Conference Content Business Update

POCO, 18 July 2009

Kevin DreselySr. Manager, Conference Content Management

How We See the Conference Publishing Evolving

The Conference industry is changing – new content to consider– Adding multi-media and other social elements (on-site blogs,

wiki’s, etc.)– Virtual sessions

Conference publishing is changing– On-site bound proceedings giving way to CD-ROM/flash

drives or online access – Additional forms of content (keynotes, multi-media, etc.)

Consumption is changing– Elimination of printed, bound volumes– Online access– Print-on-Demand– Direct search vs. browsing

What are you being asked about?

Conference Content Value Stream

Conference Content

Business

Conference Organizers and Event

Participants (Operational Focus)

Conference Proceedings Consumers

(Sales Focus)

Services to Organizers and

Authors

High Quality Conference

Content

Income to IEEE on the sale of

Content

High-Quality, Peer Reviewed

Content

Conference Content Business Objectives

Ensure that IEEE is perceived as the premier place to present and publish leading-edge conference content which attracts authors and strengthens your conferenceEnsure that IEEE Xplore, and other IEEE related delivery channels, are the premier place to access leading-edge conference content which drives broader exposure and referencingEnsure the highest quality of information content possible

Conference Organizers Customer Needs

Objective: Organize and conduct a successful conference

Needs:• Tools and expert assistance in preparing content for

publication• Clean, simple process to publishing proceedings• Guidance on how to work effectively with the

Conference Publications Program • Reduced time commitments• Better use of scarce volunteer resources• Consistency and continuity in publishing

proceedings

Conference Organizers

Event

Objective: Effectively manage their overall program and put on a successful conference, attracting attendees and authors

Needs:• Support for their conference

organizers• Tools and expert assistance• Guidance on how to get

things done• Compliance assistance• Manage the conference

portfolio• Timely financial management

Organizational Units

Event Participants Customer Needs

Objective: Get their work accepted at a well-respected conference and published

Needs:• A clean, easy way to

submit papers to a conference

• Support in formatting papers for final submission

• Real-time feedback and interaction around their topic

• Wide distribution of material

Objective: Valuable, visible and educational conference experience, easy to register and attend, valuable program

Needs:• Ease of registration• Smooth conference

operation• High quality

networking opportunities

Authors Attendees ExhibitorsMarketing Partners/

Patrons

Objective: A well run, well attended conference at which to generate customer leads

Needs:• Ease of registration• Smooth conference

operation• High attendance at

the conference• Good exhibit space

Objective: A well run, well attended conference at which to increase brand awareness and generate customer leads

Needs:• High attendance at

the conference• Ample marketing

opportunities to get their brand message out

• Smooth conference operation

Event

Conference Proceedings Acquired(by conference year; all supported in IEEE Xplore)

15% growth

106% growth

(*) Titles published by Computer Society for non-IEEE meetings

296346 356 364 392 384 421 463

527

635

722

831

954

Conference Content Initiatives for 2009

Meetings and Conferences Business StrategyTimeliness of proceedings in IEEE XploreImproved Organizer Support/Web Re-design– Support overarching web design efforts– Coordinate across multiple IEEE efforts to

support conference organizersQuality Improvements– Initial content from the conference– Correcting errors after posting

No-Shows policy implementation

Timeliness - Driving Continued Improvement

Timeliness from the content end date until presentation in IEEE Xplore reduced dramatically since 2005 (average for ED-supported societies from 134 days to 21 days)– Quicker posting enables you to close out your

conference sooner– Interest peaks right after the conference

Plans under development to further improve overall timeliness– Developing process for Conf Pubs to close out long

past-due conferences– Involving sponsoring organizations more completely

in addressing the delays

Improved Conference Organizer Support

Improved web experience being deployed– Simplified access through landing page– Activity-based structure– Better integrated into overall Conferences web

experience on IEEE.orgUpdated publications information in Conference Organizers’ ManualPartnering with other organizations for tools and services (PDF eXpress, etc.)Education and training at Panel Of Conference Organizers (POCO)

Conference Publications Quality

Best practices guidelines developed for Technical ProgramRecommendations being developed by several Ad-Hoc Committees to help improve paper review and qualityAddressing quality issues– Developing guidelines for correcting known

issues of papers posted in IEEE Xplore Poor quality images Incorrect titles, author names, etc.

No-Shows Policy

Policy approved in November 2008 to allow conferences to withhold presentation of papers in IEEE Xplore if an author is not present at the conference– Decision under the control of the conference organizer– Requires that all papers must be submitted to IEEE

Processes and procedures under development to implement the policy– Organizer instructions on how to flag no-show papers– Xplore information to explain why some papers may

not appear– Updating and communicating author and conference

organizers responsibilities