation, “Oh No, You Gave Me What I Asked For! Common Pitfalls to Uncovering Expectations” at PMI Global Congress North America in Atlanta, GA.
The presentation is based on the paper of the same name by Watermark Learning principals Elizabeth & Richard Larson, both registered project management professionals (PMPs) and certified business analysis professionals (CBAPs).
Garnered from their decades of experience with both business analysis and project management training, the paper and presentation speak to the inescapable reality that any project ignoring the importance of uncovering customer expectations is susceptible to failure, despite otherwise outstanding execution.
“Uncovering expectations, at its core level, is about the art of consultative questioning,” states Watermark Learning CEO Elizabeth Larson. “As we have trained students of our project management and business analysis training programs throughout the years, mastering this art will lead to more success in analyzing, documenting, and validating customer requirements. And, it is an essential skill in discovering customer expectations about the products our projects introduce.”
Watermark Learning, a globally recognized provider of business requirements analysis and project management training, will be celebrating its fifteenth birthday on Thursday, May 24, with an open house and tour of its new headquarters.
Minneapolis, MN (PRWEB) May 10, 2007 — http://www.watermarklearning.com Thursday, May 24, Watermark Learning, a globally recognized business requirements analysis and project management skill development company, will be celebrating its fifteenth year birthday with an open house and tour of its new corporate headquarters in Minneapolis, MN.
In 1992, Richard Larson, PMP, CBAP, founded Watermark Learning with the goal of guiding teams to produce enduring results through training focused on a practical approach, industry best practices, and engaging delivery. In the fifteen years since, Watermark Learning has proudly developed, delivered and perfected its own sought-after training based on firsthand, real world experience; and helped thousands along the way.
“We are thrilled to offer an afternoon where we can invite friends and colleagues to tour our new offices and share their past successes,” states founder Richard Larson. “We also look forward to sharing details on exciting upcoming developments, such as our newest class focusing on Certified Business Analyst Professional (CBAP) Certification Preparation set to begin this September.”
Minneapolis, MN, October 16, 2006 – http://www.watermarklearning.com – Watermark Learning, a leading business analysis and project management training firm, is addressing the top 5 challenges faced by project managers.
As the project management industry evolves, so do the challenges faced by project managers. Watermark Learning is coaching project managers on how to communicate effectively with their entire project team and improve their project success rate.
“I think there are several major challenges in project management today,” said Elizabeth Larson, PMP, CEO and Principal of Watermark Learning, “one of the largest is gathering requirements from clients who believe they already have the solution.”
Communication is a key element to effective project management and many of the challenges that project managers face are relationship-based. According to Larson, the top 5 challenges are:
1. Gathering complete business requirements.
2. Working with teams from different backgrounds and cultures.
3. Working with geographically-dispersed team members.
4. Establishing trust and getting buy-in from business customers.
5. Having sponsors and business customers take responsibility for the project’s requirements.
“Many clients do no understand why the project manager wants to spend time defining their needs,” said Larson. “This in turn makes the project manager reluctant to ask questions that are important in determining the real business need behind the client’s stated solution.”
Minneapolis, MN, June 21, 2006 — http://www.watermarklearning.com/businessProcessLdg.html — Watermark Learning, a leader in project management, business analysis and business process modeling training, recently spoke about the necessity of Business Process Modeling (BPM) at the PMI Honolulu Chapter’s Professional Development Day.
Richard Larson, PMP and Watermark Learning Principal, spoke to members of the PMI Honolulu chapter about how they could most efficiently use Business Process Modeling in their organization.
“Watermark Learning is dedicated to providing organizations with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively manage themselves,” said Richard Larson. “Without these skills, organizations are simply unable to adapt to the rapid changes of the business world.”
Watermark Learning believes there are five steps to implementing business process management within an organization:
Watermark Learning insists that the secret to successful business process management lies in the development of mechanisms within an organization that enable easy replication of processes as they are developed.
“Ad hoc process makes replication extremely difficult,” said Richard Larson. “When a process is not repeatable, it is out of control.”
The replication and control mantras touted by business process modeling are helping organizations establish ongoing structured processes that are dedicated to achieving corporate efficiency.
Minneapolis, MN, June 8, 2006 –http://www.watermarklearning.com– Watermark Learning, a leader in business analysis, project management training and skill development, welcomes Terri Swanson as its new Chief Operating Officer. Swanson comes to Watermark Learning with 20 plus years of experience in training, publishing and high tech sales and marketing.
Swanson will continue Watermark Learning’s efforts to expand into other markets and to share the knowledge and expertise of its principals and instructors through project management and business analysis related:
- Onsite Training
- Public Classes
- Masters Certificate Programs
- Mentoring/Coaching
“I am impressed with the quality and depth of the training that Watermark Learning provides,” Swanson said. “Watermark Learning’s genuine concern for helping clients solve their business needs, and our openness to customizing training and mentoring services to match these needs, is something that everyone in business should know about.”
Swanson plans to update the eNewsletter, Website and to help principals Elizabeth Larson, PMP, and Richard Larson, PMP, publish and promote their first book, “Nail Requirements Flat.”
“Nail Requirements Flat” will present the critical factors for quickly nailing requirements, and the techniques that will contribute to successful projects every time. It will focus on how effective business analysis can supply the missing ingredients to reduce or eliminate challenged projects, capture vital functionality, and delight clients.
