About Quorim

It’s Not About Technology – It’s About Business

The Mission of Quorim is to help IT Training Center Executives improve their company's business by applying sound business practices to their companies.

Quorim is an opportunity to meet in a formalized process to work ON their companies not just IN their companies.

For years, business owners, and CEOs have had at their disposal a number of powerful tools to grow and develop their businesses. Among these tools are groups, known as executive forums, that have provided a very powerful tool to develop business and management skills, solve business problems, do strategic planning, tap the resources of other similar sized businesses and develop relationships which have had profound effects. Groups like YPO, TEC, Chief Executive Forum, CEO Focus, Renaissance Executive Forums, 20/20 and Inner Circle, among others, have provided chief executives of small and medium businesses, with resources and a forum for learning, problem solving, mentoring, peer review and accountability. Until now these groups have been generic, one-size-fits-all with members from many different industries.

While there is value in getting diverse feedback from owners in other industries, the missing piece has always been the ability to share normalized financial information among members that have true industry and market meaning. Quorim does just that.

The last few years have seen major changes in the way industry. The way technology is deployed in companies and the ways employees get skilled on these technologies is in transition and its affect is profound. More and more it is technology which is the basis for differentiation in the marketplace whether in actual products or in business process or some other strategic competitive advantage. In some companies it is the technology which is the product. This importance on understanding technology in business terms and the corrollary, seeing business in technology terms, has created both opportunities and challenges.

At Quorim we believe that - It’s Not About Technology – It’s About Business

This reality makes it a business imperative to understand technology, not just as a technical entity but as a business reality. It is no longer enough to just know how something works and have the ability to implement and maintain complex systems, but an IT executive must understand the business imperative.

Quorim Fees and Expenses

Quorim fees and expenses are billed quarterly following each meeting. In addition to the meeting fee, expenses for each meeting are apportioned pro rata. Expenses include printing costs, food and beverage, A/V rental, room rental and facilitator travel.

Confidentiality

Everything that takes place in a Quorim group is considered confidential. Members are expected to maintain confidentiality on anything which is not a matter of public record.

Quorim CIO Forum Facilitator

Quorim CIO Facilitators are all successful business people with many years of business experience who are committed to helping companies and executives succeed to the maximum extent possible.

Paul Christiansen is the former President and CEO of Vortex Data Systems. For 23 years Mr. Christiansen, grew and developed Vortex from a sole proprietarship to a leading technology-focused company specializing in the training of IT staff on leading computer, networking and application development technologies. Paul was the co-founder of United Training and until recently served as its vice-president. United Training is the nations largest consortium of best of breed IT training centers which are all locally owned and operated. He holds a degree in Chemistry, and graduate degrees in both Marriage and Family Therapy and Business Administration. He was a Naval Aviator, Chemical Sales Person and Real Estate Agent. Paul has the unique ability to integrate the technical, the business and the interpersonal dimensions of enterprise focused on forging innovative and creative solutions. He has been a member of TEC, TAB, Renaissance, 20/20 and True Profit groups over the years. Paul is committed to the executive forum process as a key factor in maximizing the potential for business success.

Financial Review

The Financial Review is a critical component to the overall Quorim experience. Each executive submits quarterly financial information to the group facilitator who compiles the data into a comprehensive workbook showing comparative financial information company to company and also quarter to quarter. This comprehensive review allow each company to track not only their own financial performance but also their performance relative to the group.

Each quarterly submission is done using a standardized structure allowing line-by-line comparisons of both raw numbers and also percentages.

Educational Component

Many meetings will include an educational component. This is a formal presentation on a business topic of interest by a member of the group with specific expertise, an industry expert or a business consultant. While most presentations will be of a business nature, it is possible that technology issues might be addressed if there is consensus that such an issue would be of value to the group. These are not sales or marketing presentations, but rather substantive business issues. Examples might be personnel issues, legal issues, career issues, sales and marketing or financial issues. They could also be skill based presentations on topics such as negotiation, evaluation, strategic thinking, writing, etc. The members of the group are active participants in the design of these programs and the recruitment of specialists.

Focused Executive

The Focused Executive (or Hot Seat as it has become known by those who have participated in this experience" is a segment where a member makes a formal presentation to the group outlining the nature of their company, the focus and projects of IT and the major issues that are being dealt with. It normally includes the definition and presentation of a critical issue that the executive desires the groups feedback and the formation of potential solutions. In this exercise, the members of Quorim function as members of an outside board of directors. Each member has the opportunity to ask tough questions designed to understand the business and to uncover specific weaknesses. More importantly each board member then has the opportunity to provide the top 2-3 specific recommendations which have the potential to have the maximum impact on the Focused Executive's business.

Special Projects & Great Idea

Special Projects and Great Idea

Special Projects are identified by the group as something important to focus time and energy toward solving. They can be best practices, new products ideas, business research or any number of other things. The idea of the special project is to bring to bear the collective resources, energy and expertise of the group in developing innovative and creative solutions toward solving.

The Great Idea Exchange is an opportunity to come up with a idea that other members of the group can use to increase revenue, decrease expense or create competitive advantage. Each member presents their idea and then the group votes for the best. Each member puts in $50 to the pot and the winner takes the pot.

Round Table

Round Table Discussion

The Round Table Discussion is a time set aside to deal with issues of the day. They could involve any aspect of the business and can be either highly tactical or very strategic. Each member with a round table item makes a presentation to the group defining the issue, the business impact and provides any supporting information necessary. The entire group will then spend time focusing on clarifying issues, providing feedback, crafting potential solutions and helping to define a solution or a course of action. When there are critical issues that arise, the group not only provides immediate feedback and ideas, but there is future accountability that the group expects and follows through by getting updates at future meetings.