5 Ways To Get Your Project Management Fix in Portland with PMoF's!

Let’s get some Project Management up in here!

It’s a wonderful problem to have: there are so many awesome DrupalCon Portland sessions that couldn’t get picked because of the enormous number of submissions (600!). As someone in touch with project managers in this community, I can safely declare that we want more content aimed at this important segment. You can’t produce great projects without great project management! so...

We’ve devised a plan to get more content without taking away from session selections: The Project Managers of a Feather Sessions - aka: PMoF’s

I’ve been talking with some helpful people at the DA. They’ve been responsive and accommodating, and they’re doing their best to find us some solutions. But there are no guarantees that we will get a room big enough to hold more than 20 or 30 people. If this is going to be successful, I’ll need your help!

Here’s 5 ways you can make sure this conference and more have great PM content:

1) Seats will be limited, so sign up to be kept in the loop!

We'll need to do some advanced planning here since I suspect there are lots of people interested in this content. (If the number of sessions submitted is any clue.)

What You Can Do: Help us to make sure we get enough space by letting us know you're coming! We will *not* diffuse this information fyi.

2) At least a Day of Content, Tell Your Boss!

I know many of you are having a hard time making the case to come to Drupalcon, but please don’t give up yet! Some active PM’s of this community are going through the sessions to find some interesting speakers, and coordinate BoF’s on-site to allow for knowledge sharing in as big a space as we can get! I’m working w/ the DA to find a good space to accommodate our numbers since in past years, the BoF rooms have proven to be too small.

What You Can Do: Let your management or funding-party know *today* that this is happening to secure your spot again if you have been taken off the list of attendees. This should make a good case for your attendance, and keep this momentum going! PM trainings are costly, you can make the argument this will be worth the investment.

3) Time to Mobilize, Tell Your Friends!

If no one knows this is happening, we won’t get traction, and the same issues will continue to plague our cause. I think this topic applies to more than just PM's, lots of developers, business managers and other roles can benefit from knowing how to do things PM's often do like structure projects, coordinate estimates and deal with customers/clients.

What You Can Do: You can help us by sharing this post with project and portfolio managers in your entourage in order to get traction for a bigger/better set up in Portland. Let them know that we’re building content for them, and this is the time to show your interest by joining us! You could RT with #PMoFs to share the love and spread the word too!

4) Help Us Pick Content, Tell us What You Want!

Was there a session you really wanted to see? Well, nows the time to let us know what it was! Or, What *they* were if you had several. We’re hoping to use your input as a guide for setting up these sessions.

What You Can Do: Let me know what you want to see in the comments :) We’ll see what we can do to get some presenters to share their ideas.

5) Attend the BoF on PM Content Solutions!

This niche has shown their presence (see sessions below) is substantial. But, oddly people aren't really that vocal about a track for PM content, or trying to set up a better community on drupal.org! I think we all need to step up and make our presence known if we want more/better opportunities to learn and participate.

We're going to organize a BoF to talk about this topic, and how we can improve the level of content around PM work!

What You Can Do: Attend the Bof, Blog about it on your company's website, share your feelings on the http://groups.drupal.org/project-management page, or simply tweet using #PMoFs so we can see what you think and RT you.

Pick a Session, Any Session... And tell us you liked it please :)

I'd like to send a great big virtual hug to everyone who submitted. You are all stars, thank you for taking the time to invent and submit your ideas. Please don't get discouraged, we will find another way to make this work and find new ways to keep growing!

Here are a few of the sessions I noticed were related to Project Management, feel free to comment below if you want to see them at the PMoFs!

1 THE SCIENCE OF GUESSING - DRUPAL ESTIMATION TECHNIQUES FROM PROJECT MANAGERS

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/science-guessing-drupal-estimatio...

2 PROJECT MANAGEMENT DO'S & DON'TS - HOW TO BRING A PROJECT IN ON TIME, ON BUDGET

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/project-management-dos-donts-how-...

3 DRUPAL ASSUMPTIONS: COMMON ASSUMPTIONS THAT KILL PROJECTS (AND HOW TO HANDLE THEM)

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/drupal-assumptions-common-assumpt...

