George Spalding

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Conference Optimizer - Issue 5

Hi! George Spalding here again – your Pink Conference Host.

This is the last of my pre-Conference Optimizers, where I give you tips for getting the most out of your conference experience in Vegas. If you missed any of my other four, click here.

1. Test Drive Area

Tip: Get the most out of the Exhibition Showcase by taking a product demo.

Look for Pinky in a convertible to know you’re in the right spot! Here you’ll have the opportunity to test drive products from PureShare, Consulting-Portal and Pink Elephant.

2. Social Media At #PINK12

Tip: Social media is a great way to connect with others at the conference!

We are very excited to give our conference attendees numerous social networking opportunities.  Here are a few highlights:

• #Pink12 – If you’re on twitter make sure to include the #Pink12 hashtag in your tweets to join the conference stream
• Follow @Pink12_Live for up-to-the-minute updates of things happening onsite at the Bellagio and conference specific tips. Tweet @Pink12_Live to ask a question, share a thought or even just to say hello!
• Foursquare – When you arrive at the Bellagio be sure to check-in to Pink12
• PinkAPP – Download PinkAPP to connect with Pink on your smartphone. Available for Blackberry, Android and Apple
• Be sure to check your special edition PinkLINK – which you will be receiving at the Conference – for a full list of social media activities.

3. Exhibition Showcase & Feature Sponsors

Tip: Make sure to familiarize yourself with all our amazing line-up of exhibitors before you get onsite.

We have many organizations at this year’s Exhibition Showcase and they are a very important part of our conference.  For a complete list click here.

Here are a few that we are highlighting this week: Hornbill, ServiceNow, Serena Software, Axios Systems, Cask, LLC, gen-E and Nimsoft.

4. Breakfast Clubs

Tip: Maximize your learning experience – get an early start to your day.

We have sessions starting at 7:15 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. What better way to make the best of your time at Vegas than to start your day off with an informative Breakfast session!  Click here for the full line up.

5. priSM Institute® CPD Credits At Pink12

Tip: For the first time ever, priSM credential holders are eligible to receive Continuing Professional Development credits at Pink12.

Attendees are eligible to receive up to 20 CDP credits at the conference. The America’s priSM Institute® will be awarding the following CPD’s for each session:

1 CPD per Keynote session
1 CPD per Breakfast session
1 CPD per Track Session
3 CPDs for the ½ Day Workshops on Wednesday
For more information on how to receive your credits or about the priSM Institute®, click here.


That’s it from me.

See you in Vegas!

Regards,
George Spalding
Executive VP
Pink Elephant
Telephone: 905-331-5060
Toll Free: 1-888-273-PINK

Thursday, February 09, 2012

Conference Optimizer - Issue 4

Hi! George Spalding here again – your Pink Conference Host.

This is my fourth in a series of Conference Optimizers; I’m back with more tips for getting the most out of your conference experience in Vegas. If you missed any of my three, click here.

1. Have You Downloaded Your Conference Presentations?

Tip: Spend time now to review all presentations to decide which ones to take with you.

When you attend the conference, you will not receive a huge bulk manual filled with hard copies of session presentations – this is done in an effort to keep Pink12 green!  Please note that there will not be any onsite printing facilities.

Presentations are available through a password protected website from February 1 – April 1, 2012.  Your login information was provided to you in your confirmation email.

2. Sunday Conference Optimizers

Tip: Start your conference experience early by meeting new people from like-industries who share common interests.

Don’t forget the conference agenda actually starts on Sunday afternoon at 3:45 p.m. with a few “Optimizers” and several Industry “Focus Groups”. Read more about the Sunday Conference Optimizers.

3. ITSM Extreme Makeover – Don’t Miss It!

Tip: Check out one of 4 insightful and informative presentations from the 2011 ITSM Extreme Makeover team.

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSC) are recipients of the first ever ITSM Extreme Makeover. For one year, executive sponsors Pink Elephant and Hornbill along with participating sponsors GamingWorks, Loyalist, HDI and TSO have provided free services by working with this organization to plan for and successfully implement ITSM best practices. Join CIO Jerry York, along with Bryan Menn and Rod Cantu of UTHSC to uncover what really happened behind the scenes. From the roadmap used to tool implementation to final results, the team is here to share it all!

Click here to view all 4 presentations.

4. Passport Prize Giveaway

Tip: Make sure to participate in the passport prize draw for a chance to win some fantastic prizes!

In the exhibition showcase (Grand Ballroom) speak to a representative with the Passport sign displayed on their booth and have them stamp your passport book.  Collect all 32 stamps to be entered into the draw for one of many great prizes.  You will be given your passport book upon registration. Check out the amazing line up of exhibitors.

