Some people have been asking about our very special conference format for the APLN event in Seattle. Register today!

Many of our local chapter members are bored with traditional conferences where speakers simply deliver powerpoint slides. Most of those are available on the web. There are several places to see me talk about kanban for example. So why would you pay to see me repeat something, when you can watch it from the comfort of your desk at your convenience for free? Indeed.

So the local chapter folks wanted an "un-conference" - a collaborative open-space format. That was step one.

However, we wanted to have a draw for the event and give participants the chance to have direct face time and interaction with thought leaders in the industry and agile community. So we decided to invite 16 speakers and have them pair up to run 8 open space sessions. They got to choose the topics. So that turned it in to a directed semi-open space event. But it puts more certainty in to the program and gives attendees a stronger idea of what they can learn from the event. In short, it makes the event more marketable to a conservative audience. That was step 2.

Now the more astute followers of the APLN will realize that we copied this format somewhat at the Dallas APLN regional summit in the winter. In Dallas we had the speakers facilitate the Think Tank sessions. So it's true that the idea isn't completely new to APLN summits. However, the idea actually came from the Seattle organizing committee, as we'd already laid that plan for our summit.

Step 3 was the realization that the Seattle audience is very conservative and that when we hold a local chapter meeting in open space format the attendance falls. So we decided to make Day 2 a traditional conference with presenters. The presenters are the speakers who facilitated the open space sessions on the first day. What makes the conference unique is that the content on Day 2 will be created on Day 1. So you simply can't see it on the web in advance. It will be all new!

We intend to package up that Day 2 presentation content and give it to attendees as a takeaway. We haven't decided the format yet but there will be a takeaway, and that was step 4. We give attendees something to take away and show their boss as a tangible value for the $400 attendance fee.

We round out the event with key note speeches and a panel session at the end of Day 1. The panel should give some relief to those who've been working hard all day in their open space sessions.

We're excited to have folks like Dale Christian and Lisa Haneberg who will draw an audience in the local community and wider Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan area.

Finally, we give a softer networking opportunity with a cocktail reception at the end of the first day. Half the attendance fee goes to cover the catering. So come along enjoy the great venue on Seattle's waterfront. Enjoy some great food and drink. Enjoy rubbing shoulders with the notable folk in the agile community who are giving their time for free to participate. Learn something. Take something back to your colleagues. And support the APLN and the agile community in Seattle.

So it's a conference, and it's an unconference. It's a lot of fun. Register today! Technorati tag: APLN, Project+Management, Management, Leadership, Agile, Lean, Lisa+Haneberg, Dale+Christian