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DAMA-PS meetings are held monthly, September through June. We feature a mix of dinner meetings, workshops and seminars.

For more information, please contact our VP Programs at programs@dama-ps.org

Upcoming events

    • September 14, 2010
    • 08:00 AM
    • September 15, 2010
    • 05:00 PM
    • Best Western Executive Inn - 200 Taylor Ave N, Seattle

    Advanced Data Modeling

    A two-day workshop, Tuesday and Wednesday, September 14th and 15th.

    DAMA-Puget Sound is proud to welcome back Alec Sharp for the fourth workshop in his popular modeling series.  After extremely successful Process Modeling, Data Modeling and Requirements Modeling in 2008 and 2009, we're kicking off the 2010-2011 year with Advanced Data Modeling! You won't want to miss this high ROI dynamic workshop!

    Overview


    It does not take long in the field for data modelers to encounter situations such as the enforcement of complex business rules, handling recurring patterns, dealing with existing databases or packaged applications, and other issues not covered in introductory data modeling classes.  This intense, participative workshop provides approaches for many advanced data modeling situations, as well as techniques for improving communication between data modelers, business analysts, designer/developers, and subject matter experts.

    There are experienced data modelers out there who somehow develop accurate and stable models that are actually used, often in non-typical or high-pressure situations. They get the job done without wasted effort, maintain the involvement and respect of the subject matter experts, and – worst of all! – make it look easy. Others modelers might have great technical skills, but fare poorly, maintaining tense relationships with content experts and developers who “just don’t get it,” and watching in dismay as their models are continually undone by “new” requirements.

    What accounts for the difference? Magic? Luck? Better tools? No – it’s having a concrete set of frameworks, methods, techniques, scripts, heuristics, and other tools that they draw on to keep the process moving, with everyone engaged, even when complex, difficult situations are encountered.  And that’s what we’ll cover in this full, but fun, two-day workshop – specific, repeatable techniques that you can use to drive your data modeling skills to the next level.

    Three main themes will be explored:

    1. The technical side of data modeling - getting better at modeling difficult, complex situations
    2. Developing and using data models in new ways, and in conjunction with other techniques
    3. The human side of data modeling - improving processes and communication skills

    Topics will be covered with a discussion of the issue, a review of techniques, guidelines and examples, a brief workshop exercise, and a group solution and debriefing. The emphasis is on maximizing the delivery of content while keeping everyone engaged - the workshop has recently been extensively redesigned to focus on the topics that data modeling professionals have continually rated as the most concrete and useful.


    Alec Sharp has managed his own consulting and education business, Clariteq Systems Consulting Ltd., for 25 years. Serving clients from Ireland to Illinois to India, Alec’s expertise includes facilitation, strategy development, application requirements specification, data management, and of course, business process improvement. His popular workshops and conference presentations on these topics, conducted globally, unfailingly receive “excellent” ratings. Alec is the principal author of “Workflow Modeling” (Artech House, 2001) which is widely used as a university text and is consistently a best-selling book in the field.

    • September 14, 2010
    • 06:00 PM - 09:00 PM
    • Best Western Executive Inn - 200 Taylor Ave N, Seattle
    Adventures in Reverse Engineering -
    What You've Got and Why You Don't Like It


    In the business process improvement field, a standard practice is to build “as-is” process models. We depict how things actually work – not how people think  they work – and then laugh, cry, and otherwise analyze the situation. This practice illuminates what works well, what doesn’t, and builds support for change. Although it isn’t done as often, the practice of building “as-is” data models by reverse-engineering physical data structures can be an invaluable tool for the data management professional. When used, it has been a great attention-getter, leading to reactions of shock, dismay, sometimes delight, and almost always new insight into the situation. 

    This presentation will illustrate successful techniques by reviewing several real-life examples. Topics include:
    • When do you need to resort to reverse-engineering?
    • Walking backwards – essential techniques for going from physical to logical to conceptual
    • Examples from both legacy systems and purchased applications
    • What’s actually in there? – what data profiling can reveal
    • Techniques to make the findings relevant to an audience of business professionals


    Alec Sharp has managed his own consulting and education business, Clariteq Systems Consulting Ltd., for 25 years. Serving clients from Ireland to Illinois to India, Alec’s expertise includes facilitation, strategy development, application requirements specification, data management, and of course, business process improvement. His popular workshops and conference presentations on these topics, conducted globally, unfailingly receive “excellent” ratings. Alec is the principal author of “Workflow Modeling” (Artech House, 2001) which is widely used as a university text and is consistently a best-selling book in the field.
    • October 12, 2010
    • 06:00 PM - 09:00 PM
    • Best Western Executive Inn - 200 Taylor Ave N, Seattle
    Building the Business Case for Data Quality and Government

    Are you trying to gain support for an information quality or data governance initiative in your organization? Awareness of any data quality issue immediately leads to the questions "What impact does information quality have on the business?“, "Why does data governance matter?" and “What’s the return if I invest in them?”