5. Feature Sponsor – Hornbill

Tip: Get to know one of the ITSM Extreme Makeover executive sponsors – Hornbill.

Visit Hornbill in the Exhibition Showcase to learn how their tool Supportworks has powered this very exciting project. Together, Pink and Hornbill are co-executive sponsors of the ITSM Extreme Makeover and major contributing service providers. For more about Hornbill, their contribution, and what they have planned for the conference click here.

6. Watch My Optimizer Video Presentation

Tip: If this is your first Pink conference, take a moment to watch my presentation for helpful tips.

My short optimizer presentation is especially helpful to attendees who are new to our conference. Included is information on how to make your conference experience as valuable as possible.

 

That’s it for now, but stay tuned for more tips and conference optimizers to come.

Regards,
George Spalding
Executive VP
Pink Elephant
Telephone: 905-331-5060
Toll Free: 1-888-273-PINK

Saturday, February 04, 2012

Conference Optimizer - Issue 3

Hi! George Spalding here again – your Pink Conference Host. This is my third in a series of Conference Optimizers; I’m back with more tips for getting the most out of your conference experience in Vegas. If you missed my first two, click here.

1. Don’t Leave The Conference Early!

Tip: Attend one of our many FREE 1/2 day workshops on Wednesday, February 22nd.

These are not your typical breakouts. If you haven’t already done so, be sure to look through the amazing line-up of the ITIL®, ITSM, and IT business management workshops on Wednesday afternoon, February 22nd. Included are several “process health checks.” There are six workshops to choose – operational, tactical and strategic.

No need to pre-register. Check out the complete list here.

2. How Long Ago Did You Last Look At The Conference Program?

Tip: If it’s been a while since you last looked at our program, it’s a good idea to look again!

If you recall in one of my previous Optimizer emails, I strongly recommended that you and your team meet and review the agenda before attending the conference to coordinate and plan out your days – have you done that yet? There are just over two weeks left…

Even if you have planned out your program, it’s a good idea to review the sessions one more time because there have been some recent additions you may not be aware of.

3. Back At The Office…

Tip: When you return to work after the conference, share your conference experience and learning with others.

Don’t keep all that great information you got at the conference to yourself! Once you’ve returned review your notes and present key findings and learning points to your team/department.  Hold a Lunch & Learn or a fun meeting to promote the sharing of information and start discussions on how to implement best practices learned at the conference.

Prepare a “Trip Report” for wider distribution or if a meeting isn’t possible.  By showing that your time at our conference was valuable, you will be more likely to attend in 2013!

4. Exhibition Showcase & Featured Sponsors

Tip: Make sure to familiarize yourself with all our amazing line-up of exhibitors before you get onsite – 42 in total!

We have many organizations represented this year in our Exhibition Showcase. They are a major part of our conference, so take a moment now to familiarize yourself with them all, before you get there. Check out the complete list here.

Here are a few we’re profiling now: Click on their links to read about special prize giveaways, product demos, and more: Global Knowledge & Hornbill.

5. Free Live Webinar: Is Cloud the Napster of IT?

Tip: Take advantage of a thought leadership opportunity from our Platinum Sponsor, ServiceNow, before the conference.

Sign up for the webinar on February 7, 2012 – 8:00am (pst) / 11:00am (est).  Join George Spalding, Pink Elephant and Craig McDonogh, ServiceNow for an informative session discussing how an IT service catalog is critical to the success of your cloud initiative.

Here’s the description: remember what Napster did to the music industry? It changed the playing field. This webinar explores how cloud infrastructure is having a similar impact on business computing and, more importantly, how the lack of an intuitive, actionable service catalog can keep you from realizing the biggest benefits of the cloud.

To register, click here.

That’s it for now, but stay tuned for more tips and conference optimizers to come.

Regards,
George Spalding
Executive VP
Pink Elephant
Telephone: 905-331-5060
Toll Free: 1-888-273-PINK

Friday, January 27, 2012

Conference Optimizer - Issue 2

Hi!  George Spalding here again – your Pink Conference Host.

This is my second in a series of Conference Optimizers; I’m back with more tips for getting the most out of your conference experience in Vegas. If you missed my first one, click here.

1. Check Out The Pre- & Post-Conference Courses & Workshops

Tip: Maximize your learning by attending one of our pre- or post-conference courses/workshops starting on February 15, 2012. Over 200 attendees have already registered so be sure to register before classes fill up!

