Abstract: This presentation will include an introductory explanation on the theory and history of Model Driven Architecture (MDA) and an overview of its major underlying components, including an initial discussion on the Unified Modeling Language (UML) to establish a baseline understanding for the audience. We will highlight the various stages of an MDA approach and will emphasize the impact MDA can have on the software development lifecycle. Specifically, in regard to an organizations ability to deliver high-quality, reusable software within a repeatable process while significantly reducing project risk and increasing return on investment.

We will follow this discussion with a practical demonstration of MDA techniques to illustrate these principles and concepts. We will discuss the pros and cons of MDA, the state-of-the-art, and the steps required to leverage MDA in your existing business environment. We will end the presentation with a brief question and answer session.

Speaker Bio: Robert Lario is a principal and co-founder of INHERIT, LLC. He has over 20 years of software development experience designing, developing, and deploying enterprise solutions using Object-Oriented techniques. He has a Masters in System Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and an MDA from the Wharton Business School. Based on years of practical experience, Mr. Lario began development on Inherit Express MDA tool in 1998. He has been the primary architect and the driving force behind the development of each release, including the most recent version Express Templates. With his work on INHERIT Express, Mr. Lario is leading the evolution of the state-of-the-art of MDA

If you are in the Atlanta area, the meeting will be held in the Oracle office at Northpark Town Center (building 500, suite 1120). Check the Atlanta SPIN web site for the latest details and directions. Come out for some great networking with some of Atlanta’s top software development professionals. The free pizza is a bonus!
http://www.atlantaspin.org

See you there!

Cheers.

Abstract: The last few years have seen an explosion in the number of reference models an organization might use as the basis for improving its performance. Notwithstanding the Software Engineering Institute’s efforts to consolidate reference models in the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI), the number of models has continued to grow. An organization wishing to use best practices to establish “world class” or “best in class” performance faces a bewildering array of choices. IT shops may consider not only the CMMI, but also be thinking about COBIT, ISO 90003:2004, ITIL, and PMI’s Organizational Project Management Maturity Model (OPM3), to name several of the more widely used models. Faced with such an array of choices, many are left wondering if these models integrate synergistically. Alternatively, do they represent a huge effort to implement individually, with little relationship to one another. Assuming the latter is true, many face difficult choices, in an environment in which allocation of limited resource is fiercely competitive. This presentation describes an integrated approach to improving organization performance based on process architecture and detailed model mappings.

Bio: Mr. Brotbeck is an Information Technology consultant with over 35 years experience in the areas of business and information technology planning, business process reengineering, software engineering, software process improvement, and complex information systems development. He has expertise in object-oriented technology, software quality assurance (QA), seminar and workshop development and delivery, and management responsibilities ranging from project management to “C-Level” senior line management. Mr. Brotbeck is a Certified Software Quality Engineer, a Six Sigma Green Belt, and an authorized Instructor for Practical Software and System Measurement (PSM). He holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in Mathematics. He is currently an SEI Candidate Instructor for the Introduction to CMMI class, and an SEI Candidate Lead Appraiser.

If you are in the Atlanta area, the meeting will be held in the Oracle office at Northpark Town Center (building 500, suite 1120). Check the Atlanta SPIN web site for the latest details and directions.

http://www.atlantaspin.org

See you there!

Cheers.

Abstract: If loyal customers are the essence of what makes companies successful, why is it that so many organizations fail to involve their customers when developing software products? Depending on which analysts’ reports you read, between 60% and 90% of all new product rollouts fail. More importantly, the number one reason for this failure is lack of customer involvement. When we don’t involve our customers throughout the planning and development process we are at high risk of incurring:

• Cost overruns
• Missed opportunities and expectations
• Lost customers
• Failed products and lost revenue
• Since we are aware of these risks, why do so many companies continue to ignore the needs of their customers when it comes to developing and maintaining market-driven products?

