Quantum2 Highlights April 2005
In this issue...
Upcoming Quantum2 Sessions

Quantum2 Web Sessions

Quantum2 at SLA

Topic of the Month: Time/Cost/Quality Tradeoffs
Upcoming Quantum2 Session

For Quantum2 members in the United Kingdom, advance notice is given of a half-day workshop offering two Quantum2 sessions at the Dialog London Bridge office Thursday, April 28, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The sessions being presented are Adding Value to Information Services and Marketing Information Services: Packaging, Promoting and Persuading.
REGISTER TODAY!
Quantum2 Web Sessions

The following Quantum2 Web sessions are being offered in the coming months, and include the continuation of the Justifying Value series of workshops offered twice in one day and designed to help you make your decision makers understand the value that information services bring to your organization. The World Clock will convert the hours to match your local time.

Justifying Value II
Understanding the Information Budget Process: Time/Cost/Quality Tradeoffs
April 21, 2005
9:00 a.m. ET; 2:00 p.m. GMT

April 21, 2005
2:00 p.m. ET; 7:00 p.m. GMT

Assessing Clients' Needs: Map the Information Flow
May 19, 2005
2:00 p.m. ET; 7:00 p.m. GMT

Justifying Value III
Defining the Value of Information Services: Beyond ROI
June 23, 2005
9:00 a.m. ET; 2:00 p.m. GMT

June 23, 2005
2:00 p.m. ET; 7:00 p.m. GMT

REGISTER TODAY for these WebEx sessions.
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Quantum2Quantum2 Highlights
A newsletter of the Dialog leadership development program for information professionals

Dear Quantum2 Member...
As warm spring weather brings more activity, the Quantum2 program moves into our most active time of year. We are currently planning our face-to-face sessions for spring and fall, so watch for updates and plan on attending one of our local sessions this year. And read on for insights into tradeoffs we must make in the budgeting process.

Quantum2 at SLA

On June 4, 2005, a team of Quantum2 coaches will be offering the following sessions as half-day Continuing Education (CE) courses during the SLA Annual Conference in Toronto. To attend, please visit the SLA Conference Web site and register.

  • Creating a Knowledge Sharing Culture
    Saturday, June 4, 9:00 a.m.-Noon
    Presenters: Libby Trudell and Anthony Danko
  • Adding Value to Information Services
    Saturday, June 4, 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
    Presenters: Liz Blankson-Hemans and Betty Jo Hibberd

In addition, Dialog is sponsoring many divisional program events throughout the conference and is the sole sponsor of the Leadership Development Institute on Sunday, June 5, for current and incoming division chairs and chapter presidents.

Quantum2 Topic of the Month:
Time/Cost/Quality Tradeoffs in the Information Budget Process

Quantifying Metrics Define Success
Time, cost, quality: while the concept of these drivers is clear, defining what they mean for the budget process may not be. Is completion of a project within two months acceptable? What will happen if it takes three months? Is it worth spending money to stay within the two month parameter? Why is the cost limited? Where is the money coming from? Is it worth stopping the project midway if the budget is exceeded? Who defines what quality is, or why it matters?

Despite the numerous unknowns, it is critical to decide what time, cost and quality mean to your project and how they will be measured. There will never be enough information to have complete confidence in your answers. The trick to finding the best answers is to use "expected" case assumptions.

Expected case assumptions are simply what you expect to happen using your best judgment, based on experience and available information. Expected case assumptions are one of a set that includes:

  • Best Case -- If everything goes well
  • Worst Case -- If nothing goes well
  • Expected Case -- Most reasonable judgment

You need not rack your brain to produce extreme assumptions for best and worst cases. Be practical. Expected case assumptions may match the best case, the worst case or fall somewhere in between.

(Excerpted from a Quantum2 white paper.)

PDFDownload the complete white paper: Time/Cost/Quality Trade-offs in the Budget Process from the Quantum2 website

As always, your suggestions for workshop topics are always welcome and encouraged. If you know a friend or colleague who would benefit from Quantum2, please encourage them to sign up today.

Betty Jo HibberdRegards,
Betty Jo Hibberd
Senior Manager
IPMD, NA
Dialog

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