InfoXchange
| September/October 2005 Volume 1, Issue 4 |
IN THIS ISSUEAnnouncementsFrom the Board Special September 27 Meeting Mentor's Corner -The Importance of Defining Stakeholders on Your Project Who Are We? From the Editor:We would like to encourage anyone to submit articles to the new ICCA Greater Boston Chapter newsletter. If you know of anyone interested in free publicity, ask them to write an article of any size or topic pertinent to our organization for submission in the next issue of our newsletter. The good news is the smaller the article, the better, since long articles are hard to read on-line.We are very open to ideas and suggestions regarding article topics in all sections of the newsletter, including: Local or Chapter Announcements; Articles; Member-to-Member Spotlights; Member-to-Member News; Mentor's Corner. Submit ideas or articles to:Kim ReddingtonDirector of Communications kreddington@ deluxetechnologies.com Next Deadline:Oct 18, 2005 for the Nov/Dec Issue |
We have a very exciting meeting scheduled for September!! The board has been working very hard to pull this together, and we are very excited about it. It will give ICCA Boston some great publicity! Check out the details in the main article below from Norman, the coordinator for this special event.
"The Greater Boston Chapter of the ICCA supports and encourages the growth of individuals and small firms in the business of computer consulting through education, networking, advocacy, and the exchange of ideas and knowledge among peers." That is our newly created "mission statement". I want to thank the volunteer committee that created the statement. They are Michael Stiefel (Chairman), Bob Goodearl, Kim Reddington and Mike Spanos. I know it wasn't easy to fit all the things we do into 36 words. Let's examine what this 36-word statement means to you. "...supports and encourages the growth of individuals and small firms..." Our focus has been and will always be on the small end of the consulting market. We know how tough it is to be on your own and to have very limited resources at your disposal. These are unique problems for us as independents. We need to support and encourage each other if we are to compete effectively. "...in the business of computer consulting..." Computer consulting, it's what we do. No matter what operating system, computer language, hardware setup or network environment you support, it's all part of computer consulting. You are the expert on the finely-tuned details of your technology skill set. We help you turn those skills into a successful business. "...through education..." Our many speakers and mentors have delivered valuable educational material. This has been and continues to be a major focus of our efforts to provide you with tangible value from your membership in ICCA. "...networking..." Each of our events is structured around networking opportunities to give you a chance to meet and mingle with your peers and learn from their experiences. "...advocacy..." We actively support independent professionals and small firms in their efforts to compete in what is now a global business. We are here to promote you. "...and the exchange of ideas and knowledge among peers." Change. No industry changes faster than ours. The constant exchange of ideas, experiences and knowledge is central to your ability to stay competitive. We help facilitate those exchanges. Now...go back and read the mission statement again. You don't have to memorize it. It will be part of our communications from now on. Finally, the Mission Committee has moved on to creating a set of strategic goals for our Chapter. The goals will challenge and drive us to make the Chapter better than ever. It will take a few months to get this done. It is, after all, a volunteer group with businesses of their own to run. We'll publish the goals as soon as they are final and ask for your help in meeting them. We're on a mission! Vincent D'Amico President of ICCA-GBC Chapter Damicon, LLC - www.Damicon.com by Norman Daoust, Principal Consultant of Daoust Associates Why is the September meeting special you’re thinking?
This meeting is one of several new initiatives from your new chapter Board of Directors to bring added benefits to your membership and to publicize the ICCA. Please forward the meeting notice to others who may be interested and make a special point to tell your colleagues. We look forward to seeing you at the Hynes! Norman Daoust founded Daoust Associates in 2001 and is an expert in data and UML modeling, electronic data exchange, and training in those areas. Norman has never been known to turn down a speaking or writing opportunity. He can be reached at NormanD@DaoustAssociates or view his website at http://www.daoustassociates.com/ The Importance of Defining Stakeholders on Your Projectby Jim Stewart, Project Management Consultant and Trainer of JP Stewart AssociatesStakeholder management is defined by the Project Management Institute as “managing communications to satisfy the needs of, and resolve issues with, stakeholders.”1 Stakeholder analysis, likewise, is defined as, “identifying the influence and interests of the various stakeholders and documenting their needs, wants and expectations.”2 In those small, bloodless phrases are contained enormous nuggets of wisdom. I could lecture all day about the necessity of identifying and managing stakeholders but I think that a story from my experience would illustrate it best. A few years ago, I got a contract as one of several project managers for a major New York City-based investment bank. Apparently, the systems side of the house had committed to upgrading all of the company’s PC’s to WinXP by – if I recall correctly – the end of 2004. My role – as one of five project managers – was to oversee the upgrade of about 3500 computers across several divisions. When I arrived at, let’s call it MegaCorp. Inc., I soon came to realize that not only was the schedule woefully behind but that there was a distinct lack of formal procedure in place... Click here for the rest of this article. Founded in 1976, the Independent Computer consultants Association (ICCA) is a national not-for-profit organization of independent computer consulting firms sharing the highest ethical and professional standards. The ICCA Greater Boston Chapter Mission Statement: The Greater Boston Chapter of the ICCA supports and encourages the growth of individuals and small firms in the business of computer consulting through education, networking, advocacy, and the exchange of ideas and knowledge among peers. The ICCA offers great services and benefits to its members including business and health insurance, marketing programs, a National Conference, standard form consulting and subcontracting contracts, and many discount programs. For additional information regarding the ICCA or to search the National Membership Directory, visit the national website http://www.icca.org or the Greater Boston Chapter website http://www.icca-boston.org Board MembersPresident - Vin D'Amico - president@icca-boston.orgVice President and PR Contact - Mike Spanos - vicepresident@icca-boston.org Treasurer - Michael Stiefel - treasurer@icca-boston.org Secretary - Peter Dwyer - secretary@icca-boston.org Director of Programs - Gordon Corzine- programs@icca-boston.org Director of Internal Communications - Kim Reddington - newsletter@icca-boston.org Director of External Communications - Bob Goodearl - extcomms at icca-boston.org Director of Membership - Jim Connell - membership@icca-boston.org Past President - Norman Daoust - pastpresident@icca-boston.org Legal StuffThis newsletter comes to you via the Chapter Members Announcements list of the Greater Boston Chapter of the ICCA.If you believe it has reached you in error, or if you do not wish to received further messages from this list, visit the Yahoo URL following this newlsetter. Alternatively, you can send a message via US Mail to: ICCA, Greater Boston Chapter Attn: Chapter Email List Unsubscribe 11131 South Towne Square, Suite F St Louis, MO 63123-7817 Publisher: Greater Boston Chapter of the Independent Computer Consultants Association, http://www.icca-boston.org Copyright 2005, Greater Boston Chapter of the Independent Computer Consultants Association This newsletter may be distributed without charge as long as it's distributed in its entirety. Individual sections and portions may be distributed with permission. |