Need help convincing management to let you attend? Here are some conference benefits and ideas to help you with the justification.
Event benefits
- Upgrade your IT skills. The key to success is training; get it quickly at an IBM Technical Training event.
- Test-drive the latest technologies through hands-on labs. Roll up your sleeves and get involved with the latest systems and software.
- Hear breaking news from the original source. Get up to speed on the latest product releases, trends, tips and techniques - direct from IBM.
- Network with experts and colleagues from a variety of industries.
- Load up on great information. Get the background you need to make quick, intelligent business decisions.
- Explore a wide selection of topics. Expand your skills in the area of your choice with a variety of elective sessions for every level, from new user to expert.
- Certify your skills onsite with testing at many conferences.
- Get the most out of your training experience. We’ve designed cost-saving programs to meet your needs and your schedule. There are even classes on Sunday at many conferences.
For benefits of attending a specific event, view the information under the "Overview" and "Why you need to attend" sections of each event main page. Access the event calendar now.
Suggestions for convincing management
- You will gain skills to increase your productivity, lower risks involved in new technology rollouts and increase return on the organisation's overall IT investment.
- You will bring back information relevant to your current projects. Technical events are a relatively inexpensive way of getting a large amount of information compared to individual classes on the same topics.
- You will make valuable professional contacts who can answer questions and give you ideas on both current and future projects.
- You can meet the product developers and technical experts and get answers on your company’s core technical issues.
- You have an opportunity to meet directly with a wide range of business partners and understand their complementary solutions.
- You will share your information with co-workers by presenting what you have learned.
- You can lead your co-workers in implementing several ideas you learned at the event. The conference proceedings on web, USB or CD-ROM will allow you to get the information on sessions you were not able to attend.
- You will meet with management before you leave for the conference to show them the event materials and give them an opportunity to choose sessions that will be most useful to the organization.
By placing cost estimates on any of these items and showing how it will save money by sending you to the event, you can build the case for management to allow you to attend.
Networking at these events allows you to establish business contacts, meet potential business partners and understand their solutions, familiarise yourself with the competition and swap experiences with fellow professionals. Get ready for the most comprehensive, in-depth technical events of the year! With over 20 conferences, symposiums and seminars worldwide, you're sure to find one to fit your business training needs.
Sure, the economy looks gloomy right now, but as pointed out by Peter Sondergaard, senior vice president of research at Gartner, IT folks have been through this before with the dot-com bust of 2001 to 2003. Growth might be slowing, but businesses can’t move forward without IT. So what’s the key to success in a down economy?
Upgrading your IT skills through training can be a smart investment in a tight job market. Get it quickly at IBM Technical Training Events. IBM executives, IBM Fellows, distinguished engineers, developers and industry experts present information on various levels where you will also have the opportunity to test drive many of the new technologies in our hands on labs. Explore current and emerging technical topics, meet respected industry leaders and network with peers today.
Can you afford not to?