Marc
Balcer

Facilitator

"It's easy to make motion, but it's a lot harder to make progress on what really matters to your business.”

About Marc

I've been involved in information technology and software development for my entire career. I'm a published expert in software testing and the creator of TAME - a model-driven platform for specifying and generating software tests. I delve deeper into the world of software design and architecture in the books I co-authored, Executable UML: A Foundation for Model-Driven Architecture and Applied SOA: Service-Oriented Architecture and Design Strategies.

Back in 1998, I started leading a project that "broke all the rules". This was my first foray into agile, and it ultimately became a whole enterprise system for a major financial services firm that I was working for at the time.

We started small with a two-month project to solve something simple that would deliver immediate value for our customers. Rather than trying to define all the requirements upfront, the team could ensure that what was being delivered was what our customers really needed. An agile way of working provided the freedom, flexibility, and feedback we needed to keep up with changing requirements and market shifts.

In many professions, technologies and practices continually change. That’s why the agile philosophy is fundamentally about experimentation, curiosity, learning, and a willingness to try new things. So, to be an effective instructor, consultant, and course developer, I like to be continually hands-on, putting theory into practice.

This willingness to try new things spills over into my personal life. I love to travel, and I always try to visit new places. My partner and I have been to over 100 countries and became members of the Travelers' Century Club. When I'm not travelling, I'm learning and improving my craft – oh and talking. I'm a professional chatterbox.