Pragmatic Agility: Sustainable Use of Agile Methods

Agile methods are now part of mainstream development around the world. Many companies are trying to codify the process which often cuts deep into the most valuable aspects of agile development. This session will provide an introduction to various aspects of agile development. Instead of trying to give you a specific process in a neat set of predefined steps, we will examine agile practices as a collection of tools which can help you building strong project communities, define and plan product releases, and some of the practices that aid in iteratively delivering in predictable and timely ways. The session will start by examining tools and techniques for assessing a potential project. From there we will dig into building common vision, defining products, planning releases, and more. The format will be a combination of lecture and small group exercises.

David Hussman is an Agile Coach and Teacher. David's work revolves around helping people design and deliver. Most of his time is spent teaching, mentoring and coaching the adoption and improvement of agile methods. David coaches works with companies of all sizes all over the world. Sometimes he is pairing with developers and testers, while other times he is helping people plan products. David also spends a great deal of time helping leaders at all levels find ways to pragmatically use agility as another way to grow and innovate their business. Prior to working as a fulltime coach, David spent years building software in a variety of domains: digital audio, digital biometrics, medical, financial, retail, and education to name a few. David now leads DevJam, a company composed of agile collaborators. As mentors and practitioners, DevJam focuses on agility as a tool to help people and companies improve their software production skills. DevJam provides seasoned leaders that strive to pragmatically match technology, people, and processes to create better and cooler products in competitive cycles. Along with teaching and coaching, David presents and leads workshops at conferences around the world. He has contributed to several books (e.g. "Managing Agile Projects" and "Agile in the Large"), worked on agile curriculum for The University of Minnesota and Capella University, and is currently writing a book for the Pragmatic Programmer series. For more information, check out the DevJam website.