Proposed Firm of the Future Symposium

Based on the success of the session at Insights on the same topic, we (Sage) are looking at delivering a Firm of the Future Symposium in Dallas on August 23-24.

This experience is dedicated to the possibility that a professional organization can be run more effectively when it becomes a knowledge firm rather than a service firm. Creating such an organization is hard work and not for everyone as it requires partners to think differently than they have in the past about what it is that they do.

The symposium will feature Ron Baker of the VeraSage Institute, Rob Johnson and myself from Sage and an as yet undetermined industry analyst. It will be held in Dallas at the Hilton DFW Lakes on August 23-24. The price is $3,500 for two people from your organization (or guest if you so choose, there is no price for one person only). Additional attendees are $1,000. If you are a Sage Select Partner, the first two attendees are free. You must pay hotel and airfare.

If you know for sure that you can make it, please let me know. In addition, please comment and submit thoughts and even proposed changes to the agenda! You can always email me at ed *dot* kless @ choosegreat.com.

Tentative Agenda (This is subject to change)

Day/Time	Item
Day 1, 7:15am	Breakfast
Day 1, 8:00am	Welcome and introductions
Day 1, 9:00am	Foundational information How v. What matters Peter Drucker’s knowledge worker Dialogue on value
Day 1, 10:30am	The tale of two equations The Professional Service Firm The Professional Knowledge Firm
Day 1, noon	Lunch
Day 1, 1:00pm	From Revenue to Profit Workshops Where does profit come from? Managing cash flow How the SaaS model effects profit
Day 1, 3:00pm	From Capacity to Capital Workshops I Managing financial and structural capital Developing intellectual capital (Using the knowledge matrix) Conducting an after action review
Day 1, 6:00pm	Dinner
Day 1, 7:00pm	From Capacity to Capital Workshops II Developing social capital (Building community with employees, customers, vendors, and stakeholders) Creating a Results-only Work Environment Developing a knowledge-firm compensation system
Day 2, 7:15am	Breakfast
Day 2, 8:00am	From Efficiency to Effectiveness Workshops Developing and using key predictive indicators (Net Promoter, HSDs) Leadership Development Scope Development Issue List Management
Day 2, noon	Lunch
Day 2, 1:00pm	From Cost-plus to Pricing on Purpose Workshops Pricing a small engagement for current customer Pricing a large engagement for a new customer Using a TIP clause
Day 2, 3:30pm	Wrap up and depart for home by 4:00pm