Tryon and Associates provides training and consulting on modern, accelerated and repeatable processes for Project Management, Process Modeling, and Knowledge Management (also see "What's New" below). The concepts and techniques presented in my seminars are applicable to the entire business environment and are used by thousands of companies around the world. 

In January 2010, Kirby Davis wrote an article for the Journal Record about the new work I am doing on strategies for retaining organizational knowledge.  I have applied my research into Knowledge Management concepts to my 30+ years of working with major organizations.  The results are being hailed as management breakthroughs that I describe in the new Project-Based Knowledge Management seminar. 

I was interviewed recently by Tom Cagley of David Consulting Group as the feature for his bi-monthly podcast.  He contacted me to talk about my views and visions for Knowledge Management.  Tom is the president of the International Function Point User Group (IFPUG).  He refers to this interview as the most important he has conducted.  If you would like to hear the interview, it is number 66 at  http://www.spamcast.libsyn.com/.  Tom's interview with me begins at the approximate 1/3 mark of the slider.  The other topics discussed relate to software processes and an upcoming conference on function points.  I found that Tom asked the right questions and did a good job preparing for this interview.

PMHut requested permission to republish some of the templates and processes found on this website.  They are currently featuring my Project Initiation process at .http://www.pmhut.com/.  More to come.

This website is available for open viewing.  The templates located in the News and Information area are some of the most popular and commonly accessed elements of this site.  All have been extensively field tested and proven useful.  They are also available FREE!  I have organized the content of this site into the following topic areas:

 SEMINARS AND SERVICES   This is where you will find both overview and detail descriptions of each of my courses along with information about the consulting services I offer.  I have provided an overview map to guide you through this information.

 NEWS AND INFORMATION   A primary goal of my site is to be an portal to information, products and services that are related to the seminars and consulting I offer.  I have gathered templates, forms, processes, articles, position papers, links and general reference materials that you may find interesting and useful.  This is the most popular area of my site.  What you will find here is lots of good information.   What you will NOT find are fees and restrictions.

 COMPANY INFORMATION   If you want to know more about who I are and what I believe in, look here.            

You are invited to email me directly with questions about Tryon and Associates by simply clicking on my name below.  You are also welcome to call me at the 918-625-8258.  Thank you for visiting. Chuck Tryon

WHAT'S NEW...

ALL NEW KM SEMINAR - It is finally here.  After four years of research, study and field testing, I have created a new one-day seminar titled PROJECT-BASED KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: A Practical Approach to Managing Organizational Knowledge.  In a 2006 presentation, I first introduced the notion of using naturally occurring projects as the users old knowledge and as the source of new knowledge.  Revolutionary thought at the time, the idea has developed a significant following (see note on "Convergence" book below).  This new KM seminar; 1) explains why knowledge management is becoming one of the most significant issues organizations must face, 2) provides the foundational concepts and vocabulary required to address knowledge management intelligently and 3) identifies several major breakthroughs in KM thought including...

• Why organizational knowledge is distinctive from general and individual knowledge.
• The components that define organizational knowledge.
• A new model for managing organizational knowledge that integrates projects, repeatable processes and knowledge artifacts.
• Why and how to create a Knowledge Retention Policy that includes a formal inventory of knowledge assets.

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT - In August of 2006, I initiated an association with Dr. Suliman Hawamdeh to explore more practical applications of Knowledge Management strategies in business environments.  Dr. Hawamdeh is a professor of KM in the Masters of Science in Knowledge Management at the University of Oklahoma.  He has written several books and hundreds of papers on the subject.  He is the founding chair for the International Conference on Knowledge Management.

If you wish to explore this topic further, the following items are available through this website...

• A position paper on Bridging the Knowledge Gap that presents the case for and the content of a Knowledge Retention Policy.  Due to the significance of this topic, it is presented as Part One and Part Two.
• A position paper titled Project-Based Knowledge Management

"CONVERGENCE" BOOK PUBLICATION SET - Professor T. Kanti Srikantaiah of Dominican University in Chicago invited me to create a chapter for his upcoming book, "The Convergence of Project Management and Knowledge Management."  With the assistance of OU professor, Dr. Suliman Hawamdeh, I submitted a chapter that represents the combination of my two papers on Project-Based Knowledge Management and the More Bricks-Less Straw research effort.  Professor Kanti announced that the book will be published in mid 2010 by Scarecrow Press, an academic publisher.