    This presentation provides an overview of a variety of techniques for answering those questions. You will learn both qualitative and quantitative methods that provide options based on your situation and the time and resources available. Whether you are beginning an information quality or governance program, trying to include data quality in another project, or are an individual tasked with responsibilities in these areas, you need resources and support - and these approaches will help.  Key topics include:
    • Preparing to evaluate business impact
    • Techniques for assessing business impact
    • Communicating your business case
    Last year, our chapter formed a book group to discuss Danette's book, Executing Data Quality Projects: Ten Steps to Quality Data and Trusted Information".  She would love to get your feedback and hear how it went.  If you would like to discuss, we'll be meeting for a no-host happy hour at the lounge at Best Western Executive Inn from 5-6pm prior to this dinner meeting.  Please join us if you are available!


    Danette McGilvray  is president and principal of Granite Falls Consulting, Inc., a firm that helps organizations increase their success by addressing the information quality and data governance aspects of their business efforts. Focusing on bottom-line results, Danette helps organizations enhance the value of their information
    assets by naturally integrating information quality management into the business. A skilled facilitator, program and project manager, she has worked with people in all levels of the organization and from all
    functional areas, giving her a valuable perspective of organizational challenges based on real-life experience. She also emphasizes communication and the human aspect of information quality and governance.   

    Danette promotes the intentional management of information assets with the same rigor used to manage other company assets such as products and human and financial resources.  Client engagements include establishing and maturing data quality and governance programs. She also helps clients improve the success of
    their business intelligence and data integration and migration projects by incorporating information quality management into project methodologies. Granite Falls provides solutions through various means such as executive presentations, training, program/project design, review and implementation, team development, customized consulting and one-on-one coaching.

    Danette is the author of Executing Data Quality Projects: Ten Steps to Quality Data and Trusted Information™ (Morgan Kaufmann, 2008).  An
    internationally respected expert, her Ten Steps™ approach to information quality has been embraced as a proven method for both understanding and creating information and data quality in the enterprise. Her trademarked approach, in which she has trained Fortune 500 clients and thousands of workshop attendees, applies to all types of data and all organizations. Her book is used as a textbook in university graduate programs.

    Danette is an invited speaker at conferences around the world. She contributes articles to various industry journals and newsletters and has been profiled in PC Week and HP Measure Magazine. She was invited to the People’s Republic of China to discuss roles and opportunities for women in the computer field. She is a faculty member for The Data Warehousing Institute (TDWI). In 2009, she received the Professional Achievement Award from the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University in Logan, Utah. Danette is a founding member of the International Association for Information and Data Quality Professionals (IAIDQ) and an active member of DAMA International.
    • November 09, 2010
    • 06:00 PM - 09:00 PM
    • Best Western Executive Inn - 200 Taylor Ave N, Seattle
    Data Integration in a Dynamic World

    This month we welcome David Overcash, CTO from Brightlight Consulting to discuss Data Integration trends in today’s Dynamic World. This session provides a perspective into how company demands for data integration solutions are exponentially growing across the globe, how technology vendors are dealing with this paradigm, and how new and innovative techniques are being used to solve some of today’s most challenging data integration problems  David will focus this session around data integration for Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence solutions, but his perspectives, thoughts, and techniques will provide value for any data integration initiative.

    David received rave reviews when presenting to our chapter on Data Warehouse Appliances last year!  We hope you can join us for this informative presentation!



    David Overcash, CTO and EVP Service Delivery for Brightlight Consulting has over 15 years experience in information technology and is the co-founder of Brightlight Consulting; a Business Intelligence and Data Warehousing consultancy headquartered in Redmond, WA.  He is a leader in the Business Intelligence, technology, and consulting community and was responsible for the first world-wide consulting practice dedicated to Data Warehouse Appliance technology. He is a frequent speaker around the globe on deployment-best practices, Business Intelligence solutions, and technology in the market.  David was recently named to Puget Sound Business Journal’s prestigious “40 Under 40” List that spotlights the top business leaders in the Greater Seattle metropolitan area under the age of 40 who excel in their industry and show dynamic leadership.
 
Questions? Contact info@dama-ps.org