A Short History on the Agile Alliance Organization

Velocity Partners has been a member of Agile Alliance since we opened our doors in 2004.  The non-profit organization’s mission is to “supports people who explore and apply Agile values, principles, and practices to make building software solutions more effective, humane, and sustainable.”  It has served the Agile software community since 2001.   

For those new to Agile, the website offer lots of resources including a short history on the origin of Agile.  According to the organization, the late 1990’s brought several different methodologies to the public arenas that were a blend of old and new ideas.  The methods all had a common theme, which was a close collaboration between “development teams and business stakeholders; frequent delivery of business value; tight, self-organizing teams; and smart ways to craft, confirm, and deliver code.”

Sometime in early 2001, 17 software developers met in Snowbird, Utah to discuss the best methodologies and practices to use to provide the most effective software development.  “Agile” was the term that came out of the meetings and was applied to a joint collection of values and principles that resulted in the Manifesto for Agile Software Development and its twelve principles.

The Agile Alliance organization was founded shortly thereafter as a forum for practitioners to share ideas and experiences.  Now fifteen years later, it still is a great resource for helping individuals adopt Agile practices and to improve their “ability to develop software with agility.”

Our team at Velocity Partners has successfully completed hundreds of projects for some of the biggest names in business using the distributed Agile model.  Founded as a spin-off of an Agile training company, we are regular contributors at Agile conferences as well as running our own Agile seminar series.  Just remember, that while we strongly believe in distributed Agile methodologies and practices, we work with each client in whatever way they are most comfortable with.

Velocity Partners expertly delivers nearshore (Western hemisphere) software development services using a distributed Agile model that offers outstanding planning, accurate delivery and optimal business value. Our team is comprised of top Agile experts, consultants, and engineers who believe in not only meeting but exceeding our customers’ expectations. For more information about our exciting career opportunities, please see our website.

Ready to Respond to Our Customers’ Unique Needs

Velocity Partners offers a unique combination of software development prowess, Agile expertise and personal accountability to create cost-effective software solutions for our clients. Our business plan includes engaging in lots of dialogue in order to fully understand the challenges and functionality requirements for each project. 

We feel that using an Agile framework gives us the ability to respond quickly to the inherent unpredictability of software development.  With careful planning and on-going communications, our team is positioned to make changes as they develop and to avoid the potential for project risks.  Furthermore, since Agile and Scrum methodologies are incorporated into the core of our business, our clients stay informed of a project’s progress through practices such as daily standups and process and code reviews.

Each of our nearshore delivery centers (in Argentina, Uruguay, Columbia, and Venezuela) are all equipped with the latest state-of-the-art communication tools that fully support virtual teamwork.   Furthermore, our services are designed to help you scale your business by expanding your existing teams or to add development capacity within your organization.  Your team is specifically built and takes into account the technical expertise you need as well as your business domain.  Also keep in mind that since our retention rate for employees is above the industry average, there is a good likelihood that you will have the same team for the duration of your project.

We make it a point to provide our employees with a workplace that encourages creative flexibility and also offers cutting-edge training and career development.  With the help of our strong brand and attractive culture, we have been able to hire some of the most talented project managers, software architects and developers, and Scrum Masters in the field.  We know that satisfied employees translate into satisfied clients, which is our top priority.

Velocity Partners provides nearshore (Western hemisphere) expertise in software development services using a distributed Agile model that provides accurate delivery and optimal business value. Our team is comprised of talented leaders from the software development community, and we offer cost-effective solutions for any size company. Please contact us for further information regarding services from a world-class global software outsourcing company.

Our Delivery Center at Caracas

Caracas, or officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the largest city and capital of Venezuela and is the site of one of our Velocity Partners’ Latin American delivery centers.  The city embodies why we chose Latin America as the location of our nearshore delivery centers as it is an advanced technology center with a large talent pool that allows for cost-effective services.

Located in the Cerro Avila Valley, the city runs alongside the Guaire River and is 2,490 to 2,990 feet above sea level.   The Cordillera de la Costa Central mountain range separates the city from the Caribbean Sea.  Caracas was originally inhabited by the Toromaimo Indians and founded by the Spanish in 1597. 

