Topics
ProductCamp Vancouver is an un-conference. Rather than having pre-scheduled speakers, anyone who is interested in leading a session can submit a proposal. Proposed sessions will be voted on by the ProductCamp participants with the most popular sessions getting on the event schedule. Other participants will view what your session is about prior to the event so that they can be prepared to vote when they arrive at ProductCamp on Saturday morning:
Please note that each potential session leader is limited to two session proposals. This is to encourage maximum participation by all interested session leaders. Thanks for you understanding. If you have questions, please send an email to the Content team at content@productcampvancouver.org
To propose a topic, visit: https://productcampvancouver.uservoice.com/forums/75763-sessions
Participants have shared with us they would love to lead a session - if they knew what topic to lead. To get you started, here are some themes to tickle and spur ideas.
- Day in the Life – Place in the Org, Roles Definitions, Hiring Challenges, Networking & Career Development, Small v. Big Company, PM Tools, Role Models, etc.
- Opportunity Analysis – Market Research, Market Segmentation, Competitive Analysis, Business Case, Market Problems, Capturing the Market Language, etc.
- Product Strategy – Business Planning, Whole Product, Roadmaps, Portfolio Planning, Resource Allocation, etc.
- Innovation – Market / Tech Trends (e.g. social, mobile, big data, gamification), Customer & Partner Engagement, Intellectual Property Rights, etc.
- Requirements Definitions – MRD, PRD, Advisory Groups, Personas, Use Cases, Prioritization, etc.
- Product Delivery – Agile Processes, Market Testing, Product Design, User Experience, Testing/QA, Beta Tests, Offshore/Nearshore Dev, etc.
- Go-to-Market – Launch Plans, Launch Readiness, Market Strategy, Marketing Plan, Pricing, Positioning, Messaging, Channel Partners, Sales Enablement, etc.
- Product Lifecycle Management – Portfolio Analysis, Crossing the Chasm, Brand Mgmt, Product Performance Metrics, Divestment, Customer Retention, Repositioning, etc
Questions to ask yourself:
- What have your colleagues said that you do really well that makes a great topic?
- What is something that you (or someone else) did that you are proud of?
Session Formats
You can structure a session however you wish, but to help align expectations of the session leader and the participants, we offer the following descriptions of formats that have been well received in previous ProductCamps. It is not necessary to follow these formats, but experience has shown them to be popular and using the label will help match expectations for those who com to a session. In general, the sessions that have been reported as most enjoyed and talked about have been very interactive. This list is is not intended to be limiting, so feel free to be creative.
Workshop – In this format, the audience is actively involved, collectively or in groups, in an exercise or application of a technique or process which has been presented by the session leader. The description should mention the portion of the session spent in the exercise and what the attendees will produce. Proposers are encouraged to have knowledgeable assistants to help answer questions and support the exercise.
Ask the Expert – This format is most successful with a recognized authority on a subject of wide interest, or a direct participant in some particularly interesting event or phenomenon. The expert or a moderator introduces the topic and frames some appropriate discussion and then opens the floor for questions, including those that might be somewhat specific as long as they are applicable to more people than the individual questioner.
Panel Discussion – Popularly seen, this format has several people qualified to talk about the subject of the session, preferably from diverse or even counterpoint perspectives or roles. A moderator facilitates questions from the audience or a series of prepared questions for the panelists, but a significant part of the session is still interactive Q&A with the audience.
Presentation – Having already suggested that this traditional one-directional delivery is less popular among the ProductCamp community, there are some exceptional topics and presenters who can make this work. Session proposers are advised to consider this carefully and be honest in citing this format if it is actually what will be delivered.
Town Hall – The leader presents a short (20-30 minute max) informative topic, open-ended question or premise and opens the floor for expansion, comment, questions and general discussion.
Roundtable Breakout – Similar to Town Hall, except that audience breaks out into small groups and typically shares findings, comments, or team responses with the room at the end of the session.
Session Tips
Here’s what you need to know about the session process:
All topics will be posted on the wall in the central meeting room.
- All sessions are voted on by the ProductCamp attendees on the morning of the camp.
- Each attendee receives 5 votes.
- You can use all your votes on one session, or divide them between multiple sessions.
- Some sessions were submitted ahead of time online.
- Those sessions have been printed out to make them easier to read.
- The top 5 most popular online sessions received 5 votes each to acknowledge their popularity and relevance.
- Please take as many blank session forms as you need.
- Don’t hesitate to propose additional sessions if you don’t see a particular topic already represented.
- Sessions will be taken down and organized into the schedule for the day.
- When building the schedule, we will try our best to avoid scheduling similar sessions during the same time slot.
What if I don’t have all the answers? A great session doesn’t have to be a lecture. Some of the best sessions are very interactive, group discussions. You don’t have to have all the answers, as long as you have some good questions and can facilitate a lively discussion.
To propose a topic, visit: ProductCamp Vancouver Sessions forum
Logistics
All rooms also contain projectors, white boards, flip charts.
ProductCamp Vancouver is the premiere event for Product Management, Product Marketing, and Marketing professionals to teach to, learn from, and network with each other. ProductCamp is an un-conference, meaning that it is FREE to you! Your only cost is your participation – bring your ideas, lead a session in your area of expertise, facilitate a round table discussion, network, or volunteer
