Mile High Agile Conference 2012 – April 3rd!

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Jake Calabrese

Agile Denver is hosting the 2nd Mile High Agile conference, in Downtown Denver, Colorado on April 3rd, 2012!  Last year, the first, there were nearly 500 people!!

I am sure many people are already registered, but if you have not, The Early Bird pricing is $125!!!  Through February 16th.

The Agile Cooperative will have a table again – Stop by and say hello!  If you are going to be in from out of town – let me know!

Register at http://milehighagile2012.agiledenver.org/

On a related note:  Michael Spayd and Lyssa Adkins will be teaching Coaching Agile Teams in Boulder, Colorado on April 4th and 5th.  An excellent class on agile coaching and coaching in general.  You can view a description of the course on their website, agilecoachinginstitute.com… or just register!

 

Posted in Agile, Agile Project Management, Business Improvement, Business Value, Lean, Process Improvement, Product Owner, Scrum, Technology Value | Leave a comment

Business Analysis Boot Camp – Business Analysis Training April 11, 12, 13

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Jake Calabrese

Business Analysis Boot Camp – April 11, 12, 13,  2012 – Denver, Colorado

Business Analysis Training Series

We just announced our Business Analysis Boot Camp, in Denver Colorado on April 11th, 12th and 13th!

If you are interested in learning more about the course, you can read the full description or register – or contact us if you have questions!

Some of the highlights include:

  • Smart business analysis – we walk-through, with examples and exercises, an approach to business analysis that you can apply immediately when you get back to your organization.
  • Hands-on exercises!  We focus on practical examples and exercises to facilitate learning!
  • Lean business analysis – business analysis is not about developing a big document – it’s about delivering value to customers.  We look at ways to deliver more value for customers, while balancing the specific needs of your organization.
  • Coaching and follow-up calls are INCLUDED.  We know from talking to customers that new questions and ideas arise when people take new ideas back to the reality of their jobs.  To address this need, we are including follow-up learning circle calls and private coaching sessions for each attendee!
  • Agile business analysis and Scrum – Agile and Scrum are certainly popular right now!  We go beyond the basics and buzzwords and dig into details to talk about what agile is really about and why agile concepts are so popular. No prior knowledge of agile or Scrum is required – but expect to leave with a solid understanding of the foundations of agile – so you can talk about how agile affects analysis knowledgeably!
  • Traditional, waterfall, agile, hybrid – Our course is not about picking one of these options, but it is about being as smart and lean as you can in your organization.  Focus on the customer – using the smartest approaches you can!

If you have questions, let us know – or learn more and register!

 

 

Posted in Business Analysis, Business Analysis Coaching, Business Analysis Training, Business Analyst Training, Business Improvement, Business Process Improvement, Business Value, Enterprise Analysis, Featured, Stakeholders, Use Case | Tagged | Leave a comment

Use Case Analysis & Modeling – Business Analysis Training – 3-6-2012 Denver, Colorado

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Jake Calabrese

Use Case Analysis & Modeling Training: 3-6-2012 Denver, Colorado

Business Analysis Training Series

Use cases are a popular analysis tool and are often used as a form of requirements.  Use cases provide a context or wrapper for features (potential requirements) customers need or want.  Use cases package a set of features and can be used with situational examples of real business scenarios.  There are a number of levels and types of use cases and because projects and organizations vary – your use case approach needs to adapt to meet your specific needs. We talk about these concepts and how your use case approach should limit waste and focus delivering valuable results.

Our course focuses on understanding and learning about use cases by working with them.  Attendees will develop, revise, expand, and update use cases in a variety of situations.

We will cover the fundamentals of use cases as well as more advanced topics.  So if you are new to use cases, looking for a better way to deal with features and requirements, or have experience with use cases, you will find valuable information in the concepts and information we present.  We cover the value of use cases regardless of your approach (traditional, agile, waterfall, rolling wave, hybrid, etc.) and explain how your use case approach has to vary with your project and organizational needs. We include a discussion and review of agile use cases and regardless of whether you are using an agile approach or not, these concepts can be used to improve your results. You can read more about use cases at Wikipedia.

Our use case analysis and modeling class is a hands-on course that engages attendees with practical exercises to learn about, understand, and practice developing and improving use cases.

Learning does not end when the class does!

We understand learning is an ongoing process.  We believe in relentless learning and improvement.  Many people leave a training class and then run into questions when they are back at their organizations implementing new ideas!  Our training package includes:

  • Training class: Team and individual hands-on exercises to learn through experience.
  • Learning Circle: Follow-up calls to review progress, build your network, and learn.
  • Coaching: Two half-hour private coaching sessions are included and can be used to discuss and review your questions about the class materials, business analysis concepts in general, agile or other related topics.

Learn more about the course: Use Case Analysis & Modeling

If you have questions or comments please let us know!

Posted in Agile, Business Analysis, Business Analysis Coaching, Business Analysis Training, Business Analyst Training, Business Improvement, Business Value, Featured, Use Case | Leave a comment

Business Analysis Boot Camp – Novemeber 9, 10, 11

Posted on September 25, 2011 by Jake Calabrese

We have a public 3 day Business Analysis Boot Camp on November 9th, 10th and 11th.

We will walk you through a analysis framework you can use on any project.  Exercises and discussions are a large part of the course and are based on a case study simulation and real-life projects. We cover business analysis fundamentals as well areas such as:

  • Combining analysis and elicitation
  • Analysis in agile projects including a Scrum overview
  • Lean and business analysis

If you are interested in learning more, take a look at the course outline.

