Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Steve Young

IPM Asset Solutions, Inc.

Phone:  (281) 844-1259

Email:   steve.young@ipmasset.com

Web:    www.ipmasset.com

IPM ASSET SOLUTIONS TO PRESENT RFID TRAINING COURSE AT

NATIONAL PROPERTY MANAGERS CONFERENCE

Leader in Asset Management to Provide Hands-On Education at NPMA 2011

HOUSTON, July 1, 2011 (PR Newswire) – IPM Asset Solutions, Inc., an international provider of RFID-enabled asset management and tracking systems, is announcing its selection as a educational provider at the National Property Managers Association 2011 National Education Seminar. This national convention and educational symposium will be held July 25-28 in Las Vegas at the Rio Hotel and Convention Center.

NPMA’s National Education Seminar (NES) is the largest meeting of personal property and fixed-asset management professionals in the international community. This strategic national event gives attendees education and actionable information to improve their asset management operations, help ensure compliance to key regulatory mandates, and reduce costs and risk in managing physical assets.

NES is designed for managers, administrators, supervisors, and employees at all levels and in all aspects of personal property and fixed-asset management in the public and private sector. Attendees represent a wide range of organizations including universities, federal, state and local governments and private industries that are looking for the latest solutions for managing, controlling and protecting assets.

Leading the educational sessions will be Craig Sadler, Chief Technology Officer for IPM Asset Solutions. A former technical specialist for the United States Marine Corps, Craig has over 20 years of hands on experience in RFID from military applications to large employers like EDS & Hewlett Packard. Craig’s deep knowledge and entertaining delivery style always combine well to produce an enjoyable and informative experience for attendees. This year’s presentation, titled “The Magic and Myths of RFID,” should be a memorable session for everyone in attendance.

“We’re excited and honored to be presenting at this year’s NPMA National Education Seminar,” said Sheila McIlnay, IPM’s Chief Executive Officer and Founder. “With dramatic changes in affordability over the last few years, this technology has become accessible to businesses of all types and sizes,” added McIlnay. “The high-quality level of attendees calls for a top notch presentation, and I’m confident that we’ll leave the attendees feeling educated and informed about the most practical and most profitable applications of RFID technology, as well as with a savvier understanding of the myths that surround it.”

The “Magic and Myths of RFID” session will be held Thursday, July 28^th at 2:30 in the afternoon.

About IPM Asset Solutions

IPM Asset Solutions, Inc. (IPMAS) is a full-service asset management company, developing RFID-enabled solutions that improve your company’s profitability by helping you better manage your inventory and physical assets. It takes more than just technology to solve complex challenges in your inventory, asset management and database environments. At IPMAS, we combine reliable technologies with a deep understanding of the enterprise software, data management, and human elements that are required for asset management programs to be truly effective.

About NPMA

The National Property Managers Association (NPMA) is a professional membership association for those employees who have responsibility and ultimate accountability for the physical assets of their organization. Our Association members oversee the effective and efficient management of fixed-assets and ensure proper records are kept of the equipment, materials, or other movable and durable property on the inventory. NPMA serves as a center of excellence, education, and evolution for the profession. Recognized as world-class professionals, members benefit from the finest products, programs, and services that promote professional development.

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by Craig Sadler, CTO

“A verbal contract is not worth the paper it’s written on.“

- Samuel Goldwyn

Everybody in business understands the need for contracts.  Sure, there are still plenty of handshake deals and verbal agreements, but most business deals are based on formal, signed contracts.  “Putting it in writing” is simply a way to increase agreement and to reduce friction by specifying what is or is not part of the contract.  God bless ol’ Sam.

The problem is that sales guys are just that – sales guys.  No disrespect to the sales teams because they keep the work pipeline and revenues flowing.  But sales people are not delivery people.  That is, sales teams usually do not know all the technical, logistical, and operational specifics required by delivery teams to satisfy the project’s objectives.  A Project Definition Document fills this void nicely.

A Project Definition Document (or “PDD”) is a companion document to provide details for a given contract.  This document can certainly be started before the contract is finalized, but the PDD cannot be completed until delivery team members have reviewed all contracts.  Team members and other subject matter experts provide the technical expertise that makes it possible to fulfill the contract.

Think of it this way: A contract is a CliffsNotes version of the future project, providing enough details in a summary format to pass your regular English Lit class.  But if you want to pass AP English Lit and the AP test, then you have to read the full book, er, I mean PDD.  Now for some Q&A…

Q: Why should senior management execute a second document?

A: They shouldn’t.  The contract signing gets all the publicity and champagne toasts, but the PDD operates at a lower level – between the provider’s project manager and sponsor and their client counterparts.

Q: Is a PDD legally binding?

A: I am not a lawyer and do not play one on TV, but I believe it is.  The PDD defines the specific things a provider will do to satisfy its contractual requirements and is signed by the client.  The doc can be modified with approved change requests, but it is hard to imagine a PDD not being enforceable.  Of course, if you wind up in court with your client, you have bigger problems.

Q: A PDD is redundant to a contract.

A: I’m sorry, but you must submit your comments in the form of a question.

Q: OK, smart aleck.  Isn’t a PDD redundant to a contract?

A: That’s better.  And no.  The documents overlap but are not identical.  A contract will, for example, require a provider to replace all existing PCs in Buildings 1, 2, and 3 by March 31 with high-end Acme Brand PCs.  The corresponding PDD would define the exact PC specs, number of phases for the rollout, which move groups are in which phase, testing/validation metrics, escalation paths, and so on.

Q: Doesn’t a PDD protect the provider from doing extra work?

A: Well, duh.  Every client tries to get stuff for free.  A properly defined PDD gives the provider leverage to do what is required to satisfy the contract without having to throw in freebies.  On the other hand….

Q: I have another question.

A: Stop interrupting.  On the other hand, a PDD also gives the client protection against a poorly executed project.  A client can stop a provider from walking away by highlighting unfulfilled PDD areas and insisting on completion before signing the project completion documents and, more importantly, making the final contract payments.

Q: Last question: What if a client will not sign a PDD?

A: I’m glad this is the last question because I am tired of talking to myself.  The answer to your question is to find better clients because yours is insane.  Every normal client wants to know what they will get for their money.  If your client does not want to agree to specifics, then you should run away as fast as possible because you are being set up to fail.

Q: I thought of one more question: Where can I get a PDD template?

A: Put in writing that this is your last question.

Q: Um, I just did.

A: Oh, right.  Just enter “Project Definition Document Template” into your favorite search engine.

We at IPM & IPM Asset Solutions always create PDDs with our clients.  Our philosophy is to define the project as clearly as possible so all stakeholders know exactly what to expect.  Please contact me at craig.sadler@ipmasset.com or (817) 807-2988 to discuss how we can help add value to your company.