[lug] ColoSPIN: January meeting - Lessons from Open Source Development

[Evelyn Mitchell]

A presentation of interest to Open Source advocates:

We are pleased to announce the January 2003 meeting of the 
Colorado Software Process Improvement Network (SPIN). 

 Topic: Leading Software Teams: Lessons learned from the Open-Source (OSS) Model 
 Date:    Thursday, January 9th, 2003 
 Time:    6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 
 Place:   CU Denver Auraria Campus 
          King Center for Performing Arts, room 205 
 Speaker: Sue Karlin 

The OSS model is predicated on a philosophy of freedom, fueled by developer 
excellence and propelled by the Internet, and has quietly inspired software 
developers around the world to produce highly successful software products. 

The OSS model has delivered reliability, robust functionality, and 
responsiveness to market needs in essence, high-quality software. Without 
the more traditional distractions of budgets and schedules and power/pay 
incentives, what has emerged is a quality-focused culture with self- 
organizing teams that are super-sensitive to market needs. 

There is tremendous potential to apply what has been learned through OSS about 
fundamental motivations of software developers, the influence of a software 
culture, the importance and nature of software leadership, the key role that 
users play, and the integration of testing throughout the software lifecycle 
as a means of discovery and ongoing learning. All these components are 
critical to and reinforcements of quality results. 

This presentation will explore the nature of the OSS model, key success 
factors, and how the lessons learned from OSS projects, e.g. Linux (server) 
and Apache (web server), can be applied in commercial/corporate software 
development organizations in order to produce better software in the future. 

Some discussion topics (as time permits) include:   
1)    Strengths/weaknesses of the OSS development model 
2)    Technical project management (OSS) vs. new business-led project   
       management paradigm (corporate)  leadership vs. management issues in 
       software teams 
3)    Fall-out from our 20-year-long obsession with process (DeMarco)   
       OSS vs. CMM, etc. 
4)    Trend towards outsourcing software development vs. need for innovation 
       and new organizational forms that remove barriers to innovation 
5)    11/25/02 FORTUNE article:  Software doesn't work. Customers are in 
       revolt. Here's the plan. It's simple: Build software people will 
       actually like. Seriously. by James Alley       

About the Speaker 
----------------- 

Sue Karlin, software consultant, brings a broad technical and managerial 
background in software applications design/development, database 
design/administration, as well as software consulting and technical support. 
Over the past 10 years, Sue has built and led software testing and QA 
organizations from the ground up with particular emphasis on customer- 
centric test methodology, system integration testing, test automation, and 
cross-functional project models. Sue has a bachelor's degree in Mathematics 
(C.U. Boulder) and she recently completed a master's degree in Technology 
Management (D.U.).  This presentation is based in part upon research she did 
for her master's Capstone project. 

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Refreshments (cookies and beverages) will be provided. 

Please pass this invitation along to others who might also be 
interested. 

Colorado SPIN has no membership requirements and no membership dues.   
We will ask attendees of this meeting to donate $2.00 to help defray 
expenses. 

Directions 

  (These directions begin driving either North or South on Speer Boulevard.) 
   Take the Auraria Parkway westbound. Turn South on Seventh Street. 
   Take the second left off of Seventh Street. 
   Take the first left and then left again to turn into 
   the parking garage. The daily rate is a maximum of $3.25. 
   King Center is across the street, East of the parking garage. 
   The entrance is South facing. 
  
Colorado SPIN is a leadership forum for the free and open exchange 
of software process improvement experiences and practical ideas.  We 
promote achieving higher levels of process maturity, software 
quality, and mutual respect.  Our goal is to help sustain commitment 
and enhance skills through an active program of networking and 
mutual support.  Colorado SPIN periodically hosts guest speakers 
covering topics such as process awareness and education. Colorado 
SPIN is an open, unrestricted forum.  Each participant is expected 
to use judgment when sharing ideas and experiences from industry. 

Colorado SPIN is part of a network of similar groups that have 
formed across the U.S. and in several other countries.  The Colorado 
SPIN meetings are planned and organized by a SPIN steering 
committee.  This committee consists of volunteers from the following 
Colorado companies and organizations. 

The committee welcomes new members and new ideas with open arms! We 
are always looking for help in organizing and hosting meetings, 
discussing possible meeting topics, and coordinating SPIN 
activities. To contact the steering committee please email 
colospin-steering at cleansoft.net. 

To add yourself to the Colorado SPIN mailing list, send an email 
message to: 
       listproc at lists.colorado.edu 
       (leave the Subject line of your message blank) 
For the body of the message, type:    
       SUBSCRIBE  colospin  Your_First_Name  Your_Last_Name 

To delete yourself from the Colorado SPIN mailing list, send the 
following email message (with the Subject line blank) 
       UNSUBSCRIBE  colospin 
to 
       listproc at lists.colorado.edu 

-- end forwarded message --

-- 
Regards,                    tummy.com, ltd 
Evelyn Mitchell             Linux Consulting since 1995
efm at tummy.com               Senior System and Network Administrators
                            http://www.tummy.com/