Read Track Details & Agendas
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Project Management |
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Security |
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Contracting and Procurement |
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Professional Development |
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Technology |
Paid Training Program
Monday February 8 |
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9:00 AM - 4:00 PM | C1 - Introduction to Project Management | |||||||
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9:00 AM - 4:00 PM | C19 - Introduction to XML Programming | |||||||
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9:00 AM - 4:00 PM | C18 - Introduction to .NET | |||||||
Tuesday February 9 |
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9:00 AM - 4:00 PM | C2 - Planning and Estimating | |||||||
Wednesday February 10 |
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9:00 AM - 4:00 PM | C3 - Portfolio Management | |||||||
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9:00 AM - 4:00 PM | C16 - Business Analysis | |||||||
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9:00 AM - 4:00 PM | C7 - Vendor Performance Management | |||||||
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9:00 AM - 4:00 PM | C20 - Advanced XML Programming | |||||||
Thursday February 11 |
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9:00 AM - 4:00 PM | C6 - Leading Organizational Change | |||||||
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9:00 AM - 4:00 PM | C17 - Managing Business Requirements | |||||||
Tuesday February 16 |
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9:00 AM - 4:00 PM | C5 - Leading Productive Project Meetings | |||||||
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9:00 AM - 4:00 PM | C8 - Getting What You Need - Writing a Quality SOW | |||||||
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9:00 AM - 4:00 PM | C12 - Acceptance Testing - What Customers Need to Know | |||||||
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9:00 AM - 4:00 PM | C13 - Web Content Design | |||||||
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9:00 AM - 5:00 PM | C14 - Rapid Application Development | |||||||
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9:00 AM - 4:00 PM | C21 - ITIL Awareness | |||||||
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9:00 AM - 4:00 PM | C22 - Security Threat Update - The Newest Threats and How to Protect Against Them | |||||||
Wednesday February 17 |
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8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | SL - Site License | |||||||
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10:30 AM - 5:00 PM | C10 - Building High Performance Teams | |||||||
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10:30 AM - 5:00 PM | C4 - Putting the Cart AFTER the Horse | |||||||
Thursday February 18 |
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10:30 AM - 5:00 PM | C11 - Managing Difficult Personalities | |||||||
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10:30 AM - 5:00 PM | C15 - Building Secure Applications | |||||||
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10:30 AM - 5:00 PM | C9 - Principles of Effective Communication | |||||||
Track: Project Management
This course will provide a solid understanding of project management methods and tools. Gain practical experience in project management techniques and discover valuable tools that you can use immediately. You will learn to manage each stage of the project life cycle, work within organizational and cost constraints, manage your project budget, and get the most from your project management team.
This class provides 6 PDUs
This class will be held at TrainStation.net, 4516 Seton Center Pkwy., Suite 165, Austin, TX 78759
Instructor: Donna Medina, Vice President, Center for Project Management
This course reviews effective techniques for developing the project work breakdown structure (WBS), project schedule and project estimating. The course is targeted at new and experienced project managers who want to improve their project scheduling and budgeting skills.
This class provides 6 PDUs
This class will be held at TrainStation.net, 4516 Seton Center Pkwy., Suite 165, Austin, TX 78759
Instructor: Donna Medina, Vice President, Center for Project Management
This practical seminar focuses on the key functions of project portfolio management, and offers a broad range of best practices, including evaluation and prioritization of projects, resource allocation, project portfolio balancing and ongoing management.
Attendees will:
• Learn the terms project portfolio and project portfolio management;
• Understand to align projects and programs with the strategic initiatives and strategic business goals of the organization;
• Learn the tools and techniques to identify, select, prioritize, govern and monitor projects within a portfolio;
• Understand how project management processes provide executives with a high level view of projects allowing for visibility to redundancies, collaboration opportunities and potential risks to the portfolio;
• Learn to allocate resource across projects;
• Understand the benefits of continuous progress monitoring;
• Understand how to determine portfolio metrics; and
• Identify major components required on a portfolio status report/dashboard.
This class provides 6 PDUs
This class will be held at New Horizons Learning Center, 300 E. Highland Mall Blvd., Suite 300, Austin, TX 78752
Instructor: Donna Medina, Vice President, Center for Project Management
This workshop offers Project Managers the tools and skills they need to be effective change leaders. Project Managers will learn how to redirect and coach team members when changes to project priorities, specifications, timelines, and/or resources occur. The workshop provides a model for thinking strategically and tactically about change and its implications, as well as equipping PMs to handle the "human side" of changes in a project environment.
