"A little risk management saves a lot of fan cleaning" - Unknown

I've been busy the last few weeks preparing my presentation for the 2008 ProjectWorld/World Congress for Business Analysts Regional Conference in San Diego.

My topic is "Integrating Innovation Strategy & Project Portfolio Management." 

As a blend of seasoned project management professional and innovation management consultant, I have a unique view of the importance of project management discipline within the innovation/idea process.  They really do co-exist to each other's benefit. 

Its the Dreamer/Doer concept I've talked about before.  Put a creative mind together with a project manager and you've got ideas that have a chance of becoming an innovation.  Remember, ideas alone are not innovative.  In fact, ideas don't "exist" until they are made "real." 

Whew...perhaps I need to pull out my old college Philosophy text again!

So what is it that I am going to share with my primarily Project/Program/Portfolio Manager and Business Analyst audience?  Here's a high-level agenda:

• Innovation & Portfolio Management 101
• Idea Management/Innovation Process Steps:
• Problem Identification
• Root Cause Analysis & Definition
• Application of Existing Knowledge
• Idea Generation
• Application of Idea Generation Technique
• Idea Management
• Idea Input Mechanism
• Idea Filtering/Criteria
• Idea Selection
• Implementation
• Idea Prototyping
• Idea Implementation
• Feedback/Change Management
• Innovation Project Portfolio (IPP) Concept:
• Approach
• Strategy Alignment
• Blend
• Commitment
• Engagement
• Balance
• Extraordinary People
• Why It Matters
• Q&A

It's only a 60 minute presentation (45 min. really...to allow for 15 min. of Q&A).  I don't want to "boil the ocean" but it should give the primarily project-focused audience some exposure on how to blend innovation management concepts into the portfolio management processes.

Here's the bottom line...and its not just for the conference...its for everyone, all the time...

Innovation needs project management and project management needs innovation.

Yep...that's it...short, sweet and true!!!