T14: Organizational Patterns: Beyond Agility to Effectiveness

Sunday, Oct 22, from 13:30 to 17:00, C124

It's not just agility. What do some organizations that enable them to deliver software with high quality and high productivity time after time? We have found that such organizations have many similar structural characteristics, which we have captured in patterns. While several of these patterns became some of the foundational material for many agile methodologies, they are broader than what is found in XP or SCRUM, for example. Some of the patterns even have interesting ramifications for the Object-Oriented code produced by the organizations! In this tutorial, you will learn some of the most important organizational patterns for agile software development. Some are best applied by developers, while others are most appropriate for managers. We hope the tutorial will be attended by people filling all typical roles in a software development organization. As part of the tutorial, you will participate in a mock analysis of a software development organization. Through this, you will gain a bit of insight into your own organization, and the roles you play in it. Will this insight inspire you, gratify you, concern you, or terrify you? It depends on your own organization. Come find out.

Introductory:  Experience with software development in a team setting is required, either as a developer, manager or other role.

Goals: Students will learn about culture, roles, and communication as they affect the effectiveness of software development teams. They will learn key organizational patterns, and how they might apply them in their organizations.

Format: Lecture, followed by participatory exercise, followed by lecture and interactive discussion.