Toronto Project Manager – Paul Henman CSM

I got a package from IBM a few days ago but forgot to post about it (until now). It’s a shiny metal tin (about 6″ x 6″ x 1.5″) containing a metal puzzle – very neat. But the reason I mention it here: it’s an advert for IBM’s Agility at Scale and Agile Development e-kit.

That reminds me of two other IBM-related things: (1) they’re currently recruiting techies for their Agile team (so hopefully project managers will follow), so I’ll keep an eye on them; (2) there’s a Toronto Agile User Group* meeting on Thursday entitled “Software is About People”, which I’m attending. *The reason that’s IBM-related is Scott Ambler, Chief Methodologist/Agile with IBM Software Group, is one of the founders of the TAUG.

Apologies for the rambling brain dump but it’s been a busy day and it’s not over yet!

I was on the subway last night, sitting next to a couple of project managers. I could tell they were PMs because I overheard part of their conversation, including how one proudly announced he’d successfully got a Software Requirements Specification signed off after only three months, and the other bemoaned how she had to keep a tight rein on her customer because he kept changing his mind. (more…)

[Part 1 of my recap ("the morning") is in a previous blog entry.]

After lunch I decided to investigate the Open Spaces area, and the title “Painless Agile Adoption” caught my eye. Having told past managers that Agile adoption is necessarily painful and not everyone will make it through the transition, this was going to be an interesting discussion. (more…)

In case you’ve read my notes from the Agile Tour Toronto and are wondering where Part 2 is, the answer is that it’s still in draft – I’ve been really busy with my photography but I’ll post Part 2 this week. Promise!

I wrote a brief post saying I was looking forward to the one-day event, and I definitely wasn’t disappointed. I was so engrossed I failed to take any photos but I did take some notes during the day, although I hoped that the presenters’ material would be available sooner. (Speaking of sooner, I know it’s taken me forever to post this recap – I’ve been kept really busy by both my photography and job hunting.) Anyway, on with the show… (more…)