Comments on: GBN 2008 Conference Evaluations http://www.dagira.com/2008/10/30/gbn-2008-conference-evaluations/ ...you are in a twisty maze of passageways, all different... Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:17:49 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Dave Rathbun http://www.dagira.com/2008/10/30/gbn-2008-conference-evaluations/comment-page-1/#comment-404 Dave Rathbun Tue, 04 Nov 2008 20:21:02 +0000 http://www.dagira.com/?p=131#comment-404 I got the link to fill out my conference evaluation via email. A random sample of those that submit their surveys will get $100 gift certificates. 8) I got the link to fill out my conference evaluation via email. A random sample of those that submit their surveys will get $100 gift certificates. 8)

]]> By: Dave Rathbun http://www.dagira.com/2008/10/30/gbn-2008-conference-evaluations/comment-page-1/#comment-403 Dave Rathbun Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:20:40 +0000 http://www.dagira.com/?p=131#comment-403 Keith, I have already passed on #1 to the conference organizers. I heard that from more than one person, so I made sure to share it. Do please include it in your survey form as it will carry extra weight. The same goes for your other concerns. I would like to offer my personal observations for the other points you raised here, but do forward those on your evaluation as well. The technical level of sessions seems to vary from one conference to the next. Some of them do have more beginner sessions, depending on how long the various technologies have been available. One of the challenges as a presenter is to find a way to deliver something for everyone. There were (at least to me) an astonishing number of first-time attendees at the conference this year, so they might have appreciated the more basic sessions. Regulars or folks that have been using the products longer certainly benefit more from more advanced topics. The room sizing issue can be addressed by having repeated sessions (your first point). In the past few years (not including this one) the conference agenda was published on the web much sooner than this year. Folks were allowed to build their own personal agenda from the overall conference list. This accomplished two things. First, each person got a personalized agenda, which was good. Second, the conference organizers were able to see which topics were attracting the most attention and pre-schedule a repeat session. With repeat sessions for popular topics the number of folks is spread out, which helps the over-crowded room. Everything was time-compressed this year due to the cutover from Business Objects to GBN. Next year should be much better. Keith, I have already passed on #1 to the conference organizers. I heard that from more than one person, so I made sure to share it. Do please include it in your survey form as it will carry extra weight. The same goes for your other concerns. I would like to offer my personal observations for the other points you raised here, but do forward those on your evaluation as well.

The technical level of sessions seems to vary from one conference to the next. Some of them do have more beginner sessions, depending on how long the various technologies have been available. One of the challenges as a presenter is to find a way to deliver something for everyone. There were (at least to me) an astonishing number of first-time attendees at the conference this year, so they might have appreciated the more basic sessions. Regulars or folks that have been using the products longer certainly benefit more from more advanced topics.

The room sizing issue can be addressed by having repeated sessions (your first point). In the past few years (not including this one) the conference agenda was published on the web much sooner than this year. Folks were allowed to build their own personal agenda from the overall conference list. This accomplished two things. First, each person got a personalized agenda, which was good. Second, the conference organizers were able to see which topics were attracting the most attention and pre-schedule a repeat session. With repeat sessions for popular topics the number of folks is spread out, which helps the over-crowded room.

Everything was time-compressed this year due to the cutover from Business Objects to GBN. Next year should be much better.

]]> By: Keith Weber http://www.dagira.com/2008/10/30/gbn-2008-conference-evaluations/comment-page-1/#comment-401 Keith Weber Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:40:26 +0000 http://www.dagira.com/?p=131#comment-401 I've a couple comments and will fill out the survey when I get it: 1) The biggest dissappointment was most sessions were not repeated. This put me in a sitution of having to make difficult choices about which session I felt was more important and skipping the rest with no chance to sit in on the session. 2) I thought there were a LOT of beginner session and not nearly as many advanced sessions so I'd like to see more nerdy sessions. 3) Some rooms were hot some cold and most were crowded to the point folks had to sit on the floor. Overall, I'd say the conference was ok but probably not worth the money paid to attend, including airfare, hotel and the actual fee for the conference. If we can address these problems, I'd probably go again but won't if they are there for the next one. Kind regards, Keith I’ve a couple comments and will fill out the survey when I get it:

1) The biggest dissappointment was most sessions were not repeated. This put me in a sitution of having to make difficult choices about which session I felt was more important and skipping the rest with no chance to sit in on the session.

2) I thought there were a LOT of beginner session and not nearly as many advanced sessions so I’d like to see more nerdy sessions.

3) Some rooms were hot some cold and most were crowded to the point folks had to sit on the floor.

Overall, I’d say the conference was ok but probably not worth the money paid to attend, including airfare, hotel and the actual fee for the conference. If we can address these problems, I’d probably go again but won’t if they are there for the next one.

Kind regards,

Keith

]]> By: Dave Rathbun http://www.dagira.com/2008/10/30/gbn-2008-conference-evaluations/comment-page-1/#comment-398 Dave Rathbun Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:14:34 +0000 http://www.dagira.com/?p=131#comment-398 Latest news is that the conference evaluation forms for attendees will be sent out next Monday, November 3<sup>rd</sup>. Things could still slip for technical reasons (we all know how that can go, right? :) ) but that is the goal. Latest news is that the conference evaluation forms for attendees will be sent out next Monday, November 3rd. Things could still slip for technical reasons (we all know how that can go, right? :) ) but that is the goal.

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