The Metropolitan District of Caracas has an estimated population of 5,243,301 and is divided into five municipalities.  The Libertador Municipality is the administrative division of the Venezuelan Capital District.  The other four municipalities are in the Miranda State and include Chacao, Baruta, Sucre, and El Hatillo.    

Caracas is largely a service-based economy with a small industrial presence and is home to some of the tallest skyscrapers in Latin America.  The city is Venezuela’s cultural capital and has many museums, restaurants, theaters, and shopping areas.  The Caracas Stock Exchange and the Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), the country’s largest business, are headquartered in Caracas.

The Chacao district is a top tourist destination offering great food, drink and the opportunity to socialize.  A beautiful example of colonial architecture is the Iglesia de San Francisco church built in 1593 under the design of Antonio Ruiz Ullán.  It is an annex of the Convent of San Francisco and dedicated to Francis of Assisi.  For breathtaking mountain views, the El Ávila National Park surrounds Caracas.  It is accessible by cable car and off-road vehicles as well as by foot, and there are a variety of hiking trails suited to different skill levels.

Please see our website to learn more about Velocity Partners and our commitment to delivering customer value through a lean and Agile execution model.  We have years of experience under our belt and serve businesses of all size. 

Velocity Partners provides nearshore (Western hemisphere) expertise in software development services using a distributed Agile model that provides accurate delivery and optimal business value. Our team is comprised of talented leaders from the software development community, and we offer cost-effective solutions for any size company. Please see our website to learn more about our cost-effective software development services.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caracas

Our Professional Partnerships Ensure the Best Final Product

At Velocity Partners, our goal is provide cost-effective business solutions to companies of all sizes and we are proud to have successfully completed projects for hundreds of satisfied clients.  We have accomplished this by hiring an extremely talented group of people as well as by partnering with some of the biggest names in the industry.

By teaming up with companies such as Microsoft, Red Hat, VersionOne, Rally Software (now a part of CA Technologies), and Scrum Alliance, it helps to ensure our clients receive a superior final product.  As the world's leading provider of open source solutions, Red Hat uses a community-powered approach to provide reliable, high-performing cloud management platforms.  In addition Rally Software provides cloud-based solutions for managing agile software development.

VersionOne offers enterprise solutions for software organizations scaling agile and DevOps and supports methodologies such as the Scaled Agile Framework®, Enterprise Scrum, Kanban and others.  Furthermore, not only do we have a partnership relationship with Microsoft, but we are proud of the fact that they have also been a client.

Our relationship with Scrum Alliance is productive as they are a membership organization that encourages and supports the widespread adoption and effective practice of Scrum.  The organization is focused on Advocacy, Community, and Education.  Their work in advocacy revolves around Scrum careers and educating companies on the benefit of bringing Scrum to their workplace. They also offer Scrum certification including Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM), Certified Scrum Coach® (CSC) and Certified Scrum Trainer® (CST).

Velocity Partners expertly uses a distributed Agile model to build software, and can help scale your business by extending your existing teams, or adding additional development capacity.  We specialize in Microsoft, Open Source, mobile technologies and QA test automation.  Please contact us or visit our website to learn more.

Velocity Partners expertly delivers nearshore (Western hemisphere) software development services using a distributed Agile model that offers outstanding planning, accurate delivery and optimal business value. Our team is comprised of top Agile experts, consultants, and engineers who believe in not only meeting but exceeding our customers’ expectations. Contact us to learn more about how a distributed Agile model provides high-quality software development.

Discover Multiple Resources on Agile from the Experts

Velocity Partners is pleased to offer the community a variety of educational resources on Agile and Scrum practices and methodologies.  We are well suited to the task as our team consists of industry leaders in Agile software development.  In addition we were founded in 2004 as a spinoff of an Agile training company and distributed Agile is part of our DNA and core to our business model as well as engrained in all of our technology processes.  

One example of the resources we offer is a video by Bob Galen on “Implementing Automated Testing”.  As our Principal Agile Evangelist, Bob’s background includes being an early adopter of Extreme Programming, Scrum, Kanban, and Lean practices, and he is now a nationally recognized thought leader in the space.  In addition he is a Certified Scrum Coach with the Scrum Alliance, an honor he proudly shares with only 30 others in North America and 60 in the world. 

