New England Regional Developers - Project Management

Project Manager/BA at FIT Staffing, Inc.

MFallon — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 13:27:07 +0000

Position Title:

Project Manager/BA

Has experience in:

Project Management

Full/Part Time:

Full Time

Telecommute Allowed:

Yes

Job Description:

Contract 6-12mo Northampton, MA Key Skills: experience managing application development projects, prior experience in healthcare industry.

Please contact Jackie Fallon, 413-733-6466, jfallon@fitsolutions.us, Meghan Fallon, mfallon@fitsolutions.us , 413-244-8852, or Allison Ebner, 413-355-5125, aebner@fitsolutions.us for more details. Or visit the Job Opportunities page of our website.

Basics of a Lean Launch: The Successful Start-Up

Rick Feldman — Sat, 29 Aug 2015 17:54:30 +0000

If you, or you and some colleagues, are considering starting your own business, here are the basics of the "lean launch" method. Lean start-ups, agile start-up, lean continuous improvement, design thinking ---- these are the methods that have propelled Silicon Valley, Cambridge (Mass.) innovation, and our own Pioneer Valley successful explosion of new, innovative companies. This session will introduce the basic concepts and tools,and introduce you to the new world of venture creation and development.

Session Time Slot(s):

Time:

Sep 12 2015 - 10:00am-Sep 12 2015 - 10:50am

Room:

162

Allowed Types:

Session

Sessions Topics:

Strategy

Development

Project Management

Speaker Bio(s):

Rick Feldman and Rick Plaut have been providing lean launch courses, workshops, mentoring and coaching for several years. Both are mentors and facilitators with Valley Venture Mentors, and both are members of INCOMMN, a regional enterprise and community development network and consultant organization. Rick Plaut has had a successful career in marketing and strategic development; Rick Feldman has been active in economic development, venture development, and entrepreneurship. He started and sold two technology businesses, and is working on starting a third.

BOF - Why Drupal can save the Environmental Movement

Elyssa Marie — Sun, 02 Aug 2015 03:14:44 +0000

Can it? Humanity is certainly at a crossroads. There is something universal about Open Source communities that unleashes human creativity, that drives people to late nights tearing down the barriers to their dreams and creating powerful change. What are the visions that Open Source people want for the world, and how does the Drupal framework bring that vision to reality?

20-min Presentation - Power + Parallels among Open Source Communities

The Pioneer Valley is teeming with groups that value free exchange of information, versatility + adaptability, and coming together for the common good. It is no coincidence that you find overlap among the people in Open Source communities. This presentation outlines the parallels in the norms, values and practices of the Drupal community and two other local regenerative culture movements: Permaculture and Non-violent Communication.

25-min Discussion + Think Tank

What would happen if a web platform for collaboration, free discussion and collective enterprise were created with Open Source values at its core? It is amazing that Drupal Core has over 30,000 contributors. How is collaboration possible among this many people? The northeast permaculture community has over 10,000 people. Imagine if they could collaborate to an equal degree, and if they could network and collaborate among movements with similar core values. The sky would be the limit, and the movement would be firmly rooted in the ground.
Thank We.

Session Time Slot(s):

Time:

Sep 12 2015 - 4:00pm-Sep 12 2015 - 4:50pm

Room:

Concourse

Allowed Types:

Session

Sessions Topics:

Speaker Bio(s):

Elyssa Serrilli is a community organizer in the environmental, education and non-profit sectors. As a budding web developer, she is keenly aware of how impactful web technology upgrades are for local and regional movements. Elyssa is also a kick ass wilderness guide - hit her up if you'd like to know more hidden gems to explore in the Pioneer Valley.

Agile Workshop

seddings — Sat, 01 Aug 2015 21:02:59 +0000

Managing waterfall projects is about protecting the notorious iron triangle: scope, budget and timeline. However, it is inherently rigid and leaves little to no room for innovation or new ideas. Large modern web projects have failed and potential long term relationships turned contentious due to the rigidity of waterfall. Poorly written requirements lead to new or changing requirements which leads to scope creep which leads to change orders, project delays and decreased project satisfaction. New ideas aren't allowed, including the good ones.

But sometimes the path forward isn’t completely clear, but the goals, vision and priorities are. Enter agile. It’s a way of thinking that prioritizes responding to reality over following a strict plan to deliver maximum value. Agility is a great fit for all projects, especially where the path is unclear but the goals and priorities are. It allows teams with varying areas of expertise to work together for the benefit of the project to chart the path forward, adjusting tasks along the way to allow new discoveries along the way to be implemented.

Agile is timeline and budget sensitive, and is an exercise thinking about how to solve complex problems. Guided by the project’s goals and priorities, it’s flexible to allow for shifting requirements and new ideas. Agile is flexible, collaborative and iterative in nature. It focuses on project goals and priorities, and allows space for innovation.