4 DELIVERING DRUPAL: PROCESSES FOR SUCCESS

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/delivering-drupal-processes-success

5 RESULTS ORIENTED AGILE: HOW TO GET MORE OF THE RIGHT RESULTS, SOONER AND WITH LESS RISK.

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/results-oriented-agile-how-get-mo...

6 TOP TEN REASONS YOU SHOULD SAY NO TO FIXED BIDS

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/top-ten-reasons-you-should-say-no...

7 DEVELOPMENT & PROFIT IN PM - HOW DIGITAL AGENCIES USE DRUPAL

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/development-profit-pm-how-digital...

8 THE SWISS ARMY KNIFE OF DRUPAL PROJECT PLANNING: THE CIVICACTIONS PROJECT FRAMEWORK

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/swiss-army-knife-drupal-project-p...

9 "WATERGILE" & DRUPAL — A NEW FLEXIBLE PROJECT MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGY

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/watergile-drupal-%E2%80%94-new-fl...

10 AGILE FOR AGENCY MANAGEMENT - IT’S NOT JUST FOR DEVELOPERS ANYMORE

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/agile-agency-management-it%E2%80%...

11 PROJECT MANAGEMENT PROCESSES - GET YOUR EFFICIENCY ON

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/project-management-processes-get-...

12 ZEN AND THE ART OF ESTIMATING

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/zen-and-art-estimating

13 SHARPENING THE AXE

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/sharpening-axe

14 HOW TO INCREMENTALLY INTEGRATE QA IN AN AGILE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/how-incrementally-integrate-qa-ag...

15 REQUIREMENTS, TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS, & DRUPAL: PLANNING FOR SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/requirements-technical-specificat...

16 USING DRUPAL AND LEAN METHODOLOGY TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/using-drupal-and-lean-methodology...

17 AGILE & DRUPAL PERFECT TOGETHER

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/agile-drupal-perfect-together

18 FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS: A CASE STUDY OF A SUCCESSFUL AGILE WEB PROJECT

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/firing-all-cylinders-case-study-s...

19 10 WAYS TO COST DRUPAL PROJECTS

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/10-ways-cost-drupal-projects

20 THE TAO OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT (IT'S NOT ABOUT THE TOOLS)

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/tao-project-management-its-not-ab...

21 APPLIED AGILE FOR DRUPAL PROJECTS

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/applied-agile-drupal-projects

22 IMPLEMENTING SCRUM ON A LONG-TERM DRUPAL PROJECT

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/implementing-scrum-long-term-drup...

23 STARTUP STORIES - LESSONS IN RAPID, AGILE PROTOTYPING AND DEVELOPMENT WITH DRUPAL

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/startup-stories-lessons-rapid-agi...

24 GETTING SHIT DONE! (DRUPAL, AGILE WEB DEVELOPMENT, & LOW RISK PROJECT MANAGEMENT)

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/getting-shit-done-drupal-agile-we...

25 LINE’EM UP AND KNOCK’EM DOWN: PLANNING AND EXECUTING MULTIPLE PROJECTS FOR MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY AND AMAZING RESULTS

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/line%E2%80%99em-and-knock%E2%80%9...

26 THE AGILE DRUPALIST

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/agile-drupalist

27 PROJECT MANAGEMENT TOOLS AND ORGANIZATION

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/project-management-tools-and-orga...

28 LET’S TALK ABOUT LAUNCH: PLANNING AND PREP FOR BETTER LAUNCHES, MIGRATIONS, AND RELEASES

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/let%E2%80%99s-talk-about-launch-p...

29 LEADING WITH QUALITY

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/leading-quality

30 AGILE SITE DEVELOPMENT WITH DRUPAL

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/agile-site-development-drupal

31 SHINY OBJECT: DEVELOPING A COHESIVE PMO TOOLSET THAT DOESN’T OVERWHELM YOUR TEAM

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/shiny-object-developing-cohesive-...

32 SO HAPPY TOGETHER: SALES, CLIENT SERVICES, AND ENGINEERING

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/so-happy-together-sales-client-se...