We also offer a very informative video by Brian Estep, called the “Scrum of Scrum.”  Brian is a Senior Partner at VP, and among his many responsibilities, he oversees our IT Operations that support the company’s strategic objectives for both North and South America.   Other examples of some of the educational content we offer are a Kanban webinar and a video called the “Three Pillars Approach to Your Agile Test Strategy.”  

However, while these materials are available for download on our website, items are for single, individually licensed, personal use and not intended for commercial use.   We do not approve of distribution outside of the initial down-load.  If you would like to distribute the materials more widely, please do the following: ask the individuals to join our mailing list/community and/or ask us for permission first.  In addition, if you intend to use our materials in your own works, contact us for permission, and then give us credit. 

At Velocity Partners, we expertly deliver nearshore (Western hemisphere) software development services using a distributed Agile model that offers outstanding planning, accurate delivery and optimal business value. Our team is comprised of top Agile experts, consultants, and engineers who believe in not only meeting but exceeding our customers’ expectations. Contact us for more information regarding world-class services from a top offshore software development company.

Leadership Team at VP

Velocity Partners uses a distributed Agile model as the framework for our services, and our talented leadership team brings lots of experience to the process as recognized thought leaders in Agile software development.  Founded in 2004 as a spinoff of an Agile training company, we have been creating exceptional software development solutions that routinely exceed our customer expectations for more than a decade. 

With a diverse range of backgrounds, our leadership team’s experiences include architectural design, crafting software as developers, testing and an overall mastery of information technology.  VP’s Managing Partner and founder, Peter Stroeve, has worked in the high-tech industry since 1985.  His role is to serve as the big-picture thinker and he is responsible for the overall management, strategy and performance of the company.  Stroeve is focused on delivering and exceeding customer service along with recruiting the top talent in the field. Prior to Velocity Partners, he started the consulting organization, ProDX, in Portland, Oregon.

One of our Senior Partners and second longest team member, Brian Estep develops new business, manages existing accounts, and recruits and oversees the company’s technical staff. Brian also directs IT Operations for the company, developing and implementing the IT strategy in order to support the company’s strategic objectives for both North and South America.

Another Senior Partner, Steve Macmillan joined the firm in 2007.  He brings his 20 years of experience in the software industry to developing new business, managing ongoing client relationships and providing oversight for client projects.  He also oversees and guides our nearshore delivery operations to ensure customer satisfaction.

The Senior Partnership team also includes Mark Manzo, a 30-year veteran in the software industry.  He background includes helping companies of all sizes to achieve their goals and he brings that same commitment to steering our clients’ successes.  Manzo is responsible for developing new business, and he understands great relationships start with listening.

Barnaby Sheridan is another of our Senior Partners.  With 25 years of experience in developing software, he expertly manages client expectations in terms of timeliness, cost and quality.  He also oversees our personnel practices and tools to ensure they are ready to meet the changing demands of Agile software development.

We encourage you to take a look at the bios of the rest of our team. We are sure you will agree that we are lucky to have some of the most talented individuals in the industry at Velocity Partners.

Velocity Partners expertly delivers nearshore (Western hemisphere) software development services using a distributed Agile model that offers outstanding planning, accurate delivery and optimal business value. Our team is comprised of talented leaders from the software development community, and we offer cost-effective solutions for any size company. For more information about our exciting career opportunities, please see our website.

Our Site is Filled with Helpful Information

In addition to numerous web pages highlighting and explaining our software development services, goals and background, we also provide informative, well-written blogs to help to educate our workforce as well as the general public. Authored by Bob Galen, an Agile Methodologist, Practitioner & Coach Manager based in Cary, NC, they deal with the finer points of Agile practices, Agile coaching and Agile leadership.  All of them are worth your time if you wish to learn more about Agile methodologies. 

In a recently posted a blog from him called, ScrumMaster? The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.  Galen addresses an article from Mike Cohn’s newsletter regarding taking on the role of a ScrumMaster while also serving as the team’s manager.  He points out that it is difficult when the ScrumMaster is also the person you report to and closes his argument by stating that it is simply too challenging to get the right balance.  However we encourage you to read the whole article.

In another blog, Mr. Galen explores the Qualities of a Great Agile Coach.  Drawing on an article from is Tanner Wortham, who writes a blog called, Spikes & Stories, Galen elaborates on the qualities of a coach in terms of their bias. Take a look at the full article on our website as it is filled with lots of good advice for an Agile coach.