KPM SYMPOSIUM - We just completed a very successful Knowledge and Project Management Symposium in August.  This was the fourth year for the event.  It was hosted at the University of Oklahoma - Tulsa Campus.  We are already planning for next year's conference in August.  It will be held on the campus of the University of Tulsa.  You may find information about the host organization, Knowledge and Information Professionals Association, and previous KPM conferences at www.kipanet.org.

PUBLIC SEMINARS THROUGH UNIVERSITY OF TULSA - I am so pleased to announce an association with the University of Tulsa's Center for Executive and Professional Development, the continuing education arm of the esteemed TU Collins School of Business.  "The Center" will become the exclusive public seminar provider for all of my courses in the Tulsa area.

MEDICAL HOME PROJECT - The University of Oklahoma is currently engaged in a complete redesign of their medical school program for the Tulsa campus.  Driven by Dr. Gerry Clancy's (OU-Tulsa President) vision, they are creating a curriculum that focuses on producing doctors and medical personnel who address the needs of the underserved and uninsured in Northeast Oklahoma.  OU has renamed the Tulsa program the School of Community Medicine or SOCM.  At the heart of this program is a national initiative called Patient Centered Medical Home or PCMH.

The goal of this project is to transform medical treatment for this at-risk population and serve as a state and regional model for how to implement a Medical Home initiative.  They are relying on Project Management and Business Requirements to create the most effective answer for the OU Physician clinics and deliver a model that may be emulated by others seeking to accomplish a similar result. 

It is my great privilege to work with these dedicated medical professionals as they strive to create a PCMH that provides comprehensive, coordinated and compassionate care to at-risk populations in this area of the state.  Projects such as this help one sleep well at night knowing something good is being accomplished.

SYMPOSIUMS/CONFERENCES - One of my greatest pleasure is speaking to professional organizations on new developments affecting Knowledge Management, Project Management and Business Requirements.  Below is a list of my upcoming events.  I have also included my appearances from the past few years so you may check with the organizers to obtain a referral.

I offer a variety of challenging and informative talks that will entertain and inform your group or corporate organization..  One of the more popular of these talks is "What's so MODERN about PROJECT MANAGEMENT:  Thriving in the Information Age."  My newest and perhaps most significant keynote is titled "An Introduction to PROJECT-BASED KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT."  If you would like to schedule me for one of your meetings, contact me at ChuckTryon@TryonAssoc.com or call 918-625-8258.

2010 - The new year is upon us as are new speaking opportunities.  They include

• Industrial Relations Association of Tulsa on February 4. (Intro to PBKM)

• Northwest Arkansas PMI Chapter Meeting on March 15.  (Intro to PBKM)

• Tulsa PMI Chapter meeting on April 9. (Chasing the Right Rabbits)

• Northwest Arkansas PMI Conference at Roaring River State Park on April 22-23 (Project-Based KM seminar)

• Ft. Worth PMI Professional Development Day on May 14. (Understanding Business Requirements, Great Ideas!)

2009 - My schedule for 2009 included.....

• Ft. Worth PMI Chapter meeting on March 19 (More Bricks, Less Straw).

• Workshops for Ft. Worth PMI Chapter on March 20 and 21.

• Tulsa PMI Chapter meeting on April 3 (More Bricks, Less Straw).

• Workshop for Tulsa PMI Chapter on May 8.

• Ft. Worth PMI Chapter Professional Development Day on May 15. (Project Office and Project Strategy)

• Tulsa Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce (Managing Organizational Knowledge) on July 17.

• 4th Annual Knowledge and Project Management Symposium in Tulsa on August 12 and 13.

• Society of American Military Engineers TEXOMA Missouri River Conference in Tulsa on September 2 and 3.  (Modern Project Management, More Bricks)

• Tampa, FL PMI Chapter Professional Development Day on September 25-26. (Modern Project Management)

• Austin PMI Chapter Professional Development Day on October 19. (Project Office)

• ASTD Oklahoma State Wide Training Conference on October 22. (More Bricks, Less Straw)

• Tulsa TechFest on November 6. (Chasing the Right Rabbits, More Bricks-Less Straw)

• Oklahoma City PMI Chapter meeting on December 17. (Intro to PBKM)

2008 - Among my conference/symposium speaking engagements in 2008 were...

• Great Ideas! workshop for Oklahoma Sheriffs and Peace Officers Annual Conference on February 21-22. 

• PMI Tulsa Chapter Meeting on April 4th

• Opening keynote for the Dallas PMI Chapter's Professional Development Day on April 12.

