BPC 2008 Abstract Submission Guidelines

The Ninth Annual Best Practices Conference will be held in Denver, Colorado, USA, 15-17 September 2008. The following information will help you as a potential presenter prepare a presentation abstract for submission to the Telecom Business Excellence (TBE) Work Group.

Read the following instructions (follow link) and then read the guidelines below before attempting to complete the online submission form to make your submission process smooth and trouble free.

If you have further questions, email information@questforum.org.

You are invited to submit an abstract for presentation at this exciting and vibrant event. QuEST Forum is looking for speakers to share the technologies and methodologies that have made their organizations successful.

The following information will help you as a potential presenter prepare a presentation abstract for submission to the Telecom Business Excellence (TBE) Work Group.

Guideline Sections

Submission Information

Process Steps and Important Dates

Presentation Parameters

Presentation Topics

How to Prepare Your Abstract

Access the Online Submission Form

Questions

Downloads

Abstract Guidelines (PDF file of this page) (PDF, 60KB)

Abstract Sample (PDF, 36KB)

Call for Papers flyer (PDF,257KB)

Word Version of Abstract for Preparatory Purposes (doc,89KB)

Submission Information

Abstract submissions will be accepted until June 13, 2008.
Only online submissions will be accepted. To access the online submission form.
Presenters may submit more than one abstract for consideration. A separate online submission form must be completed for each abstract submitted.
Presentations will be evaluated on the following criteria: Demonstration of measurable results; transferability of practice to other organizations; creativity and innovation; ability to meet/exceed customer and/or stakeholder expectations; maturity of project -- deployed, integrated, measured, and improved; overall usefulness to conference audience; and relevance/fit within panel format.

Process Steps and Important Dates

Step 1: 13 June 2008. Presenters submit completed abstract submission forms until 13 June 2008.

Step 2: June - July 2008. QuEST Forum Abstract Selection Team reviews abstract submissions and make selections based on 2007 best practices review criteria.

Step 3: 10 July 2008. Presenters notified if selected for Best Practices Conference. Non-selected applicants will also be notified.

Step 4: 17 July - 29 August 2008. Presenters submit MS PowerPoint materials. The Selection Team will request revisions, as needed.

Step 5: 15-17 September 2008. Best Practices Conference, Denver, Colorado, USA (Presenter dates 16-17 September)

Presentation Parameters

Presentations will be limited to 20 minutes per presenter. Limit one presenter per paper.
Presentations will follow this format: (1) description of the condition/problem; (2) description and deployment of the best practice; (3) explanation of the outcome and results; and (4) lessons learned.
Presenters are typically grouped into panels, and present sequentially.
Panels will be introduced and facilitated by a moderator.
A short question and answer period will follow each panel session.
Presentations will be posted to the QuEST Forum Members-Only Web site in a protected (PDF) form and be copied to a CD-ROM and given to all conference attendees.
Presentations may be taped and stored on the Members-Only Web site along with the PDF file.
Presenters are asked to accept questions and inquiries from companies who wish to request specific information about their best practices topic.
Presenters will receive a token of appreciation for participation at the conference. Their company will be listed in appreciation press releases issued by QuEST Forum.

Presentation Topics

The following information outlines the approved topic areas. Sub-bullets are intended to provide examples (but not strict limits) of appropriate presentations under a given subject area.

Benefits from TL 9000 Implementation & Measurements

Case studies on specific requirements and measurements to drive improvement
Integration of additional standards, cost savings, revenue increases, customer satisfaction improvements
Use of TL 9000 measurements for benchmarking, report cards, quality management, etc.

Business Excellence in the Convergence Era

Bridging technologies (Next Generation Services, Mobility, etc.)
Transforming business through innovation
Technology Enablers
Measuring performance
Managing emerging technologies

Managing Organizational Change in new business environments

Mergers and Restructuring
Agile Organizations and Change
Outsourcing, In-sourcing
Operating in a Global environment
Managing the Extended Supply Chain

Customer Focused Business Improvement through the use, adaptation, and integration of TL 9000 and:

National Quality Awards (EFQM, MBNQA, etc)
Lean, Six Sigma, CMMI, Process Management, Kaizen, etc

Software Development Process Improvement

Effective Life Cycle Models
Software Configuration Management
In-process measurements
Moving from defect detection to defect prevention

Cost of Poor Quality

How and What to Measure
ROI case studies
How the concept may be incorporated into other tools & product life cycle models

End User Success Stories

Network Reliability
Wireless Performance
IP Networks (VOIP, Broadband, etc)
Joint Service Provider/Supplier Efforts

Other

Presentations that do not fit above

How to Prepare Your Abstract

The following information will be required on the online submission form. For longer text items, be prepared to type or cut-and-paste your answers into the submission form text boxes. Be sure to follow the maximum word count (check your word total in MS Word® by highlighting the text and clicking on Tools, Word Count), and enter only text into the fields. See a sample abstract submission (PDF, 36KB).

Presentation Subject Matter Area (Topic)

Select the single category in which your presentation best fits (see presentation topics listed above).

Presentation Title

Insert a relevant presentation title that is no more than 10 words (or 200 characters) long (including spaces and punctuation).

Presentation Summary

Insert a 75 words or less summary of the problem or condition, how it was resolved and/or improved, and the impact of the resolution. This is an overview version to be used, for example, in the conference program.

Presentation Description

Insert a 200 words or less detailed description of your presentation that covers these points:

Problem or Condition
What was the problem or condition that was affected by the implementation of the best practice?

The ‘before’ state or problem may be described in terms of performance results, a potential problem, or a qualitative description of the condition.
A condition may be a satisfactory or strong process that was able to see further improvement as a result of the practice.

Best Practice: Description and Deployment
What was the best practice? How was it deployed?

The major steps of the practice and how it was implemented
How tools were used (if any) e.g., SPC, Six Sigma, etc.
How creativity and innovation were demonstrated through the adoption of new ideas, processes, technologies, or products
How the practice can be adopted by other organizations

Outcome and Results
What happened? What were the outcomes and results of implementing the best practice?

Describe any measurable results that were realized as a benefit of implementing your best practice. (Example: $2 million cost savings, 20% cycle time reduction, increase in customer satisfaction, etc.)

Lessons Learned
What was learned during the process or as a result of implementing the best practice?

Lessons learned may include elements that worked particularly well or actions that would be changed for future deployment

Personal and Contact Information

In addition to completing presenter and contact information, confirm your permission for QuEST Forum to reproduce your presentation via CD and the member onlywebsite.

Questions

If you have any questions, please email information@questforum.org.

Deadline for submissions is 13 June 2008 .

As a reminder, only online submissions will be accepted.