Day 2 of SuccessConnect ran parallel with the Inform Impact pre-conference workshops with more delegates arriving at the picture-perfect conference location. While SuccessFactors was running sessions on creating a high performance work environment, achieving goal management excellence and employee central, Inform held workshops such as Measuring the ROI of Human Capital, Bridging the Gap: Taking Analytics from Page to Practice and PowerUp iᶟ. A common theme across all events was the importance of human capital. Carolyn Littlefield, Senior Product Marketing Manager, in her session on Employee Central: Next Generation Core HR described people as a company’s most strategic asset and emphasised the significance of being able to have access to accurate and reliable information about your employees – whenever, wherever! The Employee Central module improves this access to employee information and further empowers collaboration across the enterprise. I think that this particular session really showed that the SuccessFactors modules are developed with the customer in mind so that the functionalities are relevant but easy to understand and use at the same time. As a result, managers do not need to read a manual to be able to use the tools and don’t really require any training at all as the tools selectively expose the user to the information and steps that are relevant to them.

 

The customers also took center stage at Tony Ashton’s session ‘PowerUp iᶟ’. Tony presented the most recent ‘powered by Inform’ product releases and how the product capability has changed over the past two years. He then encouraged attendants to provide their feedback, discuss their ideas on what they would like to see included in the tools and how the communication about new product releases could be improved. This session was therefore not only a chance for customers to learn more about recent product releases but it was also an opportunity to improve our understanding of our customers and their needs.

 

The day was rounded up by another cocktail party – although this time drinks weren’t served in the shark aquarium, participants were treated to a little casino event with a lot of Las Vegas flair. This event, organised by Adele Bernard, was a great opportunity for SuccessConnect and Inform Conference attendants as well as staff to mingle, network and schmooze over some drinks, nibbles and, of course, some gambling!

 

The next morning marked the official beginning of the 20^th Annual Inform Conference. The conference was kicked off with an attention grabbing picture slideshow summarising some twenty years of Inform conferences. The man who needs no introduction – Peter Howes – then took to the stage. After welcoming everyone to the conference, Peter talked about the past, the presence and the future of the HR industry and how the HR mindset developed over the years. He concluded that the HR profession currently needs stronger skills in the interpretation and use of workforce data and that in the future the industry will require increasing automation of predictive analytics. I think there was not a person in the audience who could not sense Peter’s passion and commitment to his work and business. Peter then introduced Lars Dalgaard who told an interesting story of their first dinner meeting. As Peter had run late for their meeting and Lars had arrived extra early, Lars was left with sufficient time to actually read through all the folders on Infohrm and Peter Howes which he claims shaped the rest of the meeting. The rest of this keynote presentation focused on introducing SuccessFactors and what it is that they do. Lars even put on his Australian accent when talking about Inform “dar-tar” (data) to better connect with the local audience. It was definitely an inspiring and engaging session to kickstart the Inform Conference!

SuccessConnect participants arrived to a cool breeze, sunny skies and a beautiful resort on the beach – the perfect location to talk about strategy execution? I think so!

Lars Dalgaard kicked off SuccessConnect at the Sheraton Mirage, Gold Coast yesterday by introducing SuccessFactors and highlighting some key advantages of Software as a Service, social business software and innovation. He ensured the audience that SuccessFactors “will find a way to make you successful”. Lars then introduced Anastasia Ellerby, Vice President Inform Services, to talk about a brand new module for SuccessFactors customers, the BizX Insights. This module allows decision makers to analyse data on a large variety of dimensions in order to make more effective, speedy and confident decisions. Dmitri Krakovsky, Vice President of Global Product Management, then wowed the audience with the latest module innovations.

After a well deserved morning tea break with coffee and Lamingtons (traditional Australian cakes), participants were treated to an insightful presentation by Dr Friedrich Froeschl, CEO and founder of HI TEC INVEST, who described some of the major hurdles in successful strategy execution which he has encountered in his career. To summarise his key ‘take away’ messages: execution is something that needs to happen at all levels of the organisation, strategy planning and execution are not two separate things – they should occur simultaneously, execution is a process not a single action and SuccessFactors can help its customers speed up the execution process. While talking about his experience as CIO at Siemens, Dr Froeschl did not talk favourably about SAP and instead continuously emphasised the important role of SuccessFactors in successful strategy execution. He finished the presentation by emphasising the importance of having a winner’s attitude and showed a picture of Lars Dalgaard who, according to Dr Froeschl, has made SuccessFactors successful because of his positive ‘can do’ attitude.

