We are almost on 2/3 of the 31 Days to Improve your IWMS Implementation Challenge. Most of the posts in the series are tasks and teachings that can be completed from your garage, your room, or your house. Today’s task is planning to visit an event.
Today’s Teaching
On our website we have a special section called ‘events‘. In this section I publish the most important events of the year for IWMS / CAFM professionals. These events are an excellent opportunity to meet peers or to have (in)formal meetings with IWMS vendors and other stakeholders.
Most events include breakout sessions, work shops, etc. which are specifically tailored to your needs and can really support you in improving your Integrated Workplace Management System.
IWMS Event Types
Within the IWMS community, the industry events can be categorized in the following types:
User Conferences
Users conferences are only interesting if you are an user of that particular IWMS. From a knowledge perspective, these events are the most intensive. I have listed some benefits and downsides for each of the event types.
Benefits of User Conferences
- Targeted topics related to the IWMS
- Interesting guest speakers
- Limited audience
- Individual attention
Downside of User Conferences
- Multiple days
- Not free of charge
- Traveling required
- Investment
Tradeshows
The most traditional event in the IWMS domain, is the Tradeshow. As tradeshows still are excellent business, IWMS vendors keep investing in trade shows. To them it is extremely important to be seen.
Benefits of Tradeshows
- Wide variety in audience and goals
- Potential partnerships
Downside of Tradeshows
- Non targeted messages
- Traveling required
- Investment
Webinars
The rise of the internet technology has given birth to an entire online learningindustry .
Benefits of Webinars
- Targeted topics related to the IWMS
- Free of charge (in most cases)
- Segmented audience
- Recordings of the presentation
- Limited Investment in resources
Downside of Webinars
- No Face-to-Face communication
- No communication amongst participants
Obviously there are more types of events offered by IWMS vendors. However, the three above represent the majority of events.
Your Task
Today’s task has to to with events.
- View the events listed
- Decide which event you are going to visit.
- Plan the event. (The event needs to be visited before October 1st 2009.)
- Visit the event
- Create a management summary from it
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