Minneapolis, MN, April 28, 2006 — http://www.testedandproven.com/webinars.html - DDL, a leading medical device package testing laboratory, is hosting the second of three free webinars on the upcoming revisions to the ISO 11607 standard – “Packaging for Terminally Sterilized Medical Devices.”
The second ISO 11607 Revisions webinar from DDL, “Understanding Clause 6,” delves into clause 6 of the standard which focuses on a package’s ability to deliver a medical device to the patient without jeopardizing sterility or incurring defect.
“Safe and sterile distribution of a medical device to the end-user is critical,” said Patrick Nolan, COO of DDL. “Changes to ISO 11607 Clause 6 are intended to improve this process, but industry pro’s that do not understand compliance changes may find that their package or product fails when it comes to the testing lab.”
“Understanding Clause 6” presented by Patrick Nolan, COO of DDL Inc, will cover how revisions to ISO 11607 Clause 6 will change compliance requirements for the following:
• Test methods
• Sampling plans
• Materials & performed sterile barrier systems
• Storage & transport regulations
• Closure/seal evaluation
• Accelerated aging protocols
Minneapolis, MN, April 21, 2006 — http://www.testedandproven.com/ - DDL, a leading package, product and material testing services firm, has launched a new website to offer manufacturers and packaging professionals an interactive educational resource.
DDL recognizes that many manufacturers and packaging professionals are unable to keep up-to-date with changing compliance requirements and the implications for the testing of their package or product. DDL has re-designed its website to better serve the industry with educational information that will keep them on top of compliance.
“The package testing industry is continually changing,” said Patrick Nolan, COO of DDL, “DDL will be able to keep industry professionals up-to-date on the latest industry standards and testing requirements via advanced features now available on its website.”
DDL is currently running a series of three webinars on the forthcoming ISO 11607 revisions. These revisions will impact compliance requirements for package validation and the distribution of medical devices.
DDL also offers a free PackReview startup kit to manufacturers looking to validate their package in compliance with ISO 11607 (clause 7).
Pacific Grove, CA, March 22, 2006 –- http://www.pacificsecuritycapital.com – Pacific Security Capital, a vertically integrated real estate services company, announced today its plans to educate business investors in the true value of “green” property development.
Many investors are discouraged by the upfront costs of building green without taking into account the considerable return-on-investment. Recent studies show that green properties can hold and potentially increase their value much more than traditional buildings.
“The problem is that the investment community lacks a formal framework for analyzing and valuing green property development from a business investment perspective,” said Theddi Wright Chappell, Pacific Security Capital’s Managing Director of Advisory Services. “Many investors use the terms cost and value interchangeably without realizing that they mean different things.”
The value of developing properties that conserve water, generate better air quality and are more energy efficient far surpasses the upfront costs associated with building green.
Investors, landlords, employers and occupants can all enjoy the benefits of a green building, such as:
- Significantly reduced utility bills
- Extended property lifecycle
- Increased employee productivity and less absenteeism due to better air quality that prevents airborne sickness
- Reduced maintenance costs
- Less tenant turnover
San Diego, CA, March 8, 2006 –- http://www.pacificsecuritycapital.com – Pacific Security Capital, a leading commercial real estate services company, announced today that there is strength in the outlook for the multifamily sector, despite cap rate compression in most major markets.
While many speculate over the single family home bubble, apartment owners and developers expect business to thrive during 2006.
“The strong demand for ownership housing has pushed prices beyond the reach of a larger percentage of the nation’s population and above what some consider sustainable values,” said Simon Acheson, Director of Pacific Security Capital. “As the economy continues to strengthen and the workforce expands, the demand for housing remains strong but inventory is priced at levels that more and more people can‘t afford or won’t spend.”
Pacific Security Capital believes that this growing trend is like to renew strength in the multi-family market.
“The single family home bubble is deflating and the condo market is saturated,” said Acheson.
Acheson will be presenting a session on Equity Financing for Multi-Family Projects at the upcoming Apartment Finance Today Developer Conference in San Diego, CA, March 8 – 10, 2006. Acheson will discuss the growth of rental real estate, including key questions, such as:
- How high rent will rise
- How developers can meet the increasing need for affordable housing
- How long before rent prices peak
Computech Resources, a certified IBM Premier Business Partner opens Technology Innovation Center that allows customers to experience and evaluate technology solutions prior to purchase.
DE PERE, WI - Feb. 14, 2006 – www.computechresources.com – Computech Resources, a leading IBM Premier Business Partner and IT Consulting Services firm, is hosting a grand opening event to launch their new IBM Business Partner Innovation Center on February 22, 2006 in De Pere, Wisconsin.
The Grand Opening will feature Keynote Speeches from Robert E Vik – IBM. Mr. Vik is Program Director of the On Demand Sales Office. He is responsible for bringing IBM resources such as – research, technology, consulting, hardware, software, financing and sales – together to help IBM customers gain a competitive advantage.
Jean S. Bozman - Vice President, Global Enterprise Server Solutions, IDC will also speak. Ms. Bozman has spent many years covering operating and server operating systems including Unix, Microsoft Windows NT Server, Novell NetWare and Linux. Prior to IDC, Ms. Bozman held positions at ComputerWorld, Information Week and News Day, a Pulitzer-Prize winning daily newspaper in New York.
