Topic: Safety-Critical Applications built via Agile Discipline
Speaker: Nancy Van Schooenderwoert
When: Tuesday September 16, 2008 6:00pm - 8:30pm
6:00-7:00 Networking with PIZZA
6:00-6:45 Roundtables (also with PIZZA)
7:00-7:10 Announcements
7:10-8:10 Presentation
8:10-8:25 Questions and Answers
8:25-8:30 Raffles and Gifts
Who: Everyone (Industry, Government, Academia)
Location: The MITRE Corporation, 202 Burlington Rd. (Rt. 62), Building M, Bedford, MA 01730
NOTE: Because of security concerns, you'll need a Picture ID and any large items you bring will be opened and inspected when you arrive. The earliest arrival time is 5:15pm. No one will be admitted prior to that time. The building is secured at 8:30pm. All attendees must have left the building by that time.
Info: See our web page for information and directions. http://www.boston-spin.org/directions.html
Boston SPIN meetings are free. No RSVP is necessary.
Abstract: Safety-Critical Applications built via Agile Discipline
Would you trust an Agile software team to build the control software for aircraft navigation? For nuclear submarines? How about for your bank's online accounts and wire transfers? There is a strong perception in the software industry that Agile practices are best suited to applications that don't have to work 100% or that don't have a hard deadline.
The truth is that Agile practices demand a high degree of discipline, and teams *can* master the art of delivering predictably in the face of changing situations. This has broad implications for mission-critical and safety-critical projects. The unfortunate impression that Agile is extreme and risky is an obstacle to progress where it is needed most urgently.
Nancy's talk will draw on real-life situations from actual Agile teams to show you what this high degree of discipline consists of, how real teams have used it (well and poorly!), and what organizational problems stand in the way of greater use of it. "If it's so good then why isn't everybody using it?" is a valid question to ask, and we will!
About the Speaker: Nancy Van Schooenderwoert
Nancy is a Principal Coach at Lean-Agile Partners Inc. Lean-Agile Partners demonstrates to their customers ways to use and adopt agile practices in their organizations. They "teach their customers how to fish" by training customer staff to coach agile teams. Working with both their customers' management and technical teams, Lean-Agile Partners helps companies design, plan, and implement their Agile adoption programs. Customers get the benefit of Lean-Agile Partners' experience while staying in control of their Agile transformation.
Nancy Van Schooenderwoert is an Agile Enterprise coach with over a decade of experience applying Agile practices as an engineer, manager, and consultant. She shows executives how to apply Agile and Lean principles to all their business process, not just software development. She has led Agile change initiatives in life-critical, highly regulated industries, and coached clients in the art of Agile technical and management leadership. Nancy's experience spans embedded software development and applications in aerospace, factory automation, medical devices, defense systems, as well as financial services. http://www.leanagilepartners.com/