Category: Meetups

Thanks to all those who joined us at the October meetup. A massive thanks is also in order for Codeweavers for graciously hosting our event once again. Your continued support is genuinely appreciated!

Our guest speaker, Mark Warner, delivered his talk drawing an interesting parallel between Agile methodologies and ice skating, highlighting the importance of proper guidance and training in both areas. Giving valuable insights into avoiding common pitfalls and creating a smoother path to success.

We wrapped up with our open discussion session led by Natasha. The topics spanned from JavaScript runtimes named after baked goods to more serious matters, such as the trust concerns arising from Moq’s collection of email addresses. Notably, nothing AI related this time!

Mark your calendars for the last meetup of 2023, scheduled for November 9th. Whether it’s your first meetup or you’re a regular, RSVP now to reserve your spot. We can’t wait to see you there!

Talk

A Little Knowledge is a Dangerous Thing

Mark Warner — Agile Coach, Kantar

Slides

Would you try a new sport that involves risk of injury or harm without some form of guidance, training, or coaching? For most people, the answer is likely to be a very firm no. In contrast, organisations and teams new to Agile, or scaling, often adopt a we’ll try it anyway approach. The results vary from wasted time to delivery disasters. As a keen amateur figure skater, I have found that my journey from first stepping onto the ice to successfully competing, closely mirrors how teams attempt to apply Agile. You’ll learn how, with Agile as with ice skating, many slips and falls can be avoided. You’ll discover some warning signs to look out for and actions you can take towards a smoother, safer winning team.

Thank you all for joining us in September. Let’s revisit the highlights…

We had a change of scenery, as we met at our new venue, the Codeweavers office. A huge thanks to them for their invaluable support. Their office, nestled between the Hollywood Bowl and Odeon in the heart of Stafford, is a spacious, open-plan setting with a dedicated presentation area, making it an ideal venue for our meetup.

Our speaker, Gordon Rugg, delivered his talk centred on an innovative feedback approach developed in collaboration with one of his PhD students, avoiding the pitfalls of a simplistic 1-10 scale and yielding more valuable feedback.

The evening wrapped up with our open discussion session, drawing inspiration from the concept of Lean Coffee—a somewhat structured discussion format where the agenda is collectively determined. Blatantly stolen, or should I say “inspired,” from past WP Bham meetups, this session offers a unique opportunity for all participants to actively contribute, sparking engaging and thought-provoking discussion. It never fails to entertain!

Mark your calendars for the next meetup, set for October 12th. Whether it’s your first meetup or you’re a regular, RSVP now to reserve your spot. We can’t wait to see you there!

Talk

Some familiar problems have familiar solutions. Some don’t.

Gordon Rugg — Multidisciplinary Researcher & Consultant

This talk is about why some familiar problems don’t have familiar solutions, and about why finding good solutions can take you into unfamiliar places. It starts with the problem of clients who don’t know what they want. It then examines the reasons for this problem, and looks at how some other fields have tackled it. The outcome is a simple, practical way for web designers to handle the problem in a way that is most likely to give a good outcome for everyone involved. The talk ends with a demonstration of how you can apply it to your work.

It’s been an incredible journey since we reconvened earlier this year. The enthusiasm and involvement continue to exceed our expectations. In August, we had another laid back social event at The Coffee Bar & Kitchen. Thanks to Andy and the team for the great venue, food, and drinks.

Natasha led an engaging open discussion session that touched on a range of topics. From AI to the potential metamorphosis of Stoke-on-Trent into a ‘Silicon Stoke’—the conversations were as dynamic as the topics themselves.

We want to take a moment to thank everyone who participated in August’s meetup—long-time attendees and newcomers alike. To those who joined us for the first time, we extend a warm welcome, and we’re glad to have you with us. Your enthusiasm, knowledge sharing, and engagement are integral to what makes our meetup special.

Turning to the future, we’re setting our sights on September’s meetup. We’re excited to share that we’re exploring a potential new venue. While details are still in the works, we’re optimistic about the potential it holds. Keep an eye on the Meetup page for updates; any venue changes will be communicated via email.

As always, our mission remains to foster a space where design, development, and technology enthusiasts can come together to exchange ideas, insights, and inspiration. If you share our passion and want to be a part of our community, whether as a sponsor, speaker, or attendee, we’d love to hear from you.

Mark your calendars for the next meetup, set for September 14th. Whether it’s your first meetup or you’re a regular, RSVP now to reserve your spot. We can’t wait to see you there!