Obtiva and 8th Light Swap.
In an economic environment where companies are slashing budgets and cutting staff, Obtiva is finding innovative ways to train and mentor its own team of Agile software developers.
Obtiva, a Chicago-based custom web development company, could be tipping off a new trend called Software Craftsmanship Swaps. The concept involves competing, but like-minded, boutique software development teams swapping out senior developers to work in their offices with the objective to learn new skills and trade tips and practices with their competitors.
An integral part of the developer exchange is Obtiva’s approach to writing code—Software Craftsmanship. Software Craftsmanship is a school of thought in the software industry. One tenet of Software Craftsmanship is senior developers mentoring junior developers, using time-tested apprenticeship practices.
Obtiva recently participated in a one-week exchange with a competitor, 8th Light, of Round Lake, IL. The intent of swapping, according to Obtiva President Kevin Taylor, is to share knowledge, share the advantages of how companies work with clients, how companies develop software and how they handle employees.
“Obtiva has gained valuable insights and is now in a stronger position to service our clients,” Taylor said. “We now have even more tools to leverage moving forward.”
The swapping also has offered more quality education for employees than the conventional annual industry conferences attended, according to Obtiva Chief Craftsman and Principal Dave Hoover.
“One visiting employee’s week at Obtiva taught him far more than any conference he’s ever attended,” Hoover said. “Conferences usually cost between $1,000 and $2,000 per attendee and involve all sorts of hits and misses when it comes to learning. In the case of the swap, not only does the attendee pay nothing, but he also provides value to the host company.”
But so far, the practice is paying off, according to Taylor. “We now have closer ties between the two companies and are in a better position to work together on future client projects,” he said.
A related story was published in the Chicago Tribune Business section June 15, 2009 at www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-mon-craftsman-swap-0615-jun15,0,1513297.story