A Quick Introduction to Agile Management

We will be returning to Wayfair (http://www.wayfair.com/v/about/Wayfair) for our next few live events. Wayfair (http://www.wayfair.com/v/about/Wayfair) has graciously offered meeting space, pizza and refreshments. Check out Career Opportunities at Wayfair (http://www.wayfair.com/careers) and Welcome to Wayfair (https://youtu.be/frrsc9udUVE).

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Open Mic Talks

We have speaking slots available for any member who wants to share an idea, demo a project or obtain feedback. Open Mic Talks can be as short as five minutes or as long as 30 minutes. A typical Open Mic Talk lasts 15 minutes. The open mic format offers an opportunity to test the waters and practice a new skill -- presenting your idea to a friendly audience of like-minded peers.

If you would like to reserve a time to deliver an Open Mic Talk, simply click the << Contact << button in the left-hand column to share your idea with the Boston PHP organizers.

Feature Presentation

Mike Toppa (https://www.meetup.com/bostonphp/members/18188621/) will act as facilitator for this presentation/workshop. Mike will present an overview of Agile and discuss roles, responsibilities and rituals. He'll explain the concepts and goals that motivate Agile practices, such as trust, continuous learning, a steady and sustainable pace of work, and a relentless focus on quality. Mike will also share some hard-won lessons from his experience introducing Agile practices in several different types of organizations: a large academic institution, a small start-up, and a consulting shop. Each type of environment presents it own unique opportunities and challenges.

One team will be identified to work together on a part-time project, remotely, for the next 30 days. The project needs to be large enough to accommodate between four and nine participants. This project will need to be identified ahead of time.

One team selected is CDIA Alumni (http://cdiaalumni.com/), a team of web designers and web developers who will be developing a website for nearly 500 alumni of The Center for Digital Imaging Arts.

If you would like to participate in an agile project as part of Mike Toppa's talk, simply click the << Contact << button in the left-hand column to share your contact information or project idea with the Boston PHP organizers.

One month later we will all meet to discuss what we learned about working on a project remotely while gaining experience applying agile methodology.

We started a related virtual self-study group, Agile Appetizer, Season 1 (https://www.meetup.com/bostonphp/events/231368071/) on Sunday, August 7. The virtual self-study group and Mike Toppa's presentation are mutually exclusive -- you can sign up for either, or both (or neither). Those participating in both will receive maximum benefit of learning scrum with the help of Gene Babon and agile with the help of Mike Toppa.

Agenda

6:00 pm - 6:40 pm -- Pizza, refreshments and networking

6:40 pm - 7:00 pm -- The Future of Boston PHP

7:00 pm - 7:15 pm -- Introductions

7:15 pm -- 8:30 pm -- Feature Presentation

8:30 pm - 8:45 pm -- Q & A and wrap-up

8:45 pm - ??? -- Beer at Champions (http://www.championsboston.com/)

Directions

Public transportation is recommended: Orange line to Back Bay or Green line to Copley. If you must drive and park, here are parking options (http://en.parkopedia.com/parking/back_bay_boston/).

The Wayfair office is located at 4 Copley Place, above the Copley Place Mall (http://www.simon.com/mall/copley-place/map) (across the footbridge from the Prudential Mall or across the street from Back Bay station). You will see elevators/escalators in the center of the mall near the waterfall (look for Williams-Sonoma and Barneys New York). Proceed to the Sky Lobby and check in with security. Please bring a photo ID.