The cocktail reception at Sea World that evening was probably the highlight of the day for most participants. Drinks and nibbles were served in the shark aquarium! And as if it wasn’t enough to be looking at all kinds of beautiful fish, rays and sharks while nibbling on sushi, oysters, prawns and deep fried bananas wrapped in prosciutto (!!), the winners of the SuccessAwards were announced by SuccessFactors staff inside the shark tank! That’s right, two brave employees scuba-dived with the sharks and held up signs with the names of the award winners. Congratulations to all our winners!

Stay tuned for photos and more updates from SuccessConnect and the Inform 20th Anniversary Conference.

SuccessConnect 2010 kicked off today in San Francisco and has been nothing but non-stop action. Leading the action, was Lars’ by jumping for joy onstage to open up his keynote. Lars recapped SuccessConnect in New York, discussing business execution, and spinning the infamous big “Wheel of Success.” The “Wheel of Success” has an array of topics ranging from a “Innovation Machine” to “Audience Picks”, and proved to be very entertaining and informing for all.

Lars introduced Carlin and he did an amazing demo of Cubetree. By using Cubetree, Carlin demonstrated how to see group comments on a resume and how one could ultimately be in two meetings at once. After Carlin, Lars introduced Calibration, and the new launch of a new Goal Execution function, as part of the Goal Management Module. Calibration, the industry’s first solution for streamlining and simplifying the calibration process at enterprises for improved business results through more impactful talent initiatives. The Goal Execution helps companies make sure that people are working on the right things at all times by bringing awareness, visibility and tracking of progress against company goals into the daily work of employees. Lars and Dmitri did a quick demo of the new Goal Execution function by showing the execution map and status update function. The recruiting demo has some great new features, which Lars’ showed off by scoring a potential candidate off stage on his Blackberry, and the improvement on turnaround time for candidate feedback. Peter Howes and Brian Kelly from Inform took the stage next. Peter talked about the history of Inform, GBMC, and BizX Insights. The keynote ended with Lars discussing Employee Central.

SuccessConnect 2010 in San Francisco had a huge surprise in store for everyone. An extra keynote speaker was added! Dr. Chip Heath, a Professor at Stanford University School of Business and author of best seller “Made to Stick” and “Switch” gave a great lunch keynote. Nothing but excitement here in the city by the bay.

SuccessConnect 2010 had an amazing kickoff today in New York. Lars opened up his keynote using a big spinning “Wheel of Success” to determine what to talk about, all while holding his son, Lars Jr. right by his side. The “Wheel of Success” had topics ranging from a “Funny Lars Story” to “Insight for Impact”, and proved to be very entertaining and informing.

Lars introduced Calibration and the new launch of a new Goal Execution function, as part of the Goal Management Module. Calibration, the industry’s first solution for streamlining and simplifying the calibration process at enterprises for improved business results through more impactful talent initiatives. The Goal Execution helps companies make sure that people are working on the right things at all times by bringing awareness, visibility and tracking of progress against company goals into the daily work of employees.

Dmitri demoed the new products with a cool touch screen for everyone to see. The recruiting demo has some great new features, which Lars’ showed off by scoring a potential candidate off stage on his Blackberry. The keynote ended with Carlin Wiegner surprising everyone with a demo of Cubetree.

We are also thrilled to have had full houses in both bootcamp training sessions today, prior to our SuccessConnect kickoff and keynote!  Over 30 companies participated in these paid training sessions, both on our “Introduction to SuccessFactory” class and on “Performance Fundamentals- Effective Goal Setting”. Let’s keep it coming New York!

Additional updates  over on twitter.com/SuccessFactors

More photos available over on the SuccessFactors Facebook page

In the recent global Connectivity Scorecard produced by Professor L. Waverman from London Business School in collaboration with LECG and Nokia Siemens Networks they have again studied how countries stack up when it comes to “Useful connectivity”

Connectivity Scorecard is a global ICT index – the first of its kind to rank 50 countries not only on their deployment of ICT infrastructure but also to measure the extent to which governments, businesses and consumers make use of connectivity technologies to enhance social and economic prosperity, so called “useful connectivity”.

Connectivity Scorecard 2010 highlights the continued need for investment in information and communications technology (ICT) to stimulate a return to economic growth. Here is the top 10 list for 2010. If you’re interested in comparing the development over time I suggest you visit their homepage and download the whole report.

With the winter Olympics just starting I was hoping that this list would be as contagious to the medal count as is a flu in a kindergarten. Bring it on.