Agile methodologies and practices are at the core of Velocity Partners’ technologies and provide the framework for our software development services.  As our client, we recognize you are the boss and provide transparency and visibility throughout each phase of development.  Our ultimate goal is to offer a unique combination of software development prowess, Agile expertise and personal accountability.

Velocity Partners expertly delivers nearshore (Western hemisphere) software development services using a distributed Agile model that offers outstanding planning, accurate delivery and optimal business value. Our team is comprised of top Agile experts, consultants, and engineers who believe in not only meeting but exceeding our customers’ expectations. For more information about our cost-effective software development services, please see our website.

Dedicated Teamwork and Collaboration

For more than a decade, Velocity Partners has been providing innovative global software development services to companies of all sizes. Our success is defined by the success of our clients and we strive to accomplish this through dedicated teamwork and collaboration.  

We have proudly completed software development for highly-recognizable companies such as Comcast, Microsoft, Oracle, Dell, CoStar Group, US Bank, and eHarmony to name a few.  However we will work just as hard for you regardless of whether you are an entrepreneur just starting out or a large, well-established corporation.

By using Agile/Scrum methodologies to drive our technology processes, we are able to offer an effective alternative to traditional project management and provide cost-effective solutions.  The VP process includes collaborating with our clients, allowing our leadership team to set the vision, and then empowering our employees to work together to create the best outcome.

The distributed Agile model is designed to facilitate teamwork and collaboration, and allows complete transparency throughout the process.  We also incorporate emerging technologies and the latest Agile software developments into our efforts as our staff participates in on-going, cutting-edge training involving technical practices and using Agile/Scrum software development processes.  Furthermore, we are proud to be regular contributors at Agile conferences.

Since Velocity Partner’s methods rely so heavily on excellent communication, our teams participate in daily standups with clients.  This level of communication also allows us to track key accomplishments, service level changes and potential project risks in order to ensure accurate delivery and the best business value.  We encourage you to take a look at our website for more information about our process and our successes.

Velocity Partners expertly delivers nearshore (Western hemisphere) software development services using a distributed Agile model that offers outstanding planning, accurate delivery and optimal business value. Our team is comprised of top Agile experts, consultants, and engineers who believe in not only meeting but exceeding our customers’ expectations. Contact us to learn more about how a distributed Agile model provides high-quality software development.

The Cosmopolitan City of Bueno Aires

Three of Velocity Partners’ Latin American delivery centers are located in Argentina, which is famous for everything from mountain terrains, glacial lakes, and Pampas grasslands as well as lively dance and music.  With a vibrancy similar to that of New York City, we are proud to have cosmopolitan Buenos Aires as the site of one of our advanced technology centers.

Buenos Aires is both the largest city as well as the capital of the country and is a top tourist destination for its European-style architecture and culture.  It has even been referred to as the “Paris of South America.”  However, we will warn you in advance that it is almost impossible to experience all the city has to offer in just one trip.  Home to tango dancing, the city is rich in museums, exceptional restaurants, boutiques, opera, symphonies, contemporary art, botanical gardens and much, much more. 

While there are many sights to see, the main square in the Monserrat barrio of central Buenos Aires, the Plaza de Mayo is a natural starting point.  Lined with historic 19^th-century buildings, several major landmarks are located around the Plaza including the Cabildo.  Now a museum, the Cabildo was used as seat of the ayuntamiento during the colonial times.  The May Pyramid is at the hub of the Plaza de Mayo and is the oldest national monument in Buenos Aires.  Other must see buildings facing the Plaza are Casa Rosada, the presidential palace and the Teatro Colón, ranked by National Geographic to be the third best opera house in the world.  It is also considered to be acoustically among the five best concert venues in the world.

Also you will not want to miss the chance to tour the Recoleta Cemetery, which is rated by the BBC as the best cemetery in the world, and the one of the world’s 10 prettiest cemeteries by CNN.  With over 4,500 above-ground vaults (94 of them are national historical monuments), the country’s former presidents and the “First Lady of Argentina,” Eva Peron are buried there.  Many of the beautiful, elaborate marble mausoleums and statues were sculpted by famous artists.