33 THE STATE OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT ON DRUPAL 8: PROBLEMS, SOLUTIONS & HOW YOU CAN HELP

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/state-project-management-drupal-8...

34 HOW ALEX ROSS (BLEEN) STOPPED WORRYING AND LEARNED TO LOVE AGILE

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/how-alex-ross-bleen-stopped-worry...

35 DRUPAL EXPERIENCE : DEVELOPING A COMPLEX TICKETING SYSTEM TO MANAGE WEB PROJECTS

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/drupal-experience-developing-comp...

36 NEED A DRUPAL WEBSITE? WAIT! HAVE YOU GONE THROUGH A DISCOVERY PROCESS?

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/need-drupal-website-wait-have-you...

37 RELENTLESS PREPARATION, RUTHLESS BENCHMARKING, AND PERFORMING LIVE SURGERY: A BRIEF HISTORY OF WONDROUS LAUNCHES

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/relentless-preparation-ruthless-b...

38 AGILE DRUPAL DEVELOPMENT

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/agile-drupal-development

39 LARGE DRUPAL PROJECTS: BLESSING OR BURDEN?

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/large-drupal-projects-blessing-or...

40 HACK YOUR TEAM, YOUR DEPARTMENT, AND YOUR ORGANIZATION FOR THE GREATER GOOD

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/hack-your-team-your-department-an...

41 STARTUP STORIES - LESSONS IN RAPID, AGILE PROTOTYPING AND DEVELOPMENT WITH DRUPAL

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/startup-stories-lessons-rapid-agi...

42 MAKING SOFTWARE MANAGEMENT TOOLS WORK FOR YOU

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/making-software-management-tools-...

43 YOU’RE SELLING SOLUTIONS — BUT WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS?

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/you%E2%80%99re-selling-solutions-...

44 PROJECT MANAGING DRUPAL

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/project-managing-drupal

45 VALUE BASED SALES TECHNIQUES AND DRUPAL (PM pre-sales)

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/value-based-sales-techniques-and-...

46 ZEN & THE ART OF DRUPAL MAINTENANCE (risk & planning)

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/zen-art-drupal-maintenance#commen...

47 BEST PRACTICES FOR MANAGING DRUPAL DEVELOPMENT TEAMS (mgmt)

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/best-practices-managing-drupal-de...

48 VALIDATE CHEAP AND QUICK: LEAN PROTOTYPING AND USER TESTING (process)

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/validate-cheap-and-quick-lean-pro...

49 THE PSYCHOLOGY OF QUALIFICATION: IDENTIFYING TRULY REWARDING PROJECTS (pre-sales)

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/psychology-qualification-identify...

50 SO HAPPY TOGETHER (CONTENT STRATEGISTS AND PROJECT MANAGERS ARE)

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/so-happy-together-content-strateg...

51 X ALL THE THINGS: ENTERPRISE CONTENT MANAGEMENT (scope mgmt)

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/x-all-things-enterprise-content-m...

52 WHAT IS ENTERPRISE DRUPAL AND HOW DO YOU GET SOME? (risk mgmt)

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/what-enterpirse-drupal-and-how-do...

53 TALES FROM DEVOPS HELL—DEPLOYING AND MAINTAINING LARGE-SCALE DRUPAL SITES IN THE REAL WORLD, OR HOW TO ACCIDENTALLY TRIGGER A MUTINY (release mgmt)

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/tales-devops-hell%E2%80%94deployi...

54 USING DRUPAL AND LEAN METHODOLOGY TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS (lean methodologies, release mgmt)

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/using-drupal-and-lean-methodology...

55 MUST HAVE 10+ YEARS PEOPLE EXPERIENCE (scope mgmt, client mgmt)

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/must-have-10-years-people-experience

56 MICRO-SITE DEVELOPMENT WORKFLOWS WITH DRUSH MAKE AND GIT (portfolio mgmt, release processes)

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/micro-site-development-workflows-...

57 NO RFPS! HOW WE CAN ELIMINATE REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS AND FOCUS ON BUILDING CLIENT-VENDOR RELATIONSHIPS INSTEAD

http://portland2013.drupal.org/session/no-rfps-how-we-can-eliminate-requ...