This class provides 6 PDUs
This class will be held at the Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road, Austin TX 78704
Instructor: Donna Medina, Vice President, Center for Project Management
If you're leading a project or a member of a project team, you know how many meetings projects involve: kick off meetings, design sessions, status meetings, executive sponsor meetings, and the list goes on. Yet, how often have you wasted time sitting through meetings where nothing was accomplished? If you want to improve your skills in leading productive, efficient meetings, this class is for you! The class will emphasize hands-on exercises where you can practice communicating and facilitating meetings. Topics will include:
• The facilitator's role;
• Facilitator's authority and power styles;
• Planning the meeting;
• Creating your script;
• Problem solving techniques and exercises;
• Unlocking creativity;
• Active listening;
• Managing conflict; and
• Providing effective feedback
This class provides 6 PDUs
Instructor: Howard Covin, Instructor, Forward Momentum LLC (www.forwardmomentum.net)
The root cause for many project problems can be attributed to inadequate planning (or, in some cases, no planning at all). More specifically, these organizations do not sufficiently define the scope (the "what?") and the activities (the "how?") required to successfully deliver the project. Struggling project teams often drift into the execution phase without a well-defined plan.
This class is designed to not only introduce better practices for scope definition and schedule development; it is also structured to facilitate hands-on learning through individual and team application. Participants will leave the class with a better understanding of project planning techniques such as: Work Breakdown Structures, Activity Breakdown, and Network Diagramming.
This class provides 6 PDUs
Instructor: Bruce Beer, PMP, Forward Momentum LLC (www.forwardmomentum.net)
Track: Security
Today's systems are more connected than ever. Desktops, laptops, web apps, mobile apps, virtual machines,
networked printers, and other devices all play a significant part in technology infrastructures. This connectivity
gives hackers and members of the DarkWeb more opportunities to do harm. What are the threats and risks
that you should focus on and make a priority? What are the latest threats and what do you need to do to
protect against them? In this fast-paced class, you will learn about the top 10 biggest threats that you should
focus on. You will also learn how to apply proven, standards-based techniques and new protection strategies to
protect systems and data from the latest threats.
Instructor: Scott Greene, CEO, Evidence Solutions
Track: Contracting and Procurement
This course focuses on the phases of vendor management. It covers key considerations and pitfalls to avoid at all stages of the process, with an emphasis on building solid ongoing relationships with selected vendors. The course will cover:
• Developing a vendor management plan;
• Identifying performance measurements; and
• Understanding the impact of the various contract types.
At the conclusion of this session the participants will be able to:
• Develop clear, concise, and measurable requirements;
• Understand the appropriate legal and professional relationships between government agencies and vendors;
• Create a plan for evaluating vendor performance;
• Create a plan for effective and appropriate government and vendor communications;
• Identify and plan for effective contract management activities; and
• Develop a plan for contract closing activities.
This class provides 6 PDUs
This class also provided 6.5 Continuing Education Credits for State of Texas Certified Purchasers and/or Contract Managers
This class will be held at the New Horizons Learning Center, 300 E. Highland Mall Blvd., Suite 300, Austin, TX 78752
Instructor: Vicki Wrona, PMP, Forward Momentum LLC (www.forwardmomentum.net)
Whether part of an RFP or written against a master contract, the SOW is the most important document of the procurement process. If the requirements aren't accurate, the vendor will have delivered exactly what you asked for, but not everything you really needed, leaving the organization with solutions that don't fit, services that aren't what you needed or systems that don't work properly. This often results in change orders, additional costs, delays, or sometimes, abandoned projects.
Translating the business requirements from disparate user groups into an SOW that meets policy, budget and legal constraints is extremely challenging. In this class, you will learn how to create an effective SOW and avoid common pitfalls. The class will cover:
• The components of an SOW;
• How to state requirements in plain English;
• The role of performance-based SOW; and
• How to measure success.
This class provides 6 PDUs
This class also provides 6 Continuing Education Credits for State of Texas Certified Purchasers and/or Contract Managers
Instructor: Bruce Beer, PMP, Forward Momentum LLC (www.forwardmomentum.net)
Track: Professional Development
This workshop is aimed at the business professional who is asked to conduct acceptance testing and needs to understand the basics of testing. It will give you an overview of the acronyms and common terms, and help you understand requirements documents. You will learn what traceability is, why you care, and how to ensure that it exists. You will also learn how to create acceptance criteria, develop and run tests, and decide whether a system should be accepted.
Instructor: Kathleen Costello, President and Sr. Project Manager, E W Consulting Inc. - Presented through the Software Quality Institute - The Center for Lifelong Engineering Education at the University of Texas Austin
The web has become one of the most important communications tools for government. But how do you know if your message is getting to your audience in a way that is clear and understandable? How do you organize information so users can find it? In this class, you will learn some of the key considerations for web writing; best practices for structuring and presenting your information; and presentation considerations for ADA and language translation.
Instructor: Kath Straub, Ph.D., Principal, Usability.org
How do you take a group of individuals and build a team that will work together to achieve a common goal? What are the common stages of team development and how can you effectively lead your group through them. Learn the answer to these questions and gain practical tips for creating a highly functioning team.
This class provides 6 PDUs
Instructor: Howard Covin, Instructor, Forward Momentum LLC (www.forwardmomentum.net)
Why does a difficult person behave the way they do? What rights do you have for demanding change? This course defines difficult people: who they are, and their effect and impact on the workplace. The key to successful interactions is to focus on changes in behavior while understanding the motivations behind undesirable behaviors. This course provides tools and techniques for understanding the differences between people, how these differences lead to conflict and what you can do about it.
This class provides 6 PDUs
Instructor: Howard Covin, Instructor, Forward Momentum LLC (www.forwardmomentum.net)
Communication skills can be some of the most challenging for a manager at any level to master. This two-part course will cover some of the most important aspects of effective verbal and written communication.
Verbal Communication: In this course, you will learn one of the most important skills of communicating - active listening. You will also learn how nonverbal behaviors affect how your message is received and how to develop clear, concise messages. In addition you will learn:
• How to stop people from pushing your buttons;
• How to uncover hidden meanings in conversation;
• How to deal with the real issues; and
• Precise communication.
Written Communication: Many government agencies and departments require a business case document or presentation for a project. This document can be extremely important in determining whether your project is funded and the visibility and priority given to it. This course explores what it takes to write an effective and targeted business case. Learn the common mistakes in written communication and how to avoid them. Learn how to clearly get your ideas across in plain language.
This class provides 6 PDUs
Instructor: Bruce Beer, PMP, Forward Momentum LLC (www.forwardmomentum.net)
Track: Technology
A Two-Day class (Monday 2/8 - Tuesday 2/9, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm)
This class provides a comprehensive introduction to the major topic areas in XML technology and provides an introduction to Advanced XML. Learn what all the fuss is about and how to jump immediately onto the fast-track for XML development.
This class will be held at the New Horizons Learning Center, 300 E. Highland Mall Blvd., Suite 300 Austin, TX 78752
This class offers 13.34 hours that can be applied towards a Science and Technology Degree at the University of Phoenix
Instructor: Devan Shepherd, CEO & Chief Technology Officer, XMaLpha Technologies, LLC
A Two-Day class (Monday 2/8 - Tuesday 2/9, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm)
This class provides students with an introduction to the technologies that comprise the Microsoft .NET strategy. This course is a high-level overview of multiple aspects of .NET, and will serve as a starting point for developers to begin implementing .NET tools and technologies.
This class will be held at the New Horizons Computer Learning Center, 300 E. Highland Mall Blvd., Suite 300, Austin, TX 78752
Instructor: Dean Tilton, Instuctor, New Horizons Computer Learning Center
In this course, you will learn essential business analysis techniques to bridge the gap between the "as is" system and the solution your customers need. It offers an overview of business analysis, with an emphasis on the role that well-defined requirements play in successful projects. You will learn to establish a shared understanding of "the product" with a project's stakeholders. The course will explain the importance of a vision, glossary, a risk mitigation plan, and explore a variety of ways to elicit accurate requirements. You will also discover examples of sure-fire analysis tools that can be used to bridge the gap between current "as is" systems and anticipated "to be" solutions.
Learners will:
• Analyze requirements;
• Set priorities;
• Establish representative models for key system components; and
• Explore various ways to create representative use cases and map requirements back to known Enterprise Policies, objectives, and business rules.
This class will be held at TrainStation.net, 4516 Seton Center Pkwy., Suite 165, Austin, TX 78759
This class offers 6.67 hours that can be applied towards a Science and Technology Degree at the University of Phoenix
Instructor: Devan Shepherd, CEO/Chief Technical Officer, XMaLpha Technologies
A Two-Day class (Wednesday 2/10 - Thursday 2/11, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm)
This is a concise technical course in the essential concepts, constructs, tools, and related standards for the XML developer and technical leader. This course focuses on XML DTDs, XML Schema, XSLT, and XPath to enable developers to begin implementing powerful XML solutions upon completion.
Topics include, XML well-formed documents, validation concepts, DTD syntax and constructs, W3C Schema syntax and constructs, XSLT syntax and processing, XPath addressing language, development and design considerations, the XML processing model and a brief overview of XML development & processing tools. Exercises and supporting PC-based workshops will reinforce understanding of these topics.
This course is aimed at technical architects, engineers and developers, as well as system analysts, managers and others involved in developing XML-based systems. Some basic experience with developing structured information systems is required for this course. Familiarity with Web systems, HTML, general computing processes & tools is very helpful. Experience in RDBMS systems & data definition is helpful, but not necessary.
This class will be held at the New Horizons Learning Center, 300 E. Highland Mall Blvd., Suite 300, Austin, TX 78752
This class offers 13.34 hours that can be applied towards a Science and Technology Degree at the University of Phoenix
Instructor: Dale Waldt, Senior Insructor, XMaLpha Technologies, LLC
A Two-Day class (Thursday 2/11 - Friday 2/12, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm)
This course builds on the concepts explored in Business Analysis. A basic understanding of business analysis is required for this course.
Learners discover how to document business requirements clearly and accurately, and develop use cases and test scripts based on requirements. This course provides an engineering approach to requirements development and management, presenting more than fifty best practices, which encompass all of the activities and deliverables associated with defining comprehensive, solution-based, requirements. Topics include:
• The requirements process;
• Problem analysis and description;
• Types of requirements;
• Requirements validation and documentation;
• The language used to express requirements;
• High level process maps; and
• Use cases workflow and design criteria.
Learners evaluate the value of establishing a shared understanding of "the product" with the project stakeholders, and gain experience building a vision, glossary, and risk mitigation plan to streamline requirement elicitation. Exercises include the use of effective techniques for eliciting software requirements, analyzing requirements, setting priorities, and establishing representative models for key system components. Practice with the authoring of representative use cases will also be provided.
During this course, workshops will include a representative project that will be developed from inception, through requirements gathering, and subsequent analysis in order to integrate individual concepts. A mock JAD (Joint Application Design/Development) session will be conducted as part of this course.
This class will be held at TrainStation.net, 4516 Seton Center Pkwy., Suite 165, Austin, TX 78759
This class offers 13.34 hours that can be applied towards a Science and Technology Degree at the University of Phoenix
Instructor: Devan Shepherd, CEO/Chief Technical Officer, XMaLpha Technologies
In today's fast-paced environment, developers need tools and techniques to quickly respond to new requests and accelerate delivery without adding costs. This course takes a practical approach to Rapid Application Development (RAD) and focuses on methods that can be applied in any environment. You will learn how RAD techniques can be used to help identify and analyze requirements, validate solutions, and rapidly deploy solutions. It uses practical, concrete examples to illustrate how to select the best features of multiple RAD methodologies - including AGILE - to deliver high-quality, accurate solutions quickly.
The course will also cover:
- The underlying concepts of real-world rapid development;
- Various methods of prototyping requirements and software solutions;
- Processes for effectively using prototypes; and
- A comparison of the various methods for delivering software at high speed.
In addition, attendees will hear about risk management and mitigation; change control; and development lifecycle options, in a rapid development environment.
This class offers 13.34 hours that can be applied towards a Science and Technology Degree at the University of Phoenix
Instructor: Devan Shepherd, CEO and Chief Technology Officer, XMaLpha Technologies LLC
We’ve all heard about ITIL, but do you know what it can do for your organization and why you would want to undertake an ITIL implementation? If not, this class is for you! Taught by professionals from HP, this hands-on workshop uses a simulation of a race car team to help you understand ITIL in action. Through the workshop, you will get an overview of the key concepts and terminology of ITIL, an understanding of what ITIL is and what it can do for your organization. It will touch on the five core volumes, and will demonstrate how you can use ITIL to make continual improvements to your organization.
Instructor: Patrick J. Collings, Senior IT Service Management Consultant, Education Services, Hewlett-Packard
In this fast-paced course you will learn how to build more secure applications using simple, repeatable steps. The focus will be on network level security exposures and appropriate counter-measures.
Beginning with cryptographic tools, we will explore the nature and strength of various security algorithms available for the encryption of sensitive data. User authentication and intrusion detection will be discussed from an overriding organizational level, while the top 10 software attacks listed by the OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project) will be examined in more detail. For instance, the workshop will include discussion of key attacks, provide instruction on how to protect against these attacks, and provide solid countermeasures that any development team can use.
You will also learn how to secure your applications to protect your organization's IT infrastructure, and how to address industry best practice human factors to increase security awareness. This course is appropriate for application developers, business analysts and application development project managers with some technical background.
This class offers 6.67 hours that can be applied towards a Science and Technology Degree at the University of Phoenix
Instructor: Devan Shepherd, CEO & Chief Technology Officer, XMaLpha Technologies, LLC