Velocity Partners expertly delivers nearshore (Western hemisphere) software development services using a distributed Agile model that offers outstanding planning, accurate delivery and optimal business value. Our team is comprised of top Agile experts, consultants, and engineers who believe in not only meeting but exceeding our customers’ expectations. Contact us to learn more about how a distributed Agile model provides high-quality software development.

Source: touropia.com/tourist-attractions-in-buenos-aires/ 

Tips to Hiring a Great Software Development Company

For many companies, sooner or later they will require customized software development services in order to address their company’s unique needs.  That may have you wondering about how to go about hiring the best software development company for your project.  While your professional network is a good place to start, also see if your friends and colleagues have any recommendations.  

Once you find a couple of companies that look promising, you can start researching their range of experience as well as the quantity and quality of projects they have successfully completed.  Take a look at their portfolio of clients and read testimonials from satisfied clients.  In addition ask the software development companies questions regarding the type of applications and their scope of work they have experience with in past projects.  This will help to clarify whether or not they have the technical experience you need.  

Also consider how they dispense their services (i.e. their delivery centers) and whether having your software development team on the same time zone as you is important.  Ask if the company has a good history of employee retention, which is important if you want some assurance of consistency in your team.  In addition find out what methodologies and practices are at the core of their software development.  Furthermore, the most critical question is if the process includes on-going communication, and will you be updated and apprised of your project’s progress on a regular basis?  

When you determine which company will give you the best results, your next step is to explain in detail what you hope to get out of your project.  Help them to understand just what you are trying to accomplish and how soon you need to have it done.  If you made the right decision, your software developers will actively listen to you and ask lots of questions to ensure they understand the scope of your project and expectations.  Other questions include discussing timelines, the cost, and if they offer any support once the project is completed. 

Velocity Partners expertly delivers nearshore (Western hemisphere) software development services using a distributed Agile model that offers outstanding planning, accurate delivery and optimal business value. Our team is comprised of talented leaders from the software development community, and we offer cost-effective solutions for any size company. Please see our website to learn more about our cost-effective software development services.

Great Career Opportunities at Velocity

Velocity Partners is proud of the fact that our employee retention rate is above the industry’s average.  This is not just good luck but rather something we work at every day to achieve.  For a company that is built on teamwork and collaboration, continuity in our workforce is extremely important, and we know that it is not only good for us but also a win for our clients. 

 

From the moment we opened our doors in 2004, we have always recognized that our hardworking employees are the basis of our success and have made it a priority to build a workplace that encourages creative flexibility.  Also we are not all talk and no action but make every effort to fulfill our employees’ personal and professional needs on many fronts.

From a career standpoint, we offer our employees the opportunity to be involved in challenging projects that align with their technical expertise and interest.  We also provide cutting-edge training and career development in technical practices and using Agile/Scrum software development processes. 

Another part of retaining high-quality employees is to provide comprehensive benefits.  As a Velocity Partners employee, you will be offered emergency and travel insurance, a gym membership, child care allowance and lots of fun, relaxing social activities. We also offer referral bonuses as well as English lessons. 

  

Our company encourages original thinking but we also know that sometimes ideas fail and that the most important thing is to learn from those mistakes.  Every day at Velocity, our employees learn from one another as does our leadership team, which sets the vision and then empowers employees to work together toward one goal - customer success.  

 

Contact us for more information on how to become part of the Velocity Partners’ team.  We are committed to hiring the best software developers, project managers and Scrum masters.

Velocity Partners provides nearshore (Western hemisphere) expertise in software development using a distributed Agile model that allows for accurate delivery and optimal business value. Our team is comprised of talented leaders from the software development community, and we offer cost-effective solutions for any size company. For more information about our exciting career opportunities, please see our website.

Exceeding Client Expectations is How We do Business!

The team at Velocity Partners is focused on quickly and cost-effectively delivering results that exceed expectations, and we are not happy until we achieve 100% customer satisfaction.  Our company’s philosophy is to not just sell to our clients but to serve them.  To ensure we continue to succeed in that effort, we invite honest feedback from our clients and use it to improve our services.   

We recognize that the client is our only boss and our goal is to help them to develop software that enhances their success.  If you take a look at our website, you will find a list of some of our clients along with testimonials.   

Velocity Partners’ clients include many big names such as Microsoft, Bