If you would like to nominate yourself to be on the committee, please forward a picture, short bio, and statement about why members should vote for you to info@scrum.org.za before 21 November 2011.

After the nomination deadline has passed, the list of nominees will be circulated to all SUGSA members, and voting will take place electronically leading up to the December monthly event. Each SUGSA member is entitled to vote for up to three nominees. The committee will be chosen based on up to five nominees who have received the most votes.

http://thefounta.in/1OWIL

We’re looking forward to meeting you all in Cape Town on Tuesday and Wednesday next week! In preparation for a great Scrum Gathering we thought we’d send through some logistics to help you navigate the two days.

Dates

To to confirm, it’s Tuesday, 13 September and Wednesday, 14 September.

Getting there

The event will be held at Erinvale Estate Hotel (not Erinvale Golf Course – the entrances are next to each other, the hotel is on the right.) A map, directions and GPS co-ordinates can all be found at the Erinvale web site at http://www.erinvale.co.za/contactus.php.

When you arrive on Tuesday there will be parking behind the buildings on the hotel grounds. You will be directed by the Erinvale staff – so just ask.

The program

Registration and breakfast starts at 8:00am on Tuesday and breakfast starts at 8:30 on Wednesday, with the first activities of each day starting at 9:00am. The sessions end at 17:00 on each day. There will be two coffee breaks as well as lunch each day.

Click here for a detailed program itinerary, but don’t stress about printing a copy.  A colour program will be available in your goodie bag that you will receive when you register.

The speaker details can be seen at http://www.scrum.org.za/gathering-2/speaker-information.

Social Event

This year’s social event is sponsored by Fundamo and we look forward to joining you in the Magnolia Restaurant for drinks and post-Gathering socialisation on Tuesday evening, after the last sessions – around 5pm.

Connectivity

There will be WiFi access. WiFi vouchers will be available from the reception desk.

General

If you have any questions, please email info@scrum.org.za or catch one of us on the day at the registration desk or otherwise.

We look forward to having a great Scrum Gathering with you.

Even the most avid learners sometimes get full. The Leopard Lounge will be a place to relax when your brain is full and you need a break, or a place to connect between sessions and have those important conversations with other delegates which are what makes a Scrum Gathering special.

And, not only will there be dedicated tracks for the Scrum Master, the Product Owner, the Manager and the members of the team, but we also have a few extra’s planned.

Here’s a quick rundown of what to expect:

	Mitch Lacey    Board of Directors of Scrum Alliance We have the pleasure this year of hosting Mitch Lacey, from the Scrum Alliance. Mitch  is an Agile practitioner and trainer who has been managing projects for over twelve years with numerous plan-driven and Agile projects under his belt, including core enterprise services for Windows Live. An author of numerous publications and a speaker at many Agile conferences, Mitch will be welcoming us at both the Johannesburg and Cape Town events. Mitch will be on hand during each day to answer any Scrum Alliance questions should you wish to catch up on what is happening in our international community.
	Agile Games    with Samantha Laing & Karen Greaves Agile is about more than processes and tools. It’s about individuals and interactions, and there is no better way to experience this that by participating in agile games. Get ready for a session of high energy and interaction. You’ll be sure to have new friends at the end of this one! And the best bit is that we’re be having Agile Games at both the Johannesburg and Cape Town events.
	A hands-on introduction to sprint zero    with Phil Barrett (CT Only) Before you commit to writing too much code, it’s good to be sure you have got a big idea for your product that really works for users, and that stakeholders agree with the direction you’re taking. You need a phase to explore ideas, and get feedback from users, before you get stuck into your sprints. This makes sure you start off climbing the right mountain, rather than realising you’re on the wrong one when you’re half way up. Creating prototypes in code is expensive and slow, when you’re on the hunt for the right version of the big idea. UCD techniques can really help. Paper and pencil prototypes are cheaper than code and work well enough at the very early stages of a project. They let you explore more ideas in less time. In the workshop you’ll get a chance to: - Use personas and scenarios as a way to get new ideas - Create a cheap paper/digital prototype that is good enough for testing - Run a usability test .. and we’ll cover the reasons why it works and why it’s good for your business, your team and your sanity.
	Agile Jazz    with Andrew Coote (CT Only) Andrew has over 10 years experience as a developer, project manager and Scrum Master in various industries, including Microsoft EMEA in Reading, UK. He is also an accomplished Jazz trumpet player, who has toured with Mango Groove, Johnny Clegg, Natalie Cole and many others. How is that relevant you’re asking? Read below! Using a live performance of a four-piece Jazz ensemble as a reference and demonstration, Andrew will present Jazz as a metaphor for Agile teamwork and the evolution of processes. We work through a cycle emphasising the following common attributes between Jazz and Agile teamwork: Skills, Self Management, Specialisation, Collaboration, Adaptivity, Innovation, Improvisation, Risk Taking, Supporting, Delivering Value, Sustaining Pace, and Passionate Commitment. This is a light, entertaining session that is highly memorable as a metaphor for teamwork.

Scrum Clinic

   Got a question? Ask a doctor! (CT Only)

Got a problem or burning question with your Scrum implementation? Have an issue that you feel wasn’t addressed in any of the sessions? No problem – we have alocated time for our Scrum Doctors” (read: industry experts) to give you some one-on-one advise on whatever it is that you need help with. We have allocated three and  half hours on the second day of the Cape Town Gathering for this large scale Scrum clinic. Sorry Johannesburg, this one is for CT only.

Lightning Talks

   various speakers and topics (CT Only)

Now it’s your turn! We have an interesting line up of volunteer speakers from varying industries that will cover a wide range of topics . 10 minutes to present, 5 minutes for questions. An energetic way to end of the event.

Not only will this track feature technical content and learning outcomes, but also provide insight into true Agile culture and principles, the cornerstone for any high performing Scrum team.

In Johannesburg, we look forward to the following:

Manoj Vadakkan

It’s the culture, Stupid! – Why Scrum is more than a few ceremonies, roles, & artifacts

Many organizations are attracted to Scrum because of its apparent simplicity and its potential to deliver results faster.  However, most don’t realize that there are cultural changes which are also required in order for Scrum to be successful.

Manoj postulates that Scrum as a movement will fail if we do not bring the cultural aspects to the forefront.  Attendees will participate in a dynamic discussion about the importance of the cultural aspects that are required for Scrum to flourish within an organization.