Information
From Teams to Enterprise: Agile at All Scales
Convergence of Agile and Lean for DoD
The Defense Department must deliver information technology capabilities faster and at lower cost.
Agile methods improve delivery of capability and are key to reforming DoD acquisition of software, and the convergence of Agile and Lean enhance their value to DoD.
The current budget environment demands this. The Defense Science Board Task Force report and the 2010 NDAA Section 804 both recognized that information technology (IT) can, and must, be acquired in a different manner than the traditional waterfall approach.
There are pockets of developmental activity that use agile methods in DoD, and the processes are gaining support. However, reconciliation of agile processes with waterfall acquisition documentation requirements and Earned Value Management can be very difficult. Moreover, Agile does not address the more comprehensive approach to systems development and operations. Sometimes it is practiced in what amounts to a vacuum and therefore does not integrate well with the remainder of organizational processes or developmental teams. Governance of large programs with multiple teams can be a challenge. Enter lean.
In a Lean manufacturing system, the work is broken into a set of value streams triggered by demand signals. The output of one value stream leads to others. Eventually, everything is combined into the product. The suppliers for materials needed are alerted through a system of just-in-time replenishment of parts and components called Kanban.
Large organizations using Agile are applying a Lean value stream approach in which various development teams are organized in sequential and parallel streams of work so that, at the end of an iteration, you get a new version of the product. Lean can help with integration and governance across Agile projects with different iterative rhythms. Integration across rhythms occurs at set iteration intervals to produce new product versions.
Location
Waterford at Springfield
6715 Commerce Street
Springfield, VA 22150
Ph (703) 719-5700
*Free Parking
Location map by Google maps
Lodging
Nearby Hotels include:
Courtyard Marriott
6710 Commerce Street
Springfield, Virginia 22150 USA
(703) 924-7200
To book your room night at the Courtyard Marriott you may access this reservation link: http://cwp.marriott.com/wassp/afei/
The Courtyard by Marriott is offering a special $189 rate, a 20% discount off the regular rate. Please mention AFEI when calling to make a reservation. The rate is guarateed only until March 7, 2012. Contact Chris Peters, Director of Sales, at 703-924-7200 ext. 4103 for further information.
The Courtyard Marriott is directly across the street from the Waterford.
Hilton Springfield
6550 Loisdale Road
Springfield, VA 22150
(703) 971-8900
Residence Inn by Marriott
6412 Backlick Road
Springfield, Virginia 22150 USA
(703) 644-0020
Registration
On-line Registration closes by COB, Friday, March 16, 2012. Registration is still available after this date; download the Registration form 
Registration Form . Bring it with you to the event for on -site registration. Contact Betsy Lauer (703-247-9473) for further assistance.
| Registration |
Early fee
thru January 31 |
Regular fee
February 1 - March 12 |
Onsite fee
after March 12 |
|
Government**/
Academia |
$149 |
$199 |
$299 |
|
AFEI Member
(NDIA and affiliates) |
$199 |
$249 |
$349 |
|
Non-Member |
$299 |
$349 |
$449 |
** Only available for active-duty military and civilian employees, not contractor status.
Registration Policy
Deadline to register online or by fax is by COB Friday, March 16, 2012.
A Registration Form may be downloaded, completed, and brought to the conference for onsite registration. Please do not mail any registration forms after March 2nd. Registrations will not be taken over the phone; payment must be made at the time of registration.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations received by Wednesday, February 29, 2012 will receive a full refund. No refunds will be given for cancellations after February 29, 2012. Substitutions are welcome in lieu of cancellations, as long as there is no financial transaction. All substitutions and cancellations must be made in writing to [email protected]
Sponsorship
Value:
Sponsorships provide maximum visibility and brand recognition. You can strengthen your market position, make key contacts, showcase your products and services, and develop relationships with new customers, while reinforcing your existing customer relations. Sponsorships add a critical tool to your current marketing strategy.
Promotional Partner for $1,500
Benefits include:
- Logo on the conference event web site
- One 6' table top display
- Company name on filler slides at conference
- Recognition from the podium
- Event Signage
- 2 complimentary conference registrations
Contact Betsy Lauer at [email protected] or 703-247-9473 for details.
Purpose
The conference will bring industry and government together to hear from expert practitioners of both Agile and Lean, and to discuss how DoD acquisition is rapidly migrating to new, innovative processes.
Attendees will:
- Learn how agile development is being used in DoD and integrated within traditional acquisition processes like Earned Value Management
- Interact with experts in both Agile and Lean to understand how these approaches are converging
- Identify practical procurement and contracting approaches for agile SW development
- Examine concrete lessons-learned from real-world successes and failures
- Expand their insight on the relationship of agile software development to governance, enterprise architecture and portfolio management
2nd Annual Agile in Defense Conference
Conference Synopsis
Author: Dr. David F. Rico
Conference Overview
The Association for Enterprise Information (AFEI) held its second major conference on Agile Methods in the U.S. DoD on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 (http://www.afei.org/events/2A01/Pages/default.aspx). AFEI is a non-profit industry association (part of the National Defense Industrial Association) that collaborates with and recommends technology (IT) best practices to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).
The purpose of the conference was to continue the process of promoting the use of Agile Methods for the acquisition of IT-intensive systems in the U.S. DoD. This work is the culmination of several AFEI, National Research Council (NRC), and Defense Science Board (DSB) committees, which have been recommending the use of Agile Methods for U.S. DoD IT acquisitions since 2008.
As a result of the first AFEI Agile Conference in December 2010, an independent committee called the Agile Defense Adoption Proponents Team (ADAPT) was formed by Stosh Misiaszek of Rally, Suzette Johnson of Northrop Grumman, and Richard Cheng of Excella. The 2012 AFEI Agile DoD Conference was organized by the ADAPT team. (Read More)