During and following the 2007 conference in Baltimore, ARMA International’s staff received several requests for high-level, “thought-leader sessions” specifically designed for advanced executive-level RIM professionals. As members described what they wanted, there were some common themes:
- High-level, executive-type presentations
- Little, if any, PowerPoint
- Lots of audience interaction—the opportunity for audience members to ask questions, offer ideas and suggestions, and even challenge the common wisdom and approaches
- Discuss where the RIM profession and the RIM professional ware going
- Case studies and, most importantly, how to adapt the learnings from the case studies to different sized organizations
- Smaller panel discussions facilitated by someone who could keep everything on track and manage the interactions, keeping the panelists out of the weeds.
- Panelists would be highly-regarded, well known “luminaries” in the RIM field, who are also known for their cutting-edge approaches and leadership.
We discussed these comments on Dec. 6 and 7 with the Las Vegas Conference Program Committee, which met to develop the educational program for the 2008 conference. The committee took it a step further and suggested that we cover three primary areas in these sessions:
- Risk Management
- Business Functions, particularly selling/starting/supporting RIM in an organization.
- Future Technologies
We’d like to hear from those of you who are more advanced and are at the management level. Does it sound like we’re on the right track? What would you benefit most from at this stage in your career? What would you like to see presented during these sessions? What kind of experts would you like to hear from? Are there formats for these sessions that you think would generate lots of energy and enthusiasm from ARMA members? We encourage you to use this blog to share some of your thoughts. Or if you prefer, send us your thoughts in an e-mail (education@arma.org).
