Home > Articles

Agile in General

This chapter is from the book

Getting the Most Value from Gatherings, Conferences, and Other Events

I tend to go to a lot of industry events for IT and, specifically, Agile software development. In fact, I have now been chair, keynote speaker, reviewer, and volunteer for many of these and have reprised these roles numerous times.

I have a deep insider secret that I want to share with everyone who attends events around the world. This is HUGE so keep it to yourself and really process it.

Ready?

The event(s) that you attended/are planning to attend are NOT about YOU.

[Take a deep breath]

<rant>

That’s right. As difficult as it may be to accept, these events are NOT custom tailored for all of your personal needs. The events are designed to meet the basic needs of hundreds and even thousands of people. Even at the workshop or classroom level, it’s not solely about YOU.

Picture in your mind the last time you planned a dinner with your close family and/or friends. Was it very easy to pick the restaurant? The dates/times? Did everyone enjoy themselves? Were there issues, complaints, etc.? Did you achieve your purpose?

Now try planning an entire day’s worth of meals for that same group of family and friends ... and activities to keep them happy for the day. Now, multiply that by 3 to 5 days. Now, multiply that by 600 to 2,400 people ... from 36 to 100 different countries and cultures around the world ... at a venue in a country that is outside your own.

Are you starting to get an idea of the complexity involved with just the logistics portion of planning these events? Many people I talk to won’t even try to plan events on a smaller scale because it is too challenging, let alone a large-scale event.

On the other hand, I hear from many people how they would love to do “event planning,” how cool it is or how “neat” it would be. I just smile and listen to them describe the Shangri-La of arranging the event ... from the perspective of someone who likes to plan and go on vacations. Most people have no sense of the bigger picture and what it takes to coordinate large-scale events.

When we solicit feedback from the attendees, I am really saddened to read how much focus there is on things like water and coffee supply, available selection for dietary restrictions, frequency of breaks, and other logistics-related items.

My advice is this:

  • If you want great coffee all day long, go to Starbucks.

  • If you need to eat every 1 to 2 hours and/or have exotic dietary restrictions, bring a snack.

  • If you tend to get cold, bring a sweater.

  • If you tend to get hot, wear shorts.

  • If you don’t like a session, move on to another one.

  • If you don’t like any of the sessions, start submitting YOUR topics.

  • If you don’t like any of this advice and are still unhappy with the event, stop going ...

-OR-

Give some constructive ways to change it that revolve around the content and substance of the event. But in doing so, don’t dwell on the lower-level needs in Maslow’s hierarchy because as a human being, those needs will inherently dictate what you do, where you do it, and when you do it. Your body will figure it out.

Instead, think about how many other people are there at the event. What would be beneficial to the greatest number of people?

Or, maybe there are topics that are extremely and critically important for a significant number of people.

Or, maybe if the topic is so narrow in scope, you need to plan your own event with a very small number of those subject matter experts (SMEs) that represent that niche topic.

Or, maybe if you are looking for very specific personal advice, mentoring, coaching, etc., you (or your organization) needs to hire a coach so that your individual or organizational agenda is met.

When you go to large events, try to take the perspective of the event conveners and staff. They are busting their asses and brains to please as many people as they possibly can within the constraints they have. It’s not that they don’t care about you and what you want or need. It’s more like they have 600 to 2,400 “yous” to deal with.

If something isn’t meeting your expectations, chances are it isn’t because the staff didn’t think about it.

There probably isn’t all-day coffee and water because the really nice venue (did you notice how nice it was?) wants to charge about $130,000 for that service. Are you willing to pay an extra $200 on your registration to have coffee and water all day, each day? That’s about $67 a day for a 3-day event or about 10 high-end Starbucks drinks per day.

Not everyone wants coffee. Are you willing to pay that much so that the coffee drinkers can get their fix? Personally, I am too focused on learning and interacting to worry about the other things.

Want coffee? Go to Starbucks.

Or your favorite local coffee shop.

Or, just go to the venue restaurant and order a coffee to go. Win-win. You get EXACTLY what you want.

We are serving hot, steaming, rich, full-bodied conversations, talks, and workshops about Agility.

My goal as an event convener is to take you out of your comfort zones a little bit, to whet your appetites and make you hungry from an intellectual perspective.

From a physical perspective, I just want to make sure we are reasonably meeting your minimum biological needs so that you can sustain that brain of yours to absorb, think, feel, express, etc.

I love, absolutely LOVE, when someone comes to me and says something like “... there was this one moment when you were talking about the butterflies and you mentioned that you would not be amongst them because you aren’t ‘pretty’ enough. It had a bit of a chilling or closing effect to me, even though I know you were trying to be funny. I thought ‘Well, Daniel is a nice looking guy. If he doesn’t feel like he is attractive enough to be a butterfly, then I definitely am not eligible.’”

THAT was useful to me.

When someone complains about the venue, I get really bored. If there is a fire, pull the fire alarm and dial 911 (or similar emergency number). Otherwise, maybe just try to get engaged to the point where you don’t notice those things.

We are not planning these things to be little vacations for you.

I am hoping they will be deep and meaningful experiences for you that will help you to grow and will last a lifetime.

</rant>

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020