Connections 2006 shows once again that people drive Performance Management

Ventana Research recently concluded Connections 2006, this year’s edition of its annual Analyst Summit. Hundreds of high-level professionals from IT, Finance and lines of business gathered to talk, listen, learn and understand better the processes, information and technology that enable Performance Management.  Click here to view photos from Connections 2006.

The conference concluded with intensive Workshops for select attendees who wanted to dig deeply into a special area of Performance Management for the three focus tracks of Connections 2006: Finance, Operations or IT. According to Mark Smith, CEO and EVP of Research, Ventana Research, “Participants we asked said they were well-pleased to roll up their sleeves and look under the hood of issues that matter to them.” The workshop topics were Improving Processes for Financial
Management; Adopting and Deploying Process and Technology for Performance Management (Operations); and Building a Master Data Management Program and Information Architecture (IT).

While these important issues continually concern professionals and impact their working lives, as always, Connections was more than anything else about people. Repeatedly in the conference sessions, speakers and audience alike emphasized that management initiatives and technology deployments go nowhere if they don’t have the support of executives, managers and front-line workers. At meals and scheduled social events, after sessions and in the halls and elevators, attendees engaged each other in discussions of common topics that matter to them. Along with the valuable information they acquired, they will take home the reassurance that other committed people face the same challenges they do and work hard to master them.

Thank you to all Connections 2006 participants!