Agile, however, can require a significant paradigm shift for some people. Agile is about figuring out what we're doing based on today's realities (being agile) instead of wanting to know what we're doing weeks from now (following a plan). If the preceding sentence wasn't evidence enough, Agile is abstract in its core concepts, which comes off as too risky and increases the likelihood that an organization will adopt a more traditional approach, such as waterfall.

In this session we’ll explore:
- introduction to agile
- how to identify a project that’s a good fit for agile
- agile frameworks (scrum, kanban)
- how to establish project priorities and goals
- how to make sure work gets done and progress made (avoid an infinite loop)

Experience level:

Beginner

Session Time Slot(s):

Time:

Sep 11 2015 - 2:00pm-Sep 11 2015 - 2:50pm

Room:

177

Allowed Types:

Session

Sessions Topics:

Strategy

Project Management

Speaker Bio(s):

Sean is a Certified ScrumMaster.

Closing the Gap: Gap Analysis for Web Producers

knectar — Sat, 01 Aug 2015 18:31:53 +0000

Well before contract, we’re often faced with project inputs that are astonishingly vague. Even RFP’s that can go on for dozens of pages, often miss critical big picture details related to legacy systems, and outline comparably nebulous descriptions of new deliverables. As account, bizdev, and pm leads, if we’re crafty, and a bit lucky, we might successfully parse and interpret these documents to the point of defining a reasonably satisfactory scope of work.

Even then, with shiny contract in hand, and a kick-off date on the calendar, project starts can often engender a rather unsettling feeling! Even the most senior project stakeholders look around the room, wondering who will break the silence. How do we proceed? What are the pieces of the puzzle? How might we craft a design and development time-line that reliably captures the needs? How do we achieve our goals, and minimize risks of project failure?

“Gap analysis”, in its various forms can provide a critical conceptual organizing tool in navigating these early uncertainties on complex projects. In this talk, we discuss some case studies, big and small, and illustrate how gap analysis techniques can reduce what initially seem like intractable complexities into clean project plans. This is less about document and report generation, and more about a way of thinking about project challenges that leads to clarity.

Good times!

Experience level:

Intermediate

Session Time Slot(s):

Time:

Sep 12 2015 - 10:00am-Sep 12 2015 - 10:50am

Room:

163

Allowed Types:

Session

Sessions Topics:

Strategy

Project Management

Speaker Bio(s):

Chris is the founder and team leader for Knectar (www.knectar.com), a 15 person web development firm based in Western Massachusetts. He specializes in advanced web site architecture, team development, technical project management. Chris has managed dozens of complex web application productions, including content management systems, enterprise level e-commerce systems, and custom API (application programming interface) designs. Clients include Harvard Medical School, Jack Daniels, Temple, Buzztala.com, MIT, among other global brands, start-ups, and universities. Chris is also the lead product designer of Piston (www.pistonapp.com), a web-based capacity management application. Chris has two kids, likes strawberries with vanilla ice cream, and 'old man jazz'.

Needs before solutions

seddings — Sat, 01 Aug 2015 15:27:10 +0000

Let’s set projects up for success by figuring out why we're doing something. Establish project purpose independent of technology, and let the purpose inform the strategy.

A successful engagement must begin with a thorough review of organizational needs to establish project purpose. Understanding that organizations exist on the web to achieve some tangible positive result, it’s critical to let those needs drive the chosen solutions. Mixing needs with solutions from the beginning can cloud project purpose, making it difficult for all teams involved to work effectively to deliver a successful project. Projects are most successful when the needs inform the best solutions.

Skipping, or diving straight into solutions, can lead to the wrong tools being selected and requirements missed which often compounds to blown deadlines, underperforming projects and diminishing team engagement. Further, focusing on solutions first may lead to an unnecessary overcomplicated approach.

In this session we’ll explore:
- how to conduct a successful requirements gathering phase to effectively and collaboratively uncover and articulate business drivers (and any technology requirements).
- how to establish meaningful measurement to track progress toward business goals.
- common data driven business drivers (increase transaction rate, reduce cart abandonment, increase awareness, etc).
- how business drivers inform digital technologies.
- using business drivers as the basis for project documentation.

Experience level:

Beginner

Sessions Topics:

Strategy

Project Management

Mindful Project Management: Projects are Alive; Expect Up & Downs; Be Calm & Radiate

CKiras — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 20:26:31 +0000

Do these statements create stress in your day and projects? This project is way over budget. We are never going to make the deadline. Client expectations are not being met. That is out of scope. Estimates are being blown. It is in the project plan. It’s not in the SOW.

What do haikus, meditation and project managers have in common? Being a Mindful Project Manager is a practice which inspires teams and helps projects stay on time and on budget by reducing stress. Learn and discuss what it means to be mindful and how to apply the practice in your daily work with internal team members and clients. We will learn some basic meditation techniques and how to write inspiring haikus.

These tools have been put into practice at Last Call Media where I am currently a Project Manager. The writing of haikus has been received well by all and has inspired some team members to write them about their projects. We sometimes write haikus to diffuse tension and maintain playfulness in the office. The perfect complement for tight timelines and stress management.