What You’ll Learn – Larry Boldt will share with you the importance of having an effective Customer Feedback Management process to ensure that customer’s have a voice in product planning and development. In addition to an effective process, the people and technology aspects will also be discussed ensuring that the process can be implemented successfully.

The Take-Away – Seven habits or behaviors of an effective customer feedback process are provided as a checkpoint for attendees to measure the effectiveness of their customer feedback process.

Speaker Bio: Larry Boldt is an accomplished software engineering manager and developer with over 30 years of experience in managing and providing business process improvement products and services to Global 1500 companies. Larry’s areas of functional expertise include: product management, requirements management, process management, change management, software quality management, and system implementation. As the VP of Customer Management for Orasi Software, he is responsible for product strategy and initiatives supporting customer satisfaction and loyalty. Larry holds a Masters of Science degree in Organizational Management from Maryville University.

If you are in the Atlanta area, the meeting will be held in the Oracle (not Orasi!) office at Northpark Town Center (building 500, suite 1120). Check the Atlanta SPIN web site for the latest details and directions.

http://www.atlantaspin.org

See you there!

Cheers.

In summary, the talk served as a high-level tutorial on the PMBoK approach to project management while providing insight into how it can be pragmatically applied to a typical development environment.

I never cease to be amazed at the quality of the speakers at our SPIN meetings. Ron Wojick is no exception.

Ron Wojcik has worked software development for over thirty years, primarily in the telecommunications industry. Ron joined AT&T Bell Laboratories in 1977 where he performed and then led real-time software development and systems engineering efforts. In 1991, Ron joined BellSouth Telecommunications as a Research Director for systems engineering. In 1996, Ron assumed the role of Executive Director/Network Vice President for systems development in support of emerging technologies being deployed into the BellSouth network. In 2002, Ron retired from BellSouth and established Pragmatic! Solutions, a telecommunications consulting company.

Ron is currently Executive Director for TTI Telecom, where he has technical account management and system development/delivery responsibilities.

Ron’s academic accomplishments include a B.S. in Math from Illinois Institute of Technology; a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from Brown University; and an MBA from the University of Chicago. Ron is also a certified Project Management Professional.

At the next SPIN meeting, Larry Boldt, the VP of Customer Management at Orasi Software, will be delivering a presentation entitled “Customer Feedback Management – 7 Habits of Highly Effective Customer Feedback Process.”

Abstract: If loyal customers are the essence of what makes companies successful, why is it that so many organizations fail to involve their customers when developing software products? Depending on which analysts’ reports you read, between 60% and 90% of all new product rollouts fail. More importantly, the number one reason for this failure is lack of customer involvement. When we don’t involve our customers throughout the planning and development process we are at high risk of incurring:

• Cost overruns
• Missed opportunities and expectations
• Lost customers
• Failed products and lost revenue

Since we are aware of these risks, why do so many companies continue to ignore the needs of their customers when it comes to developing and maintaining market-driven products?

www.atlantaspin.org

Cheers.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with SPIN, it is a great organization co-sponsored by the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) out of Carnegie Mellon University. They aim to provide value around improving the “process” of software development for its member organizations and sponsors. Monthly meetings offer a featured presentation on such topics as CMM/CMMI, ISO, PMI/PMBOK, Six Sigma, and other quality frameworks. Good stuff.

Meetings are open to all individuals, companies, universities, and government organizations who have an interest in software quality, maturity, and process improvement.

Our goal is to enhance our membership’s knowledge and skills through an active program of networking, publication, local and national speakers, recognition of excellence, and mutual support.

If you are in the Altanta area, meetings are held once a month, generally at the offices of one of our sponsors (Oracle, Microsoft, etc.). Check the Atlanta SPIN web site for the latest details.

http://www.atlantaspin.org

I am planning on publishing informative updates after each SPIN meeting, so stay tuned!

I welcome this opportunity to serve, and look forward to helping build a quality process improvement organization for the region.

Cheers.