Agility in the IT workspace - The Scrum Approach

The Halifax Chapter of the International Institute of Business Analysis^® Presents:

March 2011 Annual General Meeting Event
Please join us, and our guest speaker Mike Frenette, for an informative evening of food and discussion followed by the Annual General Meeting.

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Saint Mary's University - The Sobey Building, 4th floor, 903 Robie Street, Halifax, NS

Dinner Meeting Topic: Agility in the IT workspace – The Scrum Approach

Overview: This presentation is about applying Agile principals within the context of Information Technology projects, with a concentration on the “Scrum” technique.  Agile and Scrum terms and processes will be introduced and discussed.  Participants in this presentation will leave knowing that there are very beneficial methods and approaches that are sweeping the IT industry and feeling that they may want to look into these and get ahead of the curve.

Guest Speaker: Mike Frenette has worked in Information Technology for several decades.  At Sierra Systems he telecommutes to the Vancouver corporate office each day, working on several corporate projects related to methodologies, cross-company virtual communities and enterprise project management.  He advises on local projects on PMO, collaboration sites and SharePoint governance matters.  Mike’s areas of expertise include Portfolio, Program and Project Management, collaboration portals, virtual teaming and enterprise project management.  He has served on several boards including CIPS Bluenose, CIPS Nova Scotia and PMI Nova Scotia.  He currently chairs PMI Global’s Technology Member Advisory Group.  He is certified as an I.S.P., CMC, CCP and PMP.

Presentation Overview:

1. This presentation will cover the basics of the Agile methodology focusing on Scrum.
2. Learning Agile methods and processes will permit you as a professional working in an IT capacity to respond to your client in ways that will be labeled as responsive, flexible, trustworthy and collaborative.  Think speed, agility and client satisfaction.  Is Agile better?  The IT industry thinks so, but you can be the judge of how it can be applied in your situations.  The approach includes these methods:

• Defining the business problems your client is trying to solve at reasonable high levels of detail.
• Embedding an authoritative and knowledgeable client representative into your project team to guide you as the team moves through iterative development.
• Making visible the list of items the project is trying to address.
• Providing total visibility to what your team is working on at any point in time.
• Delivering value in short iterations of about 30 days.
• Allowing your team to manage themselves within the framework of business requirements laid out in advance.
• Estimating and tracking work in relative terms.
• Improving estimation work as the project progresses and the team learns.
• Allowing your client the flexibility to re-prioritize and adjust the list of business requirements as time goes on and more is known. 
• Being realistic about what can be done and accepting that the entire list may not be completed.

1. Key Points:

• Once again, the world is changing under our feet.
• Waterfall planning methods are passé.
• Client satisfaction is paramount – this is one way to help ensure you hit the mark.

Benefits:

Those who commission computer systems, analysts and developers of computer systems and those who advise businesses on IT approaches will all benefit from learning about the terminology and methods discussed in this presentation.  

In this presentation you will:

1. Learn about the Agile Manifesto
2. Learn about Agile methods and terms related to the ”Scrum” technique
3. Begin to understand how these methods change the playing field when it comes to systems development
4. Understand how these methods may eventually affect your projects.

Registration:
Please RSVP via email to events@halifax.theiiba.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it on or before March 20th, 2011.

All RSVP's should be received by March 20th as our attendee number must be confirmed with the caterer.  Please provide information related to special dietary needs when registering so we can make the necessary arrangements.

Fee:
*IIBA Halifax Chapter Member: $20
Non-Member: $30

*Only members in good standing of the IIBA Halifax Chapter qualify for the member rate.  Individuals who are members of the IIBA but who are not members in good standing of the IIBA Halifax Chapter are subject to the non-member rate.

Members can pay online here

 Non-Members can pay online here

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International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA), Halifax Chapter