Pre-Conference Workshops

Evaluator Training and Senior Management Support
A Train-the-Trainer Workshop
Tuesday, September 16; 8:00 am - 11:30 am
Andrew Wood, Ideas Management, Inc.
Class designated for five Certification Points

 This session is aimed at program managers who find it difficult to buy in professional support but nevertheless understand the need to train their evaluators. The course includes the ingredients of success for obtaining top management buy in and what they need to do to be able to have that support. Includes elements for an effective training manual. The attendees will learn how to teach trainers the important ingredients that evaluators need to know, show the evidence that will convince senior teams of the need for the program, learn the key skills to program design that can make evaluators more keen to be involved, demonstrate the value contribution that sound evaluation makes. 

Understanding and Maximizing Technology Success in your Workplace
Tuesday, September 16; 8:00 am - 11:30 am
Daniel Arkin, Technvision
Class designated for five Certification Points

Understand the top technologies available for your workplace. Enjoy a user-friendly nuts and bolts understanding of three technology arenas: 1) information design (data organization and management), 2) web presence (building, hosting, utilizing your own online services and products, and 3) the data driven web (content management and database/web integration). Learn what these arenas are plus how to best implement them. 

Explore time-tested strategies for planning, development and implementation of technologies, not for technologies' sake, but for success in our workplace.  Leave this session understanding the power when technology and vision meet, in a fun-filled information enriched session.

Overcoming Resistance
The Most Important Thing For Any Leader to Know Today is How to Motivate Others, and How to Change Behavior
Tuesday, September 16; 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Patty Bender, RPlusMore, Inc.
Class designated for five Certification Points

 Resistance? Resistance to what? Resistance to change, from excelling, from reaching goals, from employee participation, the list can go on and on.  Have you ever caught yourself saying, "They oughta wanna."  Well guess what? They don't.  If you feel like you've tried everything to get people to do what you want them to do, even what they need to do, and it's not working for you, then you'll certainly want to be a part of this high energy, upbeat, and motivating workshop.

 This workshop will change the way you look at behavior, Finally, a systematic way to create an environment where people "WANT TO" versus "HAVE TO."  You'll experience many "aha" moments as you learn how to create an environment where people go above and beyond because they want to.

 If you want to know why people do what they do, or more importantly why they resist doing what you want them to do, then you won't want to miss this.

Problem Solving Workshop
Tuesday, September 16; 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Bernie Sander, Innovation Transfer
Class designated for five Certification Points

 Viable solutions and suggestions start with the problems themselves. This proven methodology works on the principle of gathering problem cards through directed interviews and questioning techniques and creating a visible problem warehouse in each organizational business unit.

 After addressing techniques to prioritize these problem areas, a team process to reach solutions to specific problems within an hour is thoroughly introduced. With application to the shop floor as well as to the office environment, this nifty technique is based on 5 core problem solving tools: clear and concise task statement definition, process-oriented brainstorming, affinity diagramming (clustering), priority matrixing (criteria-based points allocation), and fishbone diagramming (cause and effect).

Participants will walk away with a problem-solving technique that is based on teamwork and proven tools.

Post-Conference Workshops

Developing Exceptional Suggesters
A Train-the-Trainer Workshop
Saturday, September 20; 8:00 am - 11:30 am
Tom Jensen, Center for Suggestion System Development

Class designated for five Certification Points

To maximize the benefits of a suggestion program, companies must find ways to maximize participation. This workshop has been designed to accomplish just that.  Employees will become master problem-solvers.  They will learn how to expand from a non-creative mindset to one of unlimited creative thinking.  This high-energy, interactive workshop will teach coordinators how to increase employees' understanding of the suggestion program and will show them how they can encourage employees to write, submit, and implement outstanding suggestions. This class includes a "Suggester Toolkit." 

You will learn how to teach employees to: better understand the suggestion program; submit ideas properly; become instantly creative at any time; increase money-saving ideas; remove barriers to problem solving; increase their skills in writing better quality suggestions; and get the most out of being an exceptional suggester.

Get E-Value-ated
Saturday, September 20; 8:00 am - 11:30 am
Maria Reidhead and Del Despain, TQS
Class designated for five Certification Points

Motivation for a successful suggestion program begins with �Value� (and we�re not talking money)!  This session will provide guidelines for creating a foundation for success.  Some topics to be discussed include:

Are YOU Value-able?  A successful suggestion program starts with you!  What can you do to place yourself in a position to be successful? Are you valuable � to yourself, your organization, and others? What steps can you take to increase your value? Are your employees valuable?  Is your suggestion program perceived as valuable - to yourself, employees, and your superiors?