In This Issue

• Agile 2008 is Next Week - Here's Some Info
• User Story Estimation Techniques - Jay Fields - InfoQ
• Write a Blockbuster Using User Scenarios - Jeff Patton - Stickyminds
• Book Review: Agile Adoption Patterns - Ryan Cooper - InfoQ
• Agile Alliance Board Voting - Editor Self-Interest Department
• Upcoming Events You Should Know About:
  Downers Grove, IL - Simple Design & Testing Conf.: Sept. 12-14
  Lisbon, Portugal - Scrum Events & Training: Sept. 15-19
  Atlanta, GA - APLN Leadership Summit: Sept. 25-26
  Buenos Aires, Argentina - Agiles 2008: Oct. 20-23
  Stockholm, Sweden - Scrum Gathering: October 20-22

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Agile 2008 is Next Week - Here's Some Info

Are you heading to Toronto for Agile 2008? VersionOne will be there as a title sponsor and we have some great special events planned. As always, we will have some of our unique swag which you will actually want to bring home. This is also a good chance to chat with our CEO, CTO and a whole bunch of other folks from VersionOne.

If you are a VersionOne customer or are currently in an evaluation, talk to your account executive about getting an invite to VersionOne's annual Agile party. If you were at Agile 2006 or 2007 you know what we're talking about....

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User Story Estimation Techniques - Jay Fields for InfoQ

One of the great things about working as a consultant is the ability to try out many different ideas and adapting your personal favorite process to include things that work. This article gives the details about user story estimation techniques that I've found effective.

Read the article here (http://www.infoq.com/articles/agile-estimation-techniques)

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Write a Blockbuster Using User Scenarios- Jeff Patton for Stickyminds

Big projects require many little user stories. But if these scenarios don't add up to one good story, then you're probably missing out on the big picture. In this week's column, Jeff Patton describes how his team weaves many small tales into a single strong report by identifying key characters and themes.

Read the article here.
(http://www.stickyminds.com/s.asp?F=S10730_COL_2)

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Book Review:
Agile Adoption Patterns, A Roadmap to Organizational Success
Book by Amr Elssamadisy, Review by Ryan Cooper for InfoQ

In his recent book, Agile Adoption Patterns: A Roadmap to Organizational Success, Amr Elssamadisy provides a framework for creating a context-specific agile adoption strategy. Rather than suggest the same set of practices for everyone, he helps you figure out which practices will be most effective at reaching your organization's specific goals. This practical approach will get you started on your agile path with a minimum of overhead and frustration.

Read the full review here
(http://www.infoq.com/articles/agile-adoption-patterns)

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Agile Alliance Board Voting - Editor Self-Interest Department

As editor of the Agile Chronicles, I (Paul Culling) am exercising the right to abuse my position. I have been on the board of Agile Vancouver (BC, Canada) for the past 2 years and one of my fellow board members, Philippe Kruchten, has nominated me for the Agile Alliance board.

If you have attended an Agile 200x conference in the past or are attending this year's conference you are an Agile Alliance member and can vote. You can vote electronically or in person at the conference during the Tuesday meeting.

Learn more about the others nominated here.
(you will find my 'nomination statement' under "Paul Culling")

If you are an Agile Alliance member, know me (or my work in the community) and want to throw your vote my way, click here.

Check out my fancy campaign poster...

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Upcoming Events You Should Know About

Simple Design & Testing Conference
When? Sept. 12-14
Where? Downers Grove, IL
How Much? A position paper is your cost of entry
Event Info: http://sdtconf.com/
Event Registration: http://sdtconf.com/reg.htm

Portugal Scrum User Group & Events
When? September 15 - 19
Where? Lisbon, Portugal
How Much? Various costs.
More Info: http://www.fullsix.pt/scrum/Annual_Meeting_2008.htm
CSM course - Sept. 15-16
Agile Estimation & Planning - Sept. 17
Agile Requirements Management - Sept. 18
Portugal Scrum User Group Meeting - Sept. 19

APLN Leadership Summit
When? Sept. 25-26
Where? Atlanta, GA
How Much? $399.00 ($349 for APLN members)
Event Info: http://summit.aplnatlanta.org/
Event Registration: http://www.regonline.com/Checkin.asp?EventId=628805

Agiles 2008
When? Oct. 20-23
Where? Buenos Aires, Argentina
Event Info: http://agiles2008.org/en/
Event Registration: http://agiles2008.org/en/registracion.php

Scrum Gathering
When? October 20 - 22
Where? Stockholm, Sweden
How Much? $1,800 before Aug. 31, $2,200 after Aug. 31 (USD)
More Information:
http://www.scrumalliance.org/events/6--stockholm-scrum-gathering

Notes about the Scrum Gathering:
This will be the first time that both Ken Schwaber and Jeff Sutherland will be together at a Scrum Gathering and on a panel to take on all questions. Space is limited so if you can make it to Stockholm we suggest you register early.