We’re in the process of putting together our November issue of Tipoffs and was hoping you might share your thoughts about Project Management trade shows / exhibitions/ conferences etc
If anyone attended the APM conference last week in London we’d love to know what you thought.
Have you attended anything in the last year? What did you think? If you have any thoughts to share on any of the Project Management shows and conferences get blogging!
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Thanks for the question which touched a nerve.
I’m perplexed by project management trade-shows.
Why do firms do it? I tried it at Olympia with Project Challenge. Our business, People Deliver Projects Ltd is new and interesting in the pm world. We tried something different. We had actors entertaining people, and had some fun. We packed the aisles. We had to, otherwize it was so dry.
I’d like to say, that Project Challenge is very well run by a guy called Richard White, who really knows what he’s doing, but my view is that pm shows tend to be boring and the stands are also boring.
The main point…The stands are largely peddling technical methodology solutions, and punters seem to be largely looking for this, mostly software. After all, it is a good place to try out different software, as demos on stands work well. But surely never was so much time and effort put into a subject that has so little impact on project delivery success.
So for us, project management trade shows perpetuate the tragedy in pm, that tools and methods are thought to be the answer.
I only go there now to see friends and associates, who are all in the same building on the same day. That’s worth it.
Andy (Disgruntled, but then it is a blogg after all.)
Project Challenge October 2007 was larger than I remembered it from last year, more exhibitors and on the day I visited, definitely more punters. I prefer the autumn London show to the spring show in Birmingham not sure why, I dislike both Olympia and the NEC!
The key draw to me for Project Challenge apart form seeing who I know who is there are the seminars and to check out what new in the market place. The brilliant thing is the seminars are free and although many of them are promoting tools and methods, they are delivered as case studies with their customers. All the seminars I saw were well attended and had good project and programme related questions making the presenters have to think about their answers. One particular presentation, from a well-known management consultancy. on programme management and its relationship to projects and risk, provoked a number of lively conversations.
In my opinion, the show is mostly software and method companies, with nearly 80 Exhibitors and with a successful seminar formula, the spring show at the NEC will run 12th – 13th March 2008. If you want to keep abreast of project management development, tools, methodologies and training and you plan the seminars you want to attend, it is well worth a visit.
<p>I paid a flying visit to the APM conference and new for 2007 an associated exhibition at The Brewery Conference centre. The Brewery is good location and an interesting place with in the City of London Walls with many tube stations such as Moorgate easily accessible.</p>
<p>This is the first year the APM have run an exhibition alongside the conference and I personally believe it could be developed further in future years. The APM conference is a “pay for” event, however I am sure they could publicise the exhibition as accessible to all members and maybe beyond as a membership builder. </p>
<p>My guess there must have been at least 14 organisations exhibiting including the APM. I attended the show over lunch on the first and most of the conference delegates appeared to be showing an active interest in the exhibitor wares. The exhibitors varied from training organisations, software supplier and consultancies offering project management services. </p>
<p>The APM had an excellent bookstall with up to date project related publications and flyers. Of particular note was the number of Special Interest Groups now associated with the APM something I had not been aware of much before with the APM. </p>
<p>With both these events, your audience for exhibitors and punters is 100% project related. My question to various stall holders “how is it for you” gleaned a usual variety of answers, only the first day, busier than yesterday, better than last year, probably won’t come again – but then that’s what they said last year. The shows are professionally well run, everyone works hard to enhance the punters experience and good word of project management is spreading – just need to start promoting programmes and other related project activities such as Project Offices and their value a little harder.</p>
ian
thanks for the comments on APM – I may try that next year – because of your comments on the punters.
It reminds me of the key issue – it’s about quality not quantity.
Andy