Cognos Forum 2008 > Who Should Attend > Convince Your Manager

Convince Your Manager

Explaining the Value of Cognos Forum to Your Manager

If you’ve attended Cognos Forum in the past, you know how valuable it is. But with every organization closely watching its travel and training budget, you may need a concise list of reasons to justify the investment.

Here are some of the common goals that our customers have, both for themselves and their Cognos deployments, and how a trip to Cognos Forum helps them reach those goals.

Understand how the IBM acquisition affects your Cognos deployment

Cognos Forum is your opportunity to hear, firsthand, about the Cognos vision and extended roadmap, and how Cognos solutions fit into the broader IBM portfolio. You’ll learn how our combined offerings will enhance the value of your existing investment, and meet your organization’s ongoing need for products and services that deliver maximum ROI.

Validate the direction of your current BI/PM initiatives

Cognos Forum helps you validate the direction of your current projects and offers you guidance as you plan for the future. In our onsite resource center, Performance World, you can talk to Cognos product managers and partners to gain insights on best practices and learn how to avoid common pitfalls.

Get expert answers to your technical challenges

With more than 130 educational breakout sessions, Cognos Forum offers technical insights and practical, real-world know-how for every level of expertise, from novice to advanced. In the Performance World Services and Support Zone, you can meet one-on-one with product experts to get answers to your toughest technical questions.

Understand the link between business needs and IT activities

The Business Strategies sessions at Forum – featured in all seven content tracks – are designed to help you unlock the full business value of your deployments and discover new strategies for using technology to address pressing business challenges.

Learn from the real-life experiences of your peers

Cognos Forum features dozens of customer speakers from a broad range of industries. They will share their insights on business intelligence and performance management, as well as platform development and migration strategies.

Expand your professional network

There’s no substitute for meeting people face-to-face, and Forum is the largest annual gathering of customers, partners, and product experts. When you attend Forum you’ll become part of a professional network that offers value long after this year’s event is over.

Expand your supplier network

With more than 60 partners participating, Cognos Forum is the ideal place to meet new vendors to help you with current or future projects.

Learn about new products

At Cognos Forum you can test-drive our newly released products – IBM Cognos 8 BI version 3, IBM Cognos Now! Monitor, and IBM Cognos TM1 – and see a preview of IBM Cognos 8 PowerPlay.

Learn about migration strategies

If you're on a migration path, you'll find an entire track of breakout sessions dedicated to easing your journey. Whether you’re upgrading from Series 7 to IBM Cognos 8 BI, or making other changes to your Cognos deployment, you can join product experts and customers to discuss product interoperability, successful strategies and quick tips for any upgrade or migration.

Gain fresh ideas and get inspired

Forum is the place to expand your horizons and see more of what Cognos technology can do. You’ll get inspired with new ideas and approaches, and return to your office informed and energized.

Stay current on industry topics

Cognos Forum 2008 offers a unique opportunity to hear five of the most influential analysts in the fields of BI and performance management. You’ll hear John Hagerty of AMR Research, Cindi Howson of BIScorecard, Kurt Schlegel of Gartner, David O’Connell of Nucleus Research and Mark Smith of Ventana Research—all in person at the same event.

Sharpen your skills with pre-conference training

Pre-conference training is a great way to accelerate your learning. Courses are available in IBM Cognos 8 BI, IBM Cognos 8 Planning, IBM Cognos Now! and IBM Cognos TM1. Enhance your skills with Cognos technology in small, hands-on classes taught by expert instructors.

Extend your learning after the Conference

The value of Forum continues long after you go home. The Cognos Forum post-event website, available only to attendees, features white papers and session presentations. Attendees can also continue the networking experience through Cognos Forum Connect, our social networking tool.