Date: Sat, 8 Nov 2003 18:46:10 -0500 From: Withall Subject: Boston SPIN Meeting Announcement - Tuesday, November 18, 2003 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM Software Process Improvement Network (SPIN) Meeting Announcement We will meet in our regular location at Mitre - Building S) Topic: Saying No: A short course for project people Speaker: Rick Brenner When: Tuesday, November 18, 2003 6:00pm-8:30pm 6:00-6:45 Networking and Round Tables 7:00-7:10 Announcements 7:10-8:10 Presentation 8:10-8:30 Questions and Answers Who: Everyone (Industry, Government, Academia) Location: The MITRE Corporation, 202 Burlington Rd. (Rt. 62), Building S, Bedford, MA 01730 NOTE: Because of security concerns, you'll need a Picture ID and any large items you bring will be opened and inspected when you arrive. The earliest arrival time is 5:15pm. No one will be admitted prior to that time. The building is secured at 9pm. All attendees must have left the building by that time. Info: See our web page for information and directions, Boston SPIN meetings are free. No RSVP is necessary. Abstract: Saying No: A short course for project people Modern organizations are often organized around projects. People who are involved in project work work together toward a shared objective -- as team members, as project managers, as task managers, as sponsors, and as functional managers. Sometimes, even though they have a common goal, their agendas and tactics conflict. When these conflicts appear, one person or group might have to deny the request of another, who might have considerable organizational clout. This can lead to escalating pressure. Often, pressured parties tire of the tension, or fear sets in, and they "cave" -- yielding to the pressure. At times, yielding leads to an agreement that simply cannot be fulfilled, which then threatens the project's success. When this happens, saying "no" -- finding a way not to yield -- would have been better for the health of the project, the health of the team and the health of the person who said no. This presentation explores: * The structure of these pressure situations * Why it is so hard to say no * Typical tactics used by both sides * The dynamics of saying yes or no * Perils of saying yes when you should have said no * Traps and pitfalls when you say no * Honest, direct ways to say no This program will give you the tools you need to assess pressure situations, and, when appropriate, to help convert pressure and opposition to joint problem-solving. Far from the dry, laptop-driven format of most corporate presentations these days, the program is interactive and experiential. Not only is this approach effective as a presentation tool, it's lively and fun. Attendees will be better able to contribute to project success by helping the organization find new choices. About the Speaker: Rick Brenner is founder and principal of Chaco Canyon Consulting. He works with people in dynamic problem-solving organizations who make complex products that need state-of-the-art teamwork. In his 20 years as a software developer, software development manager, entrepreneur, consultant and coach he has developed valuable insights into the interactions between people in a problem-solving environment, and between people and the media in which they work. Mr. Brenner has held positions at Symbolics, Inc., and Draper Laboratory. Since 1993, he has taught a course in business modeling at the Harvard University Extension School. He is Vice Chair of the Boston SPIN. Mr. Brenner holds a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering from MIT. He trained in Satir methods under Gerald M. Weinberg and Jean McLendon, attending and staffing many of their workshops over a period of seven years. His interests focus on improving personal and organizational effectiveness, especially in abnormal situations, as in the case of continuous change, in organizational emergencies, and high-pressure project situations. He writes and edits a free email newsletter, Point Lookout, and has written a number of essays on these subjects, available at his Web site, http://www.ChacoCanyon.com/ About the Roundtables: Roundtables are focused group or "birds-of-a-feather" discussions, with a facilitator, to stimulate and moderate discussion. Forums are continuing discussions with a central theme, e.g., the Software Testing Forum and the Software Process Improvement Forum. These discussion groups are held during the Networking portion of the SPIN meeting from 6:00 to 6:45. Roundtable topics will be sent out in the reminder announcement. SPIN Sponsors: William George Associates, MITRE Corp., Bedford, MA, Raytheon Corp., Lexington, MA, MKS, Inc. (http://www.mks.com) We thank the Computer Science department of UMass-Lowell for providing support and hosting our web page. Directions: Coming from 128 South or North 1. Take Exit 32A onto Route 3 North. 2. Proceed two miles on Route 3 North and take the first Exit 26 (for Route 62 Bedford). 3. Go down the ramp to the traffic signal. 4. You may either proceed to the main entrance to the MITRE campus on Route 62 or enter through the side entrance on Crosby Dr. 5. To enter through the main entrance, at the end of the ramp turn right on Route 62. 6. At the first set of lights, take an immediate left into MITRE. 7. Bear left and follow the drive to the end. 8. Turn right and follow the drive, which bears left and then right and turn right into the parking lot (immediately after the third speed bump). 9. Walk into the courtyard between Buildings K and S and enter the S lobby to sign in. OR 5. To enter through the side entrance, at the end of the exit ramp (traffic signal) continue straight across Route 62 onto Crosby Drive. 6. After a short hill, take the first right into the MITRE campus. 7. Follow the drive, which bears left and then right and turn right into the parking lot (immediately after the third speed bump). 8. Walk into the courtyard between Buildings K and S and enter the S lobby to sign in. From New Hampshire or Points North on Route 3 1. Take Route 3 South to Exit 26 (for Route 62 Bedford). 2. At the end of the exit ramp, at the traffic signal turn Left on Route 62. 3. To enter through the main entrance, go under Route 3 and proceed to the second traffic signal. 4. Take an immediate left into the main entrance to the MITRE campus. 5. Bear left and follow the drive to the end. 6. Turn right and follow the drive, which bears left and then right and turn right into the parking lot (immediately after the third speed bump). 7. Walk into the courtyard between Buildings K and S and enter the S lobby to sign in. OR 3. To enter through the side entrance, Go under Route 3 and proceed to the first traffic signal. 4. Turn left onto Crosby Drive. 5. After a short hill, take the first right into the MITRE campus. 6. Follow the drive, which bears left and then right and turn right into the parking lot (immediately after the third speed bump). 7. Walk into the courtyard between Buildings K and S and enter the S lobby to sign in. From Logan Airport 1. Go through tunnel to Route 93 North. 2. Take Route 93 North eleven miles to Exit 37B (Route 128 (I-95) South). 3. Take Route 128 (I-95) South six miles to Exit 32A (Route 3 North). 4. Follow the instructions above, "Coming from 128 South or North". Cancellations (including weather cancellations): We will notify the membership via email to the SPIN distribution list, post the notice on the SPIN web page, and send the cancellation announcement to Channel 7 TV and radio, WRKO AM 680 starting at 3pm.