• Oklahoma City PMI Chapter's Spring Conference on April 28. (Understanding Business Requirements)

•  Modern Project Management workshop for the Tulsa PMI Chapter on May 10.

• Knowledge/Project Management Symposium in Tulsa on August 18-20.

• Ft. Worth PMI Chapter Meeting on July 17.

• Workshop for Ft. Worth PMI Chapter on August 8 and 9.

• Chapter meeting for St. Louis PMI Chapter on Sept. 17 (What's YOUR Charter, Retaining Organizational Knowledge)

• IIBA St. Louis Chapter meeting (Understanding Business Requirements) on Sept. 18.

• TulsaTechfest 2008 on October 10.  (What's YOUR Charter, Retaining Organizational Knowledge)

• IIBA NW Arkansas Chapter on November 6.

2007 - In April, I presented Managing Single-Time Efforts seminar at the Northwest Arkansas PMI Symposium at Roaring River State Park..  I also spoke for the Mile-Hi (Denver) and Pikes Peak (Colorado Springs) PMI chapter meetings.  I then gave my one-day seminar Modern Project Management for Colorado Springs in June 2007.  I delivered the opening address for the Oklahoma IT Symposium (Retaining Organizational Knowledge) and the general session for the IMA Conference, both in August.  On October 19th, I presented Understanding Business Requirements at Tulsa TechFest 2007.  Modern Project Management was the topic for a one-day session with the Oklahoma City PMI Chapter on October 20.

2006 - I spoke for the 2006 PMI Region 6 Leadership Conference on Modern Project Management.  I also gave the keynote for the 2006 Oklahoma City PMI Spring Symposium and 2005 Austin PMI Symposium.  I was an invited speaker for the inagural Knowledge Management symposium hosted by the University of Oklahoma.  I was the opening night speaker for the November 2006 PMI Symposium in Houston. 

PROJECT CHARTER UPDATE - I have now released Version 2.0 of my highly popular Project Charter.  This document is used by thousands of individuals and organizations to successfully launch their projects.  Version 2.0 provides two significant changes over the previous version.

• Project Goals and Objectives are now combined into a single topic.  As projects have become more proficient at creating Project Goals to identify improvements their project will provide to the larger organization, we have recognized a more direct link to specific Project Objectives that can certify these improvements.  It was a natural next-step to combine these two components.  This is also a natural starting point for defining detailed Project Scope.

• Affected Knowledge Assets is a new addition to the Project Charter.  This topic recognizes the growing crisis over the potential loss of vital organizational knowledge AND the reality that projects encounter all types of important knowledge assets on a regular basis.  Listing the significant knowledge assets that will be affected by a project highlights the importance of these assets and makes it more likely that the organization will insure their refinement during a project.  Adding this component is a direct result of current work on Project-Based Knowledge Management.

MANAGING LAW ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVES - In January, 2004, Tryon and Associates launched a partnership with the Tulsa Police Department on a training program that promotes officer safety and may help reduce crime in the Tulsa community.  The ultimate goal is to provide an ongoing source of new ideas to improve Tulsa PD.  As cities feel the economic squeeze from reduced tax collections and limited internal funding, they may partner with community groups to create alternate programs to reduce crime or redirect young offenders.  Federal and state agencies often provide grants for such endeavors, but few in law enforcement have been trained in identifying, launching, controlling and closing these initiatives. 

Tryon and Associates created a new training seminar for this purpose titled Managing Law Enforcement Initiatives.  The goal of this training is to help law enforcement officers and support organizations...

• Clearly document and propose ideas they wish to see become  implemented programs.

• Manage approved, funded initiatives using proven Project Management techniques. 

While this seminar was created with and for the Tulsa Police Department, the concepts and materials are applicable to any law enforcement organization.  This material is supported with easy to use processes and templates tailored to the law enforcement environment.  Tulsa PD's Initiative Proposal template may be downloaded along with a short guide on Proposing a New Initiative.  (Read the Tulsa World article on the MLEI program.)

CCSAS PROJECT - During the first six months of 2000, Tryon and Associates guided the State of California's efforts to create a Project Charter to launch a multi-year project to create a single state-wide automated system for child support programs.  That  Project Charter  is located on the Franchise Tax Board's website.  One of the most significant innovations of this charter is the mapping of Goal Sets into Business Goals and then to Automated System Objectives.   This information will also be linked to business requirements that will be used for vendor proposals.  You may also be interested in a very unique and highly successful approach FTB uses to procure technology products.  They don't pay vendors to write code!