Product is a team sport. You can have the best idea or strategy but if you can’t influence and rally an organisation behind it, it’s just wishful thinking. Which is why Influencing and stakeholder management are critical skills to product success.

I learned this the hard way. Early in my career I made a lot of mistakes when it came to managing stakeholders. Don’t make the same mistakes as me! In this presentation I plan to take you through 5 proven tips and strategies such has how to build an effective stakeholder engagement plan, build trust, influence and resolve conflict with your stakeholders. This is a must for anyone looking to increase their influence, more effectively work with stakeholders and drive greater product success.

Takeaways:

• Building empathy with your stakeholders
• Why you should put things down on paper to resolve conflict
• Separating opinions from facts
• Every day actions you can do to build more trust

In a flow-based system, Weighted Shortest Job First (WSJF) is a prioritization technique utilized to prioritize backlog that contains features. Backlogs are continuously prioritized based on a WSJF calculation that uses relative user and business value, time criticality, risk reduction and/or opportunity enablement, and job size. WSJF also conveniently and automatically ignores sunk costs, a fundamental principle of Lean economics.

Features that can deliver the most value in the shortest duration provide the best economic return. WSJF calculation involves considering the following aspects:

• Make economic choices continuously that benefit customer outcomes and ROI
• Job sequencing based on multiple factors produces the best results compared to prioritization based on unvetted one dimensional ROI thinking
• Ignore the sunk cost

• Enable flow-based thinking (Lean thinking mindset and model)

Takeaways:

• If you only quantify one thing, quantify the cost of delay
• Decentralize decision making process at appropriate levels to enable flow
• Make economic choices continuously that benefit customer outcomes and ROI
• Job sequencing based on multiple factors produces the best results compared to prioritization based on unvetted one dimensional ROI thinking
• Ignore the sunk cost

Join us for an exciting PMI event where we delve into the world of AI strategies to supercharge your LinkedIn job search! As a seasoned Scrum Master, I'll guide you through the essentials of crafting powerful prompts that harness the full potential of AI to update your LinkedIn profile, ensuring you stand out in the competitive job market. Discover strategies for tailoring AI responses to align with your unique professional profile (amplifying your chances of catching the eye of potential employers) and learn the secrets to crafting compelling LinkedIn introductions that leave recruiters with a lasting impression.

We'll also explore a time saving AI extension designed to streamline your application process by effortlessly tracking the positions you've applied to and maximize your LinkedIn profile to increase searchability. Additionally, we'll explore how to utilize AI with LinkedIn job descriptions to prepare for interviews, giving you the strategic advantage you need in today's challenging landscape. During the presentation, we'll workshop your profiles in real-time-- to get the most out of this session, we recommend coming with a current version of your resume, your LI profile, and the AI chatbot of your choosing!

Takeaways:

• Crafting Powerful AI Prompts: Learn the essentials of creating AI prompts to rewrite and optimize specific sections of your LinkedIn profile
• Customizing AI Responses: Explore effective strategies to customize AI responses when a response doesn't quite hit right
• Compelling LinkedIn Introductions: Explore how to use AI to create LinkedIn introductions that resonate with recruiters and leave a lasting impression
• Streamlining Job Applications: Dive into a time saving AI Extension designed to streamline your job application process
• Strategic Interview Preparation with AI: Leveraging AI and LinkedIn job descriptions to strategically prepare for interviews

Do you ever feel like your value is going unnoticed? Are you struggling to translate your passion into tangible results? It's like your message is lost in a sea of noise, and the results you dream of remain just out of reach. If you're ready to break free from the cycle of underestimation and start seeing the results you deserve, this event is tailor-made for you. Join us to discover the secrets of articulating your value, captivating your audience, and turning more 'maybes' into enthusiastic 'yeses'. It's time to unleash your potential in you’re your field and be seen as the expert you are.

Takeaways:

• Overcome the frustration of being overlooked.
• Transform your words into powerful magnets for success.
• Master the art of value articulation.

Value Stream Mapping is a powerful Lean technique, rooted in the Toyota Production System, that has become a fundamental practice in DevOps. This approach helps organizations identify inefficiencies in their processes, such as bottlenecks and excessive wait times, which can hinder productivity and growth. In this presentation, we will explore the Seven Wastes in Software Development, shedding light on common areas where inefficiencies can occur. By understanding these wastes, you can start to see where Value Stream Mapping can be effectively applied to streamline operations.

