SAMPLE

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Track Preference:       Taking Care of Business

Presentation Title:     Improving Schedule Communications with your Project Manager

Synopsis:
This presentation will explore the schedule information that you provide to your project manager and give you some ideas on
how to improve the quality of your communications.

Abstract:
Have you ever thought that your project manager just didn’t understand your schedules? This presentation will explore the
schedule information that you provide to your project manager and give you some ideas on how to improve the quality of your
communications. While schedule analysts are very familiar with the detailed and highly technical aspects of schedule
management, their project manager is seldom a scheduling expert. The obvious disconnect in schedule management skill levels
often results in miscommunication and failure to include the appropriate schedule status in
briefings to higher management. A simple focused set of metrics and data helps the project manager understand the baseline
schedule, variances to the baseline and required actions to bring the project back on track. It’s not always the detail that’s
important. Sometimes the most important thing is to help the project manager focus on the right thing.


Biography:

Name:                Beth Smith, PMP
Title:               Deputy Director of Program/Projects Directorate
Organization:        NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Voice: (xxx)-555-5842      Fax : (xxx) 555-9876 E-mail: Beth.Smith@MSN.com

Ms. Smith is the Deputy Director of Program/Projects Directorate at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center. In this capacity, she
is responsible for the development and management of project management systems and personnel for all the satellite
development projects within the Program.

Prior to this position, Ms. Smith served NASA in numerous capacities including: Deputy Program Manager / Resources for the
ABC Program, Deputy Project Manager / Resources for the XYZ Project, Financial Manager for the Tracking EFG Project and
Chief of the Goddard Financial Management Division.

Ms. Smith is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP). She was awarded the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal
and the NASA Exceptional Service Medal for her work in finance and project management.
                                NASA PM Challenge 2009: “Connect and Discover”

                                                    CALL FOR SPEAKERS
NASA invites potential speakers to submit proposals for PM Challenge 2009, the agency’s sixth annual project management
conference. The theme for 2009 is “Connect and Discover.” Speaker proposal topics should relate to one of the following tracks:


Creative Collaboration – Project teams are finding new and exciting ways to collaborate. Some use open-source development,
others find new ways of teaming. This track will explore the myriad of ways to effectively collaborate with our team members and other
stakeholders.

Taking Care of Business – These unique sessions offer a way to stay up-to-date with the latest program and project business
management tools, trends, and ideas in areas such as earned value managem ent, procurement, scheduling, cost estimating, and
budgeting.

Digital Rules – The project management field has experienced an explosion of new technologies and innovative communication
processes. Come to these sessions to learn how to harness technology and information to improve your project’s productivity.

Flying High – Organizations increasingly rely on project teams to succeed in rapidly changing environments. An organization’s
success is often driven by the ability of teams to perform at high levels and adapt to competing demands. This track will focus on the
characteristics of high performing teams, assessing team development, exchanging feedback, developing a collaborative team culture
and reducing conflict.

Global Perspectives – International project management is a key factor in NASA’s mission-driven project environment. Successful
projects understand the dynamic nature of collaborative working relationships with international partners and suppliers. Joi n these
thought-provoking presentations to get the global perspective on this important topic.

Take A Chance – Projects are confronted by some type of risk every day. How they identify and deal with risk is often the key to
success or the reason for failure. Customers, stakeholders, and project managers are asking for better ways to manage risk. Risk is
too important to leave to chance, so explore these cutting edge sessions and put the odds of success in your project’s favor.

Connect and Discover – While we cannot change the past, we can learn from it and do better in the future. Join these sessions to
“get connected” to the lessons that we need to learn from past missions.

Windows of Opportunity – There is power in project management, especially in the processes, methods and techniques project
teams use to get the job done. Find out about successful project management processes and how to apply them to your project.

All Systems Go! – The technical dimension of NASA missions is a major challenge to the engineering teams supporting them . Sound
systems engineering and engineering management are vital for formulating and implementing complex NASA programs and projects in
a manner that enhances the prospects for Mission Success. This session explores lessons learned, new ideas, and innovative
approaches to assuring continued technical excellence within the agency now and in the years to come.

Words of Wisdom – Let’s talk about it. What are the topics and challenges of interest to today’s NASA project teams, and what do
the agency’s senior leaders have to say about them? Bring your questions these informal and insightful dialogues with NASA
management.

Blazing Trails – PM Challenge 2009 features actual experiences and challenges encountered by NASA project teams in a hands-on
case study format where the audience plays the roles of key project stakeholders. What would you do in these situations? Find out in
these Blazing Trails track sessions.
   Requirement                           Instructions                    Deadline                    Send Via:
Abstract
250 word summary of
proposed presentation
for Conference Website.
Synopsis                      On one-page in Arial 10 pt, list your
50 word synopsis of your      abstract, biography and synopsis                            Upload to the following url:
presentation for the          (see attached sample) and state your      September 12,     http://pmchallenge.gsfc.nasa.gov/
Conference Program            track preference. Please submit in            2008          submitspeakerdoc.htm
Guide.                        word format.
Biography
200 to 500 word summary
of relevant experience for
Conference Website.
Presentation Material
Presentations for the PM Challenge Conference must not include a sales pitch or advertisement for any company or
product. All presentations will be included on the conference CD to be distributed to all attendees and will be posted on the
conference website after the conference. All speakers are required to submit their final power point presentations by
December 19, 2008. Failure to comply with any of these requirements will result in removing the speaker and presentation
from the conference agenda. No speaker will be permitted to "walk on" with a presentation that has not been previously
reviewed by conference management. These requirements are non-negotiable, so please plan your presentation
preparations to comply with the conference requirements.
Time allotted:                  Presentation must be in PowerPoint                          Further instructions will be
55 minutes including            and be PC-compatible. After the         December 19, provided once the submission has
time for Q&A                    Conference the file will be converted         2008          been selected.
                                to a secured pdf and posted on the
                                Conference Web Site.
Registration
Speaker Manager will          Speaker Manager will contact you for                        The Speaker Manager will be in
register you for the          registration. In recognition for time                       contact with you.
conference                    and effort spent in preparing for the
                              Conference, the $395 registration fee
                              is waived (only one speaker waived
                              per presentation).
Presentation At Conference
Delivery of prepared          Specific place and time of your                             The Speaker Manager will be in
Presentation at the           presentation will be coordinated prior     February 24-     contact with you.
conference during your        to conference by the Speaker                 25, 2009
scheduled session.            Manager.