This workshop is inspired by this article which has transformed my style of project management. http://www.projecttimes.com/kiron-bondale/be-a-mindful-project-manager.html

Workshop will include:

haiku instruction
write haiku’s
some basic meditation techniques
meditate for 5 minutes

Slides:

MindfulProjectManagement.pdf

Experience level:

Intermediate

Session Time Slot(s):

Time:

Sep 12 2015 - 4:00pm-Sep 12 2015 - 4:50pm

Room:

165

Allowed Types:

Session

Sessions Topics:

Project Management

Speaker Bio(s):

A practicing Buddhist for 8 years. Cheryl has over 20 years’ experience managing IT systems within Higher Ed., Gov't and NP sectors. Cheryl earned a MPPA in IT Policy from UMass Amherst. In her spare time she is always cheering for the NE Patriots.

How to Turn Your Software Ideas Into a Side Business

Jim Verzino — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 21:32:49 +0000

Every developer has at least one or two ideas in their head about something they want to offer to the world.

Good software development has a codified process with specific steps. Skip a step at your own peril.

Software Business Creation is exactly the same. It has a codified process with specific steps. Skip a step at your own peril.

There are tens of thousands of blogs and websites with generic information on how to start a business. The problem is not a lack of information. The problem is too much information geared at a generic crowd without context.

The secret is having just the right steps done in just the right order to go from having an idea to starting and growing a small software business.

There are very specific steps to:
Determine if your idea will really have traction
Get your first customer that is not a family member or friend
Get your first 5 customers
Get to $1,500 per month

Then, if you want to go beyond that, there are different steps for getting to $10,000 per month and having it be your full time small business or $100,000 per month with a full fledged staff.

Each phase has a different and specific set of steps.

In this session we are going to cover the steps you can take to bring your project from an idea in your head to a $1,500 - 10,000 per month business.

Just like software development, if you follow the right steps, in the right order, you will come out with a great program.

Bring your questions and ideas about your specific situation. This will be interactive and you will walk away with worksheets and specific steps on the road to your side business.

Session Time Slot(s):

Time:

Sep 12 2015 - 10:00am-Sep 12 2015 - 10:50am

Room:

177

Allowed Types:

Session

Sessions Topics:

Strategy

Project Management

Code for Change

Speaker Bio(s):

Jim Verzino is the founder of Eco Business School. He teaches green and socially conscious entrepreneurs how to start and grow their businesses. He has been a founder or co-founder of 4 businesses including the now closed Tools4PHP, which was a PHP script generator for processing web forms. Since closing Tools4PHP he has started 3 socially conscious organizations and advises many more.

Project Manager at Last Call Media

kelly — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 03:31:50 +0000

Position Title:

Project Manager

Has experience in:

Fundamentals

Strategy

Project Management

Company:

Last Call Media

Job Description:

Your mission is to pilot the best course in assisting our clients to meet their goals. You do not need to know everything, but as a full time Project Manager, you:

have experience with website projects,
maintain open, positive, and responsive lines of communication, both written and verbal,
understand how response time affects customer experience,
have strong organizing, planning and communication skills.

We would be positively thrilled if you also have experience:

working with higher education or non-profit entities,
working for a media, web or technology team.

If you excel at any of this and are excited by the rest, please submit a resume and cover letter to careers@lastcallmedia.com.

Pay range:

Salary commensurate with skill and experience, ranging from $40k-70k+ annually

What's different about open source? A project manager's guide

leslieg — Sat, 16 Aug 2014 01:44:44 +0000

This training session will look at key considerations faced by project managers as they go through the web development process. We'll cover the initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and ongoing maintenance of projects. We'll talk about how different aspects of a CMS affect scope, risks, resources and budgets, and about some unexpected measures of quality. We'll focus primarily on agile project management, however waterfall and hybrid approaches will be discussed.

The examples used in this training will be based on Drupal, however the principles that will be covered apply to other open source CMS tools as well.

This training session is intended for:

Project stakeholders who want to understand what is involved in achieving a successful open source project

Project managers who want to understand the nuances of working on an open source project

Developers who are working or intend to work with open source projects and find themselves in the role of project manager

Anyone who is involved in delivering an open source project

A laptop is required

No prior knowledge of Drupal or any other CMS is required.

Sessions Topics:

DrupalCampMA

Project Management

Speaker Bio(s):

Kay VanValkenburgh - Principal, OwnSourcing

Drupal dev since 2007 (D5)

Software dev since 1998

Trainer since 1990

Co-author, Definitive Guide to Drupal 7

kay_v, kay@ownsourcing.com

Leslie Glynn, PMP - Drupal training, project management, site building

20+ yrs Project Mgmt

PMP certified by PMI

Extensive software development/Web development background

Trainer since 2000

Drupal since 2011

leslieg, leslie@ownsourcing.com