We will then dive into the basics of Value Stream Mapping, equipping you with the tools and knowledge to map out your organization's workflows. You will then participate in a hands-on exercise, where you will practice mapping a value stream, gaining firsthand experience with the technique. To wrap up, we will discuss practical advice on how to go "beyond the book" by tailoring Value Stream Mapping to your organization's unique needs, enabling you to unlock its full potential and drive meaningful improvements in efficiency and performance.

Takeaways:

• Identify and Eliminate Waste: Learn how to use Value Stream Mapping to spot bottlenecks, reduce wait times, and eliminate other forms of waste in your processes.
• Understand the Seven Wastes: Gain insight into the Seven Wastes in Software Development and how they impact productivity and efficiency.
• Hands-On Mapping Experience: Participate in an interactive exercise to practice Value Stream Mapping, giving you practical experience with the technique.
• Practical Implementation Tips: Receive actionable advice on how to implement Value Stream Mapping in your organization and go beyond theoretical knowledge.
• Boost Organizational Efficiency: Discover how Value Stream Mapping can unlock your organization’s potential by streamlining workflows and improving overall efficiency.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is finally coming into its own. Technologies such as ChatGPT, DALL-E, driver-assistance, and autonomous robots are clear signs of an AI-driven market shift. AI technologies are being applied in all sectors of the economy, and your organization is likely to be soon experimenting with AI if it isn’t already working with it. Are you ready?

This talk overviews AI and how AI-based solutions are developed, including supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and semi-supervised learning. The talk discusses the similarities to non-AI development that will help agilists to transition to AI teams. We also explore several critical challenges, including: the experimental nature of AI solutions; that data quality is critical to your success; the high failure rate of AI initiatives; and the ethical considerations surrounding AI. We examine the implications of these challenges and work through strategies to address them.

Takeaways:

• What is(n’t) AI?
• Developing AI solutions: Agile or Lean?
• Overcoming the data quality challenge
• The development skills you’ll need
• Business implications of AI

We all know that the Agile profession has been having challenges. But the good news is that true agility is needed more than ever.

Highly effective and fast-moving companies like SpaceX, Spotify, Netflix, Amazon, and Google don’t rely on so-called Agile methods. Let’s find out what they actually all have in common – and how to get it!

Takeaways:

• Agility is needed today more than ever: it is the most critical strategic differentiator
• Agility is not “Agile”. We need to focus on the former, and mostly on improving leadership abilities.
• Today, everyone must be a leader. Let’s find out what that means.
• We need a more expansive view – beyond development teams.
• We need to base our ideas on research of what works – not practitioner opinions.

Conflict is an inevitable part of project management, but navigating it effectively can strengthen team dynamics and improve project outcomes. Yes, DEAR: Conquering Conflict using DBT introduces project managers to the DEAR MAN technique, an evidence-based interpersonal tool from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). This interactive session combines theory with practice, helping attendees learn to approach challenging conversations with clarity, confidence, and emotional regulation

Through a hands-on workshop format, participants will explore how to apply the DEAR MAN framework—Describe, Express, Assert, Reinforce, Mindful, Appear confident, Negotiate—in managing conflict and addressing challenging behaviors within their teams. Attendees will gain practical skills they can immediately implement, leading to better communication, enhanced relationships, and more productive outcomes in their project environments.

Takeaways:

• Understand the DEAR MAN technique and its application in conflict resolution.
• Practice using DEAR MAN in realistic scenarios to build confidence and adaptability.
• Identify strategies for managing their emotions and maintaining professionalism during conflict.
• Enhance their ability to assert needs and negotiate solutions without damaging relationships.
• Develop a toolkit for navigating challenging conversations in high-stakes project environments.

Performing the right tasks and executing them effectively are crucial elements of our role. As Project Managers, we must accurately predict the outcomes and value of our projects. This session will delve into how to predicting project outcomes in a meaningful manner using modern Project Management tools, including Artificial Intelligence, ensuring that you serve as a reliable source for your key stakeholders, thereby enabling them to make objective and informed decisions.

Takeaways:

• Understand how you can effectively predict the outcome of your project and at the same time accomplish the Project and Business goals we are anticipating to achieve.
• Learn how digitization, including A.I. is able to help you become more effective in your role and be a real trusted advisor to your key stakeholders
• Understand the various methodologies ( waterfall vs agile) and how you can predict the outcome of either project
• Boil down the essence of the real meaning of successful projects from a business perspective