2010-06-09 Trimming the Fat: An Intro to Lean Software Development, Griffin Caprio

It seems that the new hot topic in the software world is Lean Software Development. While having its roots in Lean Manufacturing, Lean SW Development is more than just a re-application of existing manufacturing principles to software development. It's a carefully crafted set of principles and processes that allow you to mold your production process around achieving one thing: flow. This talk will teach you about adopting lean as a development process and, in addition, you will learn how you can integrate lean principles into your existing process. We'll be covering lean at a basic level, while mixing in some complementary topics such as the Theory of Constraints, achieving delivery flow, how to optimize your work queues and more.

Lean software development optimizes flow through your development process, letting you achieve increased levels of output not possible with traditional processes.  Without forcing you to adopt an entirely new development process, you can use lean principles to craft and optimize not only how you schedule software deliveries, but also how you deliver them.

Griffin Caprio is a technologist and entrepreneur who has been helping companies of all shapes and sizes with their technology needs for over 10 years. Since 2008, he has been running his own company here in Chicago, leading development teams, providing lean consulting, and playing the role of Part Time CTO for startups in the area. He also runs the Chicago Lean Startup Circle and Chicago Semantic Web Meetup. He has still never turned down a game of foosball.

Followup: Link to Presentation slides, A post about multitasking waste, Website for Lean Startup Circle for Chicago, and Griffin's e-mail.

 Although there will be no food served at this event, feel free to "brown bag" it and bring in food from the outside to eat during the social hour.