Here are just a few you may want to consider:

Executive Strategic Workshop: This one-day executive session focuses on what senior managers need to understand about the ITSM lifecycle approach and how it links to business value generation and IT strategy

ITIL® Practitioner: How To Define & Implement A Service Catalog According To ITIL Best Practices: For managers who want to learn why the Service Catalog and its underlying service structure is the cornerstone of any ITSM program as well as how to map IT services to business processes and functions

The Implementation Road Map For IT Service Management: Address all the important activities of ITSM including where you should start; how to justify and communicate your plans; how to define the supporting structure of your organization; the critical success factors for implementing each process; how to integrate processes and move up the capability maturity model (CMM) process scale; and how to identify the right tools to support your environment
Click here to view the full line-up.

Don’t forget! We offer a discount if you attend both the conference and a pre- or post-conference course! Click here to read more.

2. Are You A Platinum Pass Holder?

Tip: Upgrade to Platinum Pass to maximize your conference experience.

If you are a Platinum Pass holder here is a recap of what you are entitled to during the conference:

Reserved seating in the General Session room
Access to the special Platinum Lounge where you can grab a beverage and relax, and network with speakers and other Platinum Pass holders
“Front-Of-The-Line” Platinum Registration counter
Dedicated Platinum Concierge and Customer Service counter
Platinum Dining Room where you can have lunch, network and engage with speakers, keynotes and other Platinum Pass holders
Already registered but didn’t get the Platinum Pass? It’s not too late to upgrade! Give our Customer Service Center a call and we would be happy to upgrade your pass.

You can reach our Customer Service Center at 1-888-273-PINK or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

3. Discounted Show Tickets!

Tip: Take advantage of discounted show tickets to maximize your time in Vegas.

Pink Elephant has partnered with Just ask. Where® to provide complimentary concierge services to all attendees and exhibitors. Assistance with restaurant reservations, show tickets, golf, spas and tours will be available both onsite at the show and in advance via the web site at http://wheretraveler.com/pinkelephant/us/nv/las-vegas/.

Contact Just ask. Where® at: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or by phone at (702) 635-3000 or (702) 338-4025.

Many discount offers are available. Don’t delay! Make your reservations today.

4. Hold “Debriefing Meetings” At The Conference

Tip: Make sure to get your team together daily to share notes and ideas.

Many of our customers send teams to our annual conference. It’s a good idea to have daily team debriefs to share information and the day’s experiences. At least once each day at a convenient time, plan to hold team meetings to review key learning points from the sessions each team member has attended. It’s also a good idea to document these in preparation for sharing them with others upon returning to work.  Start an “Action List” of the great ideas you’ve heard about from each session and Exhibitors that you want to explore further.

That’s it for now, but stay tuned for more tips and conference optimizers to come.

Regards,
George Spalding
Executive VP
Pink Elephant
Telephone: 905-331-5060
Toll Free: 1-888-273-PINK

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Conference Optimizer - Issue 1

Hello to our Conference Attendees!

This is the first in a series of messages aimed at highlighting important points related to our upcoming annual event in Las Vegas. My name is George Spalding and I’ll be your Conference Host onsite.

1. Start Building Your Agenda Now!

Tip: Do not wait until you are onsite to study the agenda. 

This year there are 15 tracks with more than 160 sessions to choose from with a vast array of compelling topics.  It can be a bit overwhelming, especially at the last minute.  If you haven’t already done so, visit the Agenda Builder.  It’s available via the conference virtual site at http://conferences.pinkelephant.com and you can login using the credentials provided in your confirmation letter.

If you have any problems logging in call our Customer Service Desk at 1-888-273-PINK. Once you’re in, take some time to look through all the sessions and the presenters, make some choices, decide on your path and print out your agenda.  You can always go in and change it later.

It’s good practice to change your password once you login to the Conference Attendee Website. To change your password, please go to the ‘Change Password’ tab located at the top of the website’s homepage.

Experience has shown us that this is the most valuable tip I can share to get the maximum return from your conference investment. And, don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions about the program.

2. Use Our Sample Conference Itineraries

Tip: Another way that Pink helps you navigate around the jam-packed agenda is with our “sample conference itineraries.” 

We’ve suggested sessions you may want to attend based on your specific role within your organization, and your level of ITSM knowledge.  We have received feedback from previous attendees who have found these very helpful.  Check out the sample itineraries. You’ll find sample itineraries for:

CIOs/Senior IT Managers
Beginner ITIL® and ITSM Knowledge
Advanced ITIL and ITSM Knowledge
Program/Project Managers
Service Desk Management

3. Hold A Team Meeting Before Leaving For The Conference

Tip: Get your team together in advance of the conference to review the agenda and establish clear goal and objectives.

Once again, a high number of attending organizations have chosen to bring a team to Pink’s annual conference.  If you’re one of these organizations, holding “agenda coverage” meetings in advance, before arriving onsite allows you to spend the needed time to establish clear goals, and pin-point specific deliverables you need to bring back to the workplace in order to make the investment of time and money a success. Whether you are coming alone or bringing a team, be sure to take time now to define your goals for attending – devise a strategy around the agenda and identify key deliverables. With over 160 sessions and 15 tracks, it’s important that you get the most out of your team’s participation.

