2006 Users Conference Update

This year's QSM Users Conference is fast approaching and spaces are filling up quickly. Don't miss this opportunity to find out what other SLIM users are doing with the SLIM Tool Suite and hear about the latest product developments. Visit the Users Conference Details Page for speaking agenda, hotel information, and more. To register, click here. Don't forget to reserve your spot by September 15th!

QSM Software Almanac - Free for All Attendees!
QSM will giving away free copies of the QSM Software Almanac: IT Metrics Edition to all attendees in addition to memory sticks including all of the speakers' presentations. At a $500 value, the almanac gives unparalleled access to the latest developments in the software industry. For more information, see the QSM IT Almanac webpage.

A little about this year's speakers...

Joe Madden, Senior Manager, BearingPoint
Joe Madden is a software engineering and management consulting practitioner who is currently a senior manager at BearingPoint. He has used the SLIM tool for project estimation for nearly 8 years as a project manager for his own projects, as an internal consultant to other BearingPoint projects, and as an external IV&V consultant. Joe is an instructor for BearingPoint's Program Leadership Course and is also a published co-author of the book IT Measurement: Practical Advice from the Experts. He is a Certified Function Point Specialist and member of the Project Management Institute (PMI) with a B.S. in Computer Science from Marquette University and an M.S. in Software Systems Engineering from George Mason University.

On his speaking topic, “Using SLIM to Objectively Compare COTS, New Development, and Enhancement alternatives”...
With a technology independent sizing technique such as function point analysis (which is now an ISO/IEC 20926:2003 standard for functional sizing) and the proper use of gearing factors, you can use the SLIM tool to make an "apples to apples" comparison of COTS, enhancement, and new development alternatives. This technique also supports the Decision Analysis and Resolution process area of the CMMI.

Gaylord Yu, Motorola
Gaylord Yu has been an Motorola employee for thirteen years, eight of which he has been using SLIM. He is the Senior Program Manager for several Motorola projects and is currently managing a $150M project for Sprint/Nextel. Gaylord graduated from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

On his speaking topic, “Effectively Managing Projects Throughout the Entire Motorola Development Lifecycle"...
The success of a project is directly linked to the timely ability to accurately determine a project’s schedule, cost, and reliability boundaries. Given the ever changing business climate, spiraling costs, limited staff and resources, faster-to-market deadlines, demands for higher quality, and increased competition, effectively managing a project while eliminating guesswork is also critical for the project’s success. Furthermore, confidently predicting that a project will be on-time, on-budget, and on-target is vital for the continued success and competitive advantage of a project. This presentation focuses on some of the processes and disciplines of using SLIM that provides that confidence to determine and successfully meet or exceed customer commitments.

Feno Monaco, PMP, Allstate
Feno M. Monaco, PMP, is the manager for the Estimation & Metrics (E&M) team at Allstate Insurance. Additionally, Feno has nearly 10 years global consulting experience, where he spent 5 of those years managing a global E&M team. Feno has built E&M teams from idea to full operational capability, while implementing processes to support external assessments of CMM L3 maturity in multiple geographies. Along with his PMP certification, Feno is a SW-CMM assessor and CMMI SCAMPI team member trained.

Feno will be speaking on the new SLIM API capability.

Michael Mah, QSM Associates
Michael Mah is a contributing author of "IT Measurement, Advice from the Experts" and the upcoming book, Optimal Friction, People Dynamics at Work in the Information Age. Michael also publishes his writings on-line through the Cutter Consortium. His areas of expertise include organizational development, IT negotiation, software project estimation, productivity benchmarking, outsourcing, risk management, and project ''runaway prevention.'' Michael has been a keynote and featured speaker for the Carnegie Mellon Software Engineering Process Group Conference, the Cutter Summit series, the Better Software Conference & EXPO, and numerous Project Management Institute and SEI SPIN chapter meetings.

On "Agile Productivity Metrics"...
Enough of the stories . . . Where is the quantitative proof that Agile methods like Extreme Programming (XP) deliver higher productivity and quality? Such data has been missing for years, perhaps because agile practitioners and metrics experts have never fully cooperated to crack this difficult problem. Whatever the reason, the wait is now over. Metrics expert Michael Mah will discuss how he successfully applied productivity benchmarking techniques on numerous real-world XP projects and how a company’s development approach was transformed using agile methods. He’ll give an overview of the projects, explain an approach to gathering “Agile Productivity Metrics,” review how the data was interpreted, and show what was revealed in the time-to-market and quality numbers. Michael concludes with a glimpse of the kind of agile management and measurement that is possible—when you collect the right information.

Mike Snow, MISYS (newly added!)
In his presentation "Transition to Metrics," Mike will be speaking on using SLIM Metrics to establish a metrics driven management process. He will give background on where his team started, the challenges they faced, implementing the process & tools, where they are today.

Call QSM today for a FREE DEMO
of our best in class SLIM-Suite Estimation Products
800 424 6755

You received this email because you, or your company, have purchased products or requested information from our company regarding the products or services shown above. You have the right to remove your name from this list by responding to this email with the word "Remove" in the subject line. If you choose to remain on this list, your email will be kept confidential and will never be sold or disseminated to any other source. Copyright QSM, Inc., 2000 Corporate Ridge, Suite 200, McLean, VA 22102