November saw Agile Oxford’s most successful meet-up yet, hosted by Humand Talent, the go-to name in talent solutions for tech and software engineering. The event brought together agile practitioners, product managers, and tech enthusiasts from across Oxfordshire for an engaging, hands-on workshop led by renowned agile consultant and author Allan Kelly.
The theme? Tackling one of agile’s trickiest yet most critical challenges: assigning business value to backlog stories.
Here’s a detailed recap of an evening filled with actionable insights, collaborative learning, and plenty of inspiration for teams looking to maximise their impact.
Workshop Highlights: “Business Value, Business Value, Business Value”
Allan Kelly’s mantra for the evening set the tone: “Do the most valuable stuff first.” Yet, as Allan pointed out, while we often talk about prioritising work based on business value, few teams consistently apply measurable techniques to their backlogs.
Through an interactive workshop, Allan offered practical methods to estimate and rank story value, helping teams make smarter, business-focused decisions. Here are some standout moments:
- Value Poker
A collaborative approach to assigning value to backlog items, this exercise introduced attendees to a structured yet flexible technique for group decision-making. Teams experienced first-hand how Value Poker fosters alignment and sparks constructive discussions. - Dragons’ Den-Style Game
What better way to assess value than pitching? Participants presented their user stories, defended their business value, and received feedback from peers. This activity was a hit, fuelling lively debates and reinforcing the importance of justifying priorities with data and insights. - Unearthing Hidden Opportunities
Allan emphasised how estimating value often reveals overlooked requirements and new possibilities. By assigning value to backlog items, teams can identify hidden opportunities to innovate and refine.
The workshop was a wake-up call for many attendees, demonstrating how effective valuation techniques can transform backlog management into a strategic process that delivers real-world results.
About Allan Kelly
A respected voice in the agile community, Allan Kelly is celebrated for his innovative approaches like Value Poker, Time-Value Profiles, and Retrospective Dialogue Sheets. While he’s no longer a practicing coder, Allan’s software engineering roots underpin his philosophy of delivering actionable value to businesses.
Allan’s impressive client list includes Virgin Atlantic, The Bank of England, and Reed Elsevier, and his books—such as Continuous Digital and A Little Book of Requirements and User Stories—are staples in the agile space.
Curious to dive deeper into Allan’s techniques? Grab a copy of his book A Little Book About Requirements and User Stories on Amazon.
Looking Ahead: January’s Agile Oxford Event
If you missed November’s workshop, don’t worry—Agile Oxford is already planning its next big event! Join us in January for a thought-provoking session led by Stuart Munton, exploring “AI & Team Convergence”.
With AI reshaping how we work, this workshop promises to be another high-demand meet-up. Secure your spot early to avoid missing out!
New Registration Options
Exciting news! Agile Oxford is expanding its registration platforms. While we continue to use MeetUp, you can now also register via Eventbrite. Follow us there for updates on all future events!
Join the Agile Oxford Community
Agile Oxford isn’t just about workshops; it’s about fostering a vibrant, collaborative community of agile practitioners and tech enthusiasts. Sign up today and become part of a network dedicated to growth, innovation, and shared learning.
Are you looking to sponsor or speak at one of our future events? We’d love to hear from you! If you’re an industry expert with valuable insights to share, fill out our Speaker Enquiry Form today to get involved.
About Humand Talent
At Humand Talent, we specialise in connecting top talent with innovative businesses across the tech industry. From helping companies build exceptional agile teams to placing software engineers in Oxford and beyond, we’re passionate about making recruitment simple, strategic, and successful.
Visit our homepage to learn more about our recruitment business and how we’re transforming talent solutions.
#Agile #AgileOxford #AgileWorkshops #HumandTalent #SoftwareEngineering #SoftwareEngineersOxford #StoryValuation #BacklogPrioritisation #TechRecruitment #TalentSolutions
