Overview

The Dekker Project Portfolio Management Forum™ 2006 was an overwhelming success! Held at Humphrey’s Half Moon Inn and Suites in San Diego, California, the Forum provided over 100 attendees with an education-packed week focusing on risk management. As in years past, the Forum brought in many first-time attendees, as well as a number of certified Dekker TRAKKER® Users and Power Users from across the country.

The highlight of this year’s Forum was the official release of Dekker Traction™, a new software tool that provides an objective measurement of risks, accomplishments, and other key performance indicators by activity, project, and enterprise. Audience members at the Forum’s general session learned that Traction’s strength lies in its ability to measure goals, objectives, accomplishments, and risk conditions before they have a negative impact on success. It integrates directly with Microsoft® Outlook and other e-mail systems to provide work notices, task items, and e-mail alerts to risk conditions. Traction can also integrate directly with Microsoft® Project or function as a standalone product. A demonstration of the product proved that Traction elevates the Dekker TRAKKER® Project Portfolio Management system to unequalled versatility and flexibility.

The Traction unveiling underscored the Forum’s overall theme of “Risk Management for the Enterprise.” Former Indy racecar driver and businesswoman Lyn St. James delivered the keynote address, which focused on her ability to manage risk and attain her goals in a traditionally male-dominated sport. Other speakers at the Forum’s general session included John Duvall, Project Manager and EVMS Lead on an Air Force contract at Arnold Air Force Base, Richard Chipman, Vice President in SAIC’s Office of Corporate Engineering and Technology, Steve Volandt, a senior consultant for the Department of Defense, and Simon Dekker, CEO and President of Dekker, Ltd.

Beyond the general session, the remaining days of the PPM Forum were filled with training sessions focused both on the use of Dekker, Ltd. products and advanced project management techniques. These training courses earned the attendees valuable Project Management Institute (PMI) Certified Personal Development Units (PDUs).

Attendees also formed business relationships at numerous networking events. Dekker, Ltd. hosted several evening functions at the Silver Gate Yacht Club, including a magic show and catered hors d’oeuvres and dinners, as well as a poolside reception at Humphrey’s with an opportunity for attendees to have photos taken with a full-grown cougar and a tiger cub, symbols of Dekker, Ltd. products Traction and iPursuit, respectively.

We’re planning an even bigger and better PPM Forum for May 2007. Details will be posted on this site as the date draws near.