Posted in Business Analysis, Business Analysis Training, Business Analyst Training, Business Improvement | Leave a comment

Business Analysis Boot Camp March 2011

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Jake Calabrese

Here is a basic overview of the upcoming course we have…

Business Analysis Boot Camp is a practical hands-on course that engages attendees and encourages learning. The course is focused on introducing core business analysis concepts and skills with straightforward methods. Attendees will learn about business analysis concepts and techniques through individual and team exercises, lecture, and class discussions. Course leaning is based on presenting information and concepts then having students engage in exercise to increase retention, practice, and understand how to actually complete techniques. The goal of the course is for all attendees to walk away with an understanding of business analysis fundamentals as well as a toolbox of techniques and knowledge they can apply on the job. The course aligns with the IIBA Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK®).

To learn more or register check out the course details or register

Have questions? Let us know!

Posted in Business Improvement | Leave a comment

Mile High Agile 2011 April 7th

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Jake Calabrese

Should be a great event in Denver. The Agile Cooperative will have a table if anyone has questions! Hopefully we can listen to some of the great presentations and spend some time at the table!

Agile Denver is excited to announce our first annual conference, Mile High Agile 2011: Elevating Agility. Our one-day conference was created to further Agile Denver’s mission of creating and sustaining the world’s best agile community. We foster this by creating opportunities for people to connect to other agilists, user groups, events, jobs, technical communities and vendors. Agile Denver has been the heart of the agile community in Colorado and we are in our 11th year and still growing. This conference will extend your agile knowledge regardless of your role or experience level in your organization.

You can learn more and sign up at the Mile High Agile 2011 web page.

Posted in Agile, Agile Project Management, Lean, Lean Stategy | Leave a comment

Lean Business Analysis – Free Webinar

Posted on January 22, 2011 by Jake Calabrese

On February 8th (2011), I will be presenting Lean Business Analysis for ASPE-SDLC.

We will discuss the fundamentals of lean software development, review common software ‘wastes’, and look at what lean means to business analysis! It starts at 12PM EST.

Update: If you are interested in this webinar/presentation please contact us at solutions@vimstreet.com or call us at 303-746-7479. You can also see our business analysis training page for more information on other topics.

UPDATE: We will be scheduling another Lean Business Analysis Webinar soon. Email us if you are interested and we will notify you when we do the next one.

Posted in Business Analysis, Events, Lean | Leave a comment

RMIMA – 12-10-09: “Agile: Myth or Reality”

Posted on November 29, 2009 by Jake Calabrese

Quick update on a presentation I am doing in a few weeks at the Rocky Mountain Information Management Association (RMIMA). The presentation is targeted at folks who want to get a basic understanding of agile (Scrum), why so many people promote it, and what issues and challenges are brought to the surface when you move towards agile. Here is the abstract:

Agile – Myth or Reality

Why do we keep hearing more and more about agile? When will it arrive? Has it already arrived or has it departed? The presentation will provide an overview of agile-Scrum to demystify it. What is a standup, a sprint, why do people talk about chickens and pigs? Understanding why many people are “agile fanatics” requires clarity about the types of issues that agile can resolve.

Building on the overview of agile, the presentation will review common “software project challenges” and review why agile is often cited as a solution to these problems. Can “being agile” really solve these issues and reduce risk? Are these problems actually related to the software project? Finally, the presentation will review why Agile can’t solve all problems, although we often seem to only hear about ‘agile magic beans’. The session will review issues that agile may expose, but cannot solve, and how those issues can make or break your agile success.

Learning Objectives:
- Understand the basis of agile-Scrum.
- Understand how agile minimizes risks and why people promote it.
- Understand types of issues that agile exposes but cannot address.

Learn more and RSVP here.

If you have questions or comments please post them here (include your email and add “private” to the post if you would prefer a direct response via email).

Posted in Agile, Agile Project Management, Business Improvement, Information Technology, Lean, Product Owner, Project Management, Scope Management, Scrum, Scrum Project Management, ScrumMaster, software project challenges | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Learning from Washington, the Inauguration, and the Constitution

Posted on January 22, 2009 by Jake Calabrese

Read This If: You’re looking for some interesting observations on scope, change management, and iterations as well as willing to consider that maybe some projects are not that tough, in perspective.

2009 seems to be moving right along! Was 2008 tough or not so much? Will 2009 be better or worse? Are things sometimes LESS challenging than they appear?

The recent inauguration and oath of office that the US President takes has me considering just how small some project problems actually are. I was listening to a NPR story about the oath, and a few things jumped out (note that LISTENING to the podcast provides more than reading the article summary).

So where is the oath found? It is the last paragraph in Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution. It reads “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

Continue reading →

Posted in Business Improvement, Business Process Improvement | 1 Comment

Stopping the Fake Subject Matter Expert (SME) from Derailing Your Project

Posted on January 12, 2009 by Jake Calabrese

Read This If: You want to ensure you are basing your projects value on input from true subject matter expert (for any type of project).

A fake subject matter expert or SME can derail a project. Improvements to your business should be based on the best information you have access to, not outdated or incorrect information. The acronym “SME” seems to pop-up everywhere. I agree that saying “subject matter expert” does not flow as well as SME, but the phrase drives home that the person should be an expert (and in the right subject)!

Subject matter experts are used on projects from IT Strategy, to business process improvement, to software development, to organizational change . . . to name a few. They are supposed to impart the wisdom of what is actually happening, and often, what is needed. But if they are NOT an expert, then what? Are you basing the success of your project on poor information?

So what exactly is a fake SME? The basic premise is that they are someone who appears or pretends to be a subject matter expert, but is not. There are many types, but let me outline some of the more common ones:
Continue reading →

Posted in Agile Project Management, Business Analysis, Business Analysis Coaching, Business Analysis Training, Business Improvement, Business Process Improvement, Featured, Information Technology, Process Improvement, Product Owner, Project Management, Scrum Project Management, Sponsor, Stakeholder | 2 Comments