The Agile PMO: Real Time Governance

[Stelios Pantazopoulos]

The next ThoughtWorks Technology Briefing is set for Thursday
September 24th in Toronto. The subject of the talk is "The Agile PMO:
Real Time Governance".

For more details on the event see below or visit:
http://www.thoughtworks.com/what-we-say/events/tech-briefing_ca.html

To register for the event visit:
http://www.thoughtworks.com/what-we-say/events/register-tor_ca0909.html

For video of past technology briefings visit:
http://www.infoq.com/ThoughtWorksQuarterlyTechnologyBriefings

Thanks.
Stelios Pantazopoulos | Load Consultant with ThoughtWorks |
ste...@thoughtworks.com


With business operations as lean as they are, there’s not much
tolerance for slippage or surprise from IT. The health of a project
can change quickly because of something as complex as a change in
business conditions, or as simple as a blown estimate. To stay on top
of things, the PMO needs to be aware of how well each project is
performing at any given time. Fortunately, Agile practices give us the
transparency we need, with crystal-clear reporting of what’s been
done, how much its cost, and how well constructed it is.

But transparency is worthless if the right people aren’t paying
attention to the right stuff. Project stakeholders need to not only
consume this data, but act on it. That won’t happen if all we do is
collect data from teams and e-mail status reports. And because IT
projects are intrinsically optimistic, such passive governance allows
“management by platitude” to substitute for “management by fact.”

IT needs real-time governance if we’re going to be effective partners
to lean businesses. This requires a combination of information and
practices. We need project data framed in the right context. We need
mechanisms in place to challenge assertions and interrogate
performance. We need practices that allow us to engage business and IT
leaders to interpret, internalize and act. And we need to do these
things constantly, but without creating administrative burden.
Well-governed companies have been shown to consistently out-perform
poorly governed ones. The same is true of IT. Join us to learn how you
can create a real-time governance capability that anticipates
challenges, makes timely course corrections, and seizes opportunities
to maximize the business impact of IT investments.

Speakers:

Ross Pettit has nearly 20 years' experience in IT. A former COO,
Managing Director, and CTO, he also brings extensive experience
managing distributed development operations and global consulting
companies. His industry background includes investment and retail
banking, insurance, manufacturing, distribution, media, utilities,
market research and government. He is a frequent speaker, columnist
and active blogger on topics of Agile management, governance and
innovation. He is a Client Principal with ThoughtWorks.

Jane Robarts is a Principal Consultant and Program Manager with
ThoughtWorks with over 12 years experience with software delivery.
Jane has focused primarily on distributed delivery and organizational
improvements. Jane has consulted in India, China, the US, Australia,
and Germany. She is a frequent speaker and the former Delivery Manager
for ThoughtWorks Canada.

When and Where:

8.00am - 9.30am, Thursday 24 September 2009
Fairmont Royal York, 100 Front Street West

To Register:

Visit http://www.thoughtworks.com/what-we-say/events/register-tor_ca0909.html