how to speak geek - michael martin - ses new york

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How to Speak Geek with Project Management

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1. What is Speaking Geek?

2. Why is Speaking Geek Important?

3. How best to understand IT

4. IT Translation with Project Management

5. IT Translation Tools of Project Management

6. Soft Geek Speak

7. Conclusion

How to Speak Geek with Project ManagementAgenda


Geek speak is how the uninitiated refer to the jargon and special vocabulary used by those immersed in computers and other fields of information technology – or in this case, getting IT to buy in & execute with your online plans

How to Speak Geek with Project ManagementWhat is Geek Speak?


•End goal is communicating with IT to perform the tasks needed

•The online strategy can then be detailed more tactically than just strategic

•Allows you to better understand & define the online strategy

•Knowing how to speak effectively to IT creates both respect & buy-in

•Being able to walk the talk, by actually knowing how to code, shows empathy & goes even further toward buy in with your online plans

•Don’t fake it!

How to Speak Geek with Project ManagementWhy is Speaking Geek Important?


Get a Computer Engineering or Computer Science Degree

Keep up to date with StackOverflow, DailyWTF, & TechCrunch

Digest everything from Stephan Spencer

Come to grips that IT generally values technology over people - especially in communication

Proper project management both in planning & centralized online tools can provide this communication & offer the best Geek Speak “translation service”.

How to Speak Geek with Project ManagementHow Best to Understand IT


Project Management is defined by the Project Management Institute (PMI) as the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet the project requirements

•This is critically needed when translating online business needs to actual IT execution.

•To solidify your understanding of this process PMI provides a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification similar to a CPA in accounting.

•You don’t need a PMP to at least use available project management tools to facilitate & centralize communication

How to Speak Geek with Project ManagementIT Translation by Project Management


•BaseCamp – Easy & economical

•TeamWork – FREE plans & robust

•Jira – Good self hosted & customizable option

•Microsoft Project – Overly complicated & generally unnecessary for SEM

Centralizes communication, task management, file sharing, & tracking

To be even more quick reacting you can implement the Agile method of project management with its frequent scrums & sprints

How to Speak Geek with Project ManagementIT Translation Tools of Project Management


Project management tools facilitate electronic communication but there is a need for soft people skills to properly execute IT tasks.

•Need buy in from the Executive level & clarity to what the end result they are looking for is before even creating an IT plan

•Need to align your goals with that of management to get your tasks scheduled in a timely manner with those in IT

•This will affirm to IT that it is a good use of their time for the company and provide real value from the “trenches”

•Combining the above helps you properly align the company’s business goals with its IT resources

In the end make sure success is transparent & doled out generously to IT as this will make your Geek Speak sound even better

How to Speak Geek with Project ManagementSoft Geek Speak

how to speak geek - michael martin - ses new york

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