Mary and Tom Poppendieck, Implementing Lean Software Development: Practitioners Course

December 6, 2006

Location: Minneapolis, MN

Implementing Lean Software Development: Practitioners Course

2 Day Workshop

Presented by: Mary and Tom Poppendieck

December 6-7, 2006

Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN

More information at:
http://www.agileprofessionals.com/

As global competitiveness comes to the software development industry, the search is on for a better way to create first-class software rapidly, repeatedly, and reliably. Lean initiatives in manufacturing, logistics, and services have led to dramatic improvements in cost, quality and delivery time; can they do the same for software development?  The short answer is "Absolutely!"

Of the many methods that have arisen to improve software development, Lean is emerging as one that is grounded in decades of work understanding how to make processes better. Lean thinking focuses on giving customers what they want, when and where thewant it, without a wasted motion or wasted minute.

In this workshop you will learn how to apply lean principles such as:  Rapid Response, Constant Learning, Built-in Quality, Local Responsibility and Global Optimization to software development by working through real problems with your peers.

You will learn how to:

• Develop a value stream map for your current software development organization, and then create a new map for the future.
• Reorganize the software development process around iteration cycles and simplify project management.
• Assess the state of your basic disciplines which determine your software development process capability.
• Understand how to drive software quality by moving testing to the front and center of the development process.
• Organize a visual workplace so that everyone knows the most important thing to do next without being told.
• Create a financial model for a software development project and use it to make optimal tradeoff decisions.
• Gauge the capacity of your software development organization and limit work to match that capacity.
• Negotiate contracts that encourages a collaborative relationship between companies

Course Description

This workshop is an even mixture of lecture and small group work on case studies. After each topic is presented, attendees apply the concept to a real project of someone in the group.  The format provides an in-depth exploration of strategies for applying the seven lean principles of:

1. Eliminate Waste
2. Build Integrity In
3. Amplify Learning
4. Develop, Engage, & Trust Thinking People
5. Delay Commitment
6. Deliver Fast
7. Optimize the Whole

In addition, practical implementation techniques are covered, including:

1. Creating and using value stream maps
2. Key metrics
3. Assessing your process capability
4. Working in a regulated environment
5. Applying queuing theory to the software development pipeline
6. Approaches for outsourcing and contracts

Who Should Attend

This program is designed for senior software development practitioners, team  leads and managers who are considering lean software development for their organizations. It will be particularly useful to those who are looking for tools and practices that  they can put to use.

Presenters

Mary Poppendieck has been in the Information Technology industry for thirty years. She has managed solutions for companies in several disciplines, including supply  chain management, manufacturing systems, and digital media. As a seasoned  leader in both operations and new product development, she brings a  practical, customer-focused approach to software development problems.

As Information Systems Manager in a video tape manufacturing plant, Mary first encountered the Toyota Production System, which later became known as Lean Production. She implemented one of the first Just-in-Time systems in 3M, resulting in dramatic improvements in the plant's performance.

Three times Mary has partnered with small companies, twice negotiating and funding a multi-million dollar equity investment. But understanding small companies from the investor point of view was not enough; so she joined one of the start-ups to lead its R&D effort.

A popular writer and speaker, Mary's classes on managing software development offer a fresh perspective on project management.  Her book, Lean Software Development: An Agile Toolkit, was published in  2003 and won the Software Development Productivity Award in 2004.  A sequel, Implementing Lean Software Development: From Concept to Cash,  was published in 2006.

Tom Poppendieck has 25 years of experience in  computing including eight years of work with object technology.  His modeling and mentoring skills are rooted in his experience as a physics professor.  His early work was in IT infrastructure, product development, and manufacturing support, and evolved to consulting project assignments in healthcare, logistics, mortgage banking, and travel services.

Tom led the development of a world-class product data management practice for a major commercial avionics manufacturer that  reduced design to production transition efforts from 6 months to 6 weeks.   He also led the technical architecture team for very large national and international Baan and SAP implementations.

Tom Poppendieck is an enterprise analyst and architect,  and an agile process mentor.  He focuses on identifying real business value  and enabling product teams to realize that value.  Tom specializes in  understanding customer processes and in effective collaboration of customer,  development and support specialists to maximize development efficiency, system flexibility, and business value.

Tom is co-author of the book Lean Software  Development: An Agile Toolkit, published in 2003, and its sequel, Implementing Lean Software Development: From Concept to Cash,  published in 2006.

More Information at: http://www.agileprofessionals.com/