Denver Certified LeSS Practitioner February 20-22, 2024

  James  6 mins read.

February 20-22: Get Tickets

Course Agenda

The morning of the first of three days will be used to establish the overall context of the system modeling activities which follow. This will be done through a small amount of lecture, combined with both small and large group discussions.

Once the stage is set, we will transition to thoughtful analysis of the impact of different organizational design decisions on adaptability and value delivery using system modeling. Following each incremental framework-agnostic advance in our understanding, we will map concrete aspects of LeSS into our increasingly enlightened understanding of organizational system dynamics. The system modeling brings deeper insight, while mapping this insight into LeSS facilitates better retention along with an understanding of how to act on what is being learned.

We will continue to incrementally advance our depth of understanding using system modeling for the majority of the three days. Towards the end of the third day time will be spent: coalescing the whole of our enhanced understanding; providing guidance on how to move forward; and orienting participants on how to navigate a wealth of additional information.

DAY 1: Setting the Stage

The first of three days will be used to establish the overall context of the system modeling activities which follow. This will be done with a small amount of lecture, but primarily via small and large group discussions and exercises. We’ll follow this thread through the entire 3-day event.

  • Introduction
  • Avoiding Taylorism
  • Estimates, not Commitments
  • People are Valuable
  • System Optimization, not Local Optimization
  • Discovering Value
  • Implications of multiple Product Backlogs

DAY 2: Seeing Simplicity through Systems Modeling

On the second day, we will take what we learned about Systems Modeling on Day 1 and use those tools to understand:

  • Benefits of Cross-Functional Teams
  • Product Breadth Considerations
  • Private Code Impedes Technical Excellence
  • Managing Cognitive Fullness
  • Requirement Area Sizing Considerations

DAY 3: Modeling decisions through Systems Modeling & LeSS

As we continue to advance our depth of understanding using system modeling, the third day will be spent coalescing the whole of our enhanced understanding, providing guidance on how to move forward, and orienting participants on how to navigate a wealth of additional information.

  • Product Breadth and Adaptability
  • Avoiding Middlemen
  • LeSS Complete Picture
  • Structure Drives Culture
  • Adoption in your organization
  • Extended Q&A

After course completion

Each participant will be a Certified LeSS Practitioner and will get an account on less.works. Here one can find additional information about LeSS, share course information, and stay in contact with the other course participants.

All participants get access to the book: Large-Scale Scrum: More with LeSS

Air-Force Specifics

This course is listed in the Air Force’s Education and Training Management System (ETMS). More details are available here.

Participant Testimonials

LeSS Adopters

LeSS Logo Sheet by Sector

Early Bird Bonus

The first 4 people who purchase a ticket have their choice of custom drinkware. The available choices are:

  • 40 Ounce Road Trip Tumbler: The vacuum insulated stainless steel RTIC 40 oz. Road Trip Tumbler has a ceramic lined interior to protect against metallic taste. It also has a screw on lid to protect against spills. It is almost identical to the 40 oz. Stanley Quencher H2.0, and perhaps better considering the addition of a ceramic lining.
  • 30 Ounce Road Trip Tumbler: The vacuum insulated stainless steel RTIC 30 oz. Road Trip Tumbler has a ceramic lined interior to protect against metallic taste. It also has a screw on lid to protect against spills. It is almost identical to the 30 oz Stanley Quencher H2.0, and perhaps better considering the addition of a ceramic lining.
  • 18 Ounce Yeti Rambler: The Yeti Rambler 18 oz. bottle with chug cap is a very nice vacuum insulated stainless steel bottle. It has a large lid which makes adding ice easy. This is perhaps a more convenient size for taking on a hike, whereas the larger tumblers are likely better in the car or at a desk.

Travel Logistics

Ariving By Air

Denver International Airport is the third largest airport in the nation. Since it is a hub airport for United Airlines, there is usually a non-stop flight on United available from most anywhere in the United States.

The Denver Airport Rail makes it very easy to get back and forth between the airport and downtown. The ride takes 37 minutes and departs from the airport rail terminal every 20 minutes. There are several videos on YouTube which show how easy it is.

Ariving By Amtrak

Denver Union Station

A Roomette on the Amtrak California Zephyr is a particularly low-stress option which will let you watch the countryside roll by. Here is a YouTube video showing what it is like to ride the California Zephyr. A traditional printable schedule for the California Zephyr is sometimes quicker to read than the Amtrak website.

Union Station is in the middle of downtown Denver and within walking distance of every event venue being considered. It is likely I will be taking the California Zephyr in a Roomette myself on either my outbound or return trip from Milwaukee to Denver.

Going across the country on Amtrak works best if you are able to avoid any connections aside from those with frequent commuter lines. Amtrak trains generally leave their origin station on time, but tend to arrive and depart late from stations farther from the origin station.

You may want to check historical arrival and departure times for Denver (DEN) and whatever other station along the route is relevant to you. The west-bound California Zephyr which starts in Chicago (CHI) is train #5, and the east-bound California Zephyr which starts in Emeryville (EMY) is train #6.

Training Venue Details

Event venue selection is heavily influenced by both logistical and hosting cost constraints. The hotels below have made the short list.

If you are going to be paying for a hotel room using points, it is likely you will find a hotel within your desired frequent traveler program within walking distance of the event hotel. Nothing is easier than staying in the same hotel as the event itself.

Lunches Will Be Great

Lunch will be provided, most likely at nearby table service restaurants. This will provide a better social experience for everyone, and allow us to spend some time outside of the event space.

Breakfast will also be provided. I anticipate we will be eating as a group at the event hotel restaurant each morning, or some similar arrangement.

Tickets

February 20-22: Get Tickets