Speaker Guidelines
Critical Chain 2026

Creating Impactful Presentations for Newcomers to Critical Chain

 

The goal of your presentation is to introduce Critical Chain Project Scheduling, Execution and Work Management (CC) to attendees who may be new to the methodology. We encourage you to share practical, real-world applications of CC that showcase how it can be used to deliver projects faster, better, and at lower cost. Our aim is to inspire, educate, and offer clear steps for attendees to take their first steps into CC.

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Focus on Practical, Real-World Applications

Avoid Jargon

Since many attendees are new to CC and very few will know about TOC, please avoid technical jargon or TOC-specific terms unless they are necessary and clearly explained. Terms like “buffer” or “fever chart” are fine. Where possible use simple, relatable language to explain the challenges and solutions.

Concrete Examples

Share clear examples from your experience that demonstrate CC’s real-world benefits, focusing on how it has helped projects deliver faster and more efficiently.

Actionable Insights

Aim to provide your audience with practical takeaways that they can apply immediately to their own projects.

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Structure Your Presentation for Clarity

Start with the Basics

Begin by introducing the problem or challenge faced by the project or organization. Set the stage for your audience by explaining what CC addresses.

Solution and Implementation

Describe how CC was applied to address the challenge, without diving too deeply into methodology details. Many users, however, will be interested in details that demonstrate how CC differs from previous practices.

Measurable Results

Emphasize the outcomes achieved. Share metrics or tangible results, such as time saved, cost reductions, or project delivery improvements.

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Engage Your Audience

Clear, Visual Aids

Use visuals, like charts, diagrams, or before-and-after comparisons, to illustrate your points. Keep slides clean and simple. Avoid cluttered slides with too much text.

Storytelling Approach

Frame your presentation as a story—what was the problem, what steps were taken, and what was the impact. This helps maintain audience interest.

Interactive Elements

Since your presentation is pre-recorded, audience interaction will occur during the live Q&A. You may include discussion questions in your presentation, but ensure you address them during the Q&A.

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Focus on Benefits for Newcomers

Simple Takeaways

Conclude with clear, actionable advice that newcomers can use to explore CC further, even if they are not experts yet.

Next Steps

Offer suggestions on how they can begin to apply CC in their own projects, whether through training, tools, or additional resources.

Avoid Contentious Issues

Please avoid detailed discussion of contentious and argued-over aspects of critical chain. You may mention such topics if relevant, but this conference is not the appropriate platform to critique or develop the method.

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Be Mindful of Time

Keep It Concise

Aim for a 20-minute maximum presentation, leaving time for Q&A at the end. Attendees value the live Q&A and we will allow at least 10 minutes in the schedule. If your submitted recording is slightly longer we might be able to speed it up, otherwise it will need to be edited.

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Avoid Over-Explaining Advanced Concepts

While we encourage the sharing of knowledge and expertise, please be mindful that many attendees are unfamiliar with advanced concepts. If you are planning an advanced topic that requires some knowledge of CC, please make this clear in both the written description and in the presentation introduction.

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Put your presentation into context – what about ‘out of the box’ CC are you improving upon?

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Priority in choosing presentations will be given to those aimed at the broader project management community, rather than those experienced in CC and TOC. Developing CC and TOC methods is more suited to the TOC Innovation Summits than this conference.

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Note: Attendees will be given pre-conference access to some CC Basics presentations and training. You do not need to include basic training in your presentation.