Contemporary and Comparative Practice in Events Jenny Flinn Aaron McIntosh Saturday 25 th October 2008

Weekend Schedule Lecture Overview Topic Related Tasks Developing Presentation Skills Brainstorming Contemporary Issues Over to You – Presentations!

Contemporary and Comparative Practice in Events: the module On completion of this module you should be able to: Review critically comparative scenarios for international events management practice within existing paradigms of the understanding of work as a professional endeavour. Review critically a range of contemporary issues facing practitioners in the international events management field and propose implications and solutions for their own professional actions. Isolate a single contemporary issue or scenario and develop a theoretical and practical response to it in the form of a case study focused on a particular event or organisation in the industry.

Lecture Overview: Professionalisation of the Events Industry Emergence of the events industry Role of events and the event manager Professionalisation of the events industry Understanding what it means to be a professional The new professionalism

Lecture Overview: Strategic Management for Events The changing nature of work Handy’s Three Rings of Work What is strategy? The strategic process for events Approaches to strategic management Leadership theory

Lecture Overview: Achieving the Event Vision Strategy into action Design and situational factors Organisational behaviour The planning function and decision making Managing human resources Achieving flexibilisation

Lecture Overview: Transformational Management for the Event Practitioner Changing boundaries Transformational management Peters and the WOW project Strategic leadership The reflective practitioner Managing the service encounter Enhancing service relationships

Task 1: Professionalism and the Events Industry Referring to your own experiences critically discuss the role of professionalism within the events industry.  What do you understand by the term ‘professional’?  Do you believe that the industry is becoming more professional and is this desirable?  What impact do you think professionalisation has had upon your own practice and that of others?

Task 2/3: Managing and Delivering Strategy Celtic Connections – Ken, Annabelle & Jane Dubai as an events-led tourist destination – Joe, Wilson, Kerry & Celine For your context you should research the following questions:  What is the overall strategic vision?  What factors do you believe influence this vision/strategy?  How is the strategy being delivered?  What do you see as being the key issues in balancing this strategic vision with operational delivery?

Task 2/3: Managing and Delivering Strategy  As a group of students you have created your own events management company to produce and deliver a cultural parade in Abu Dhabi.  You have been asked to develop a pitch for potential investors in the event outlining the following:  Strategy  Vision  Mission  Goals  Delivery  Organisational structure of the company  Roles and number of permanent staff  Roles and number of temporary staff  Key stakeholders in the event and their role  Key factors for successful delivery

Task 4: Transformational Management Students are encouraged to question the role (and existence) of reflective practice among practitioners in the events industry  Reflect critically upon the importance of understanding reflective practice as a tool for the capable manager (i.e. for DOING personally….and to FACILITATE among their staff). Draw upon examples from the context(s) of your professional experiences as well as your understandings of theory and business functions.  How can we encourage creativity and freedom of thought – rather than conformity and ‘group think’?  Does the above relate to planning and evaluation stages ONLY (i.e. pre or post event, rather than during delivery)?  Does the above relate to particular roles ONLY or to all contributors to an event?  What are the key challenges or barriers to the development of reflective practitioners in events?

Assessment 1: Case Study Proposal Presentation The first assignment will consist of an assessed presentation which will take place during the second teaching weekend (week 9) and will be worth 30% of the final mark for this module. Students are asked to conduct a 15 minute formal presentation where they will propose a suitable topic for development as a case study. This will be followed by 5 minutes of questioning from module staff and fellow students. Students are asked to isolate a contemporary issue or scenario focused upon a particular event or organisation, examine the key management theories and issues surrounding this topic and discuss the potential current and future implications of this issue upon management practice.

Assessment 1: Case Study Proposal Presentation In the presentation students are expected to cover the following topic areas:  Background to the event/organisation  Context of the issue /scenario  Rationale as to why this is a suitable issue/scenario for future development  Outline of key management theories relating to the issue/scenario  Suggested implications for current and future practice  Presentations should be formal in their nature and accompanied by relevant PowerPoint slides.

Presentations: Preparation Consider your objectives:  What is the purpose of the presentation – to inform, to persuade, to educate, to entertain? Who are the audience?  how well informed are they?  are they receptive/interested?  are you going to challenge them? What do you want them to learn/know?

Doing Presentations: Content Always introduce yourself Be clear about the purpose of the presentation and what you hope to achieve Have a beginning, a middle and an end Be aware of the marking criteria Summarise key points you want your audience to remember. Make sure that you draw valid conclusions – make a point! Invite questions. Remember that "I'm sorry, I don't know" is a perfectly acceptable answer.

Doing Presentations: The Technicalities With limited time your points need to be short Make sure that you stick to time Keep your presentation at an even pace Use pauses for emphasis Don’t rush, think about what you want to say Use PowerPoint and/or props but make sure that you know how to work them Keep it simple

Doing Presentations: Body Language When in control you demonstrate confidence and composure Posture – be upright, facing and spatially aware Gestures – be open, relaxed and slow Facially – be direct and attentive Try to make eye contact Make use of available space but avoid invading personal space

Brainstorming What are the current issues facing and impacting upon the events industry? What implications do these issues have upon our own personal practice? What implications do these issues have for management within the industry?

Practice Presentation Each student should prepare a 5 minute presentation on a contemporary issue of their choosing. You should introduce the topic, discuss its impact upon the industry, management implications, practical implications and how you think this issue may develop in the future. Remember, this is just a practice!

Review Key learnings from the day Presentations at the next weekend Use the discussion board to help each other with ideas…