That’s it for now, but stay tuned for more tips and conference optimizers to come.

Regards,
George Spalding
Executive VP
Pink Elephant
Telephone: 905-331-5060
Toll Free: 1-888-273-PINK

Monday, September 12, 2011

How and why Service-Now won the Pink Elephant 2010 ITIL Innovation award

George Spalding from Pink, Jerrod Bennett from Service-Now.com and I had a conversation recently about how Service-Now won the Pink Elephant ITIL Innovation Award, presented at the conference earlier this year.  Learn about what the awards are, what the judges liked, how they tested Jerrod with the demo, what next for Service-Now, and the deadline for this year’s awards.

(My apologies for the sound quality on my mike.  Luckily I didn’t say much and the two guys that matter came in loud and clear)

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Intro to IT Governance

As part of our series of posts on life beyond ITSM, let’s talk a bit about the Governance of IT.

If you are the average IT person, then you think you know what this is but have a distorted idea of it - thanks mainly to the vendors.  Any time a term gets hot in the industry, lots of vendors of software, training or consulting suddenly and remarkably have one of those to sell you.  So it is with recent attention being given to governance, suddenly everything is governance.  Project management, security, auditing, dashboards, strategic planning, COBIT, budgeting, even network management, apparently they are all IT Governance.  Well, they’re not.  Not outside of vendors’ PowerPoints at any rate.

Just as “management” has lost so much of its meaning it now gets applied to what we used to call “doing” (Project Management, Change Management, Net work Management, Waste Management…), so too most of what we now call IT “governance” is, in fact, management.

Let’s be clear about this.  If you are reading this, you aren’t a governor.  It is a fairly safe bet that no Ministers of the Crown or Company Directors are reading this.  Governance isn’t doing or managing: it is directing and controlling.  Governors don’t work.  Oh OK, I’m taking an extreme position to make a point.  In actual fact, governors delegate to the Executive who delegate to managers in order to communicate their directions and execute their monitoring for them, so governance activities can be seen to happen at lower levels, but the accountability is at the top.  Also, some governors are also managers.  That’s fine so long as they are clear what hat they are wearing at any given time.

ISO38500 is the new-ish (June, 2008) standard for “Corporate Governance of IT”.  Note that it isn’t called “IT Governance”.  The governors of the corporate body govern the IT function just as they govern every other function of the organisation.  Leastwise they ought to.  The way it has worked in a lot of organisations is that the governors have left IT to its own devices and suffered the consequences.

Long ago, the banking industry’s Basel II convention on risk started shaking up governance of banking IT (unfortunately, the U.S. banks did not sign on to Basel II, were left to their own devices, and we know what happened to them - ouch!).  Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) brought governance home to a much wider range of companies. 

Governance is a dance of two, a tango.  The corporation has as much obligation to understand and control IT as IT has to integrate itself with the corporation.  Both sides have failed at that in a lot of cases.  To date, much of the blame has been one-way.  ISO38500 is taking that back to the governors, laying their accountability and obligations at their door.

The upsurge in interest in ITIL and ITSM came about because of new demands for management transparency and alignment after the Y2K spending fiesta.  SOX and other recent fiscal inconveniences are heightening interest in governance of IT - expect an upsurge in interest.  Part of that will be an expectation of IT’s ability to provide what I call “governance enablement”: the infrastructure and processes to accept direction and provide monitoring.

A governance structure is remarkably simple really:  Rules are set.  Self-monitoring is ongoing.  External (3rd party) monitoring - auditing - happens at appropriate intervals.  Non-compliance results in penalties.  Compliance results in kudos or rewards.  Done.  Repeat.

Let’s use a simple analogy for governance - driving.  The government passes laws telling us what we can & must do when driving our cars.  These are the rules - the first step in an effective governance structure.  The cars are then equipped with monitoring devices (speedometers, warning bells if our seat belts are off, etc.) to assist us in complying to the regulations, the rest is up to the driver to obey or comply with.  The police offer real-time 3rd party monitoring - the auditors.  They have monitoring tools as well - radar guns, etc.  But they cannot be everywhere so they have instituted automated warning and monitoring systems (signs which tell you what speed you are going - incenting you to comply and cameras that capture your license number and speed - automated reporting on non-compliance or exceptions).  The traffic court is in business to make sure that non-compliance results in appropriate consequences and penalties.  A safe driving record often gets a reward of a lower insurance rate.  Simple, universal and effective. 

Safe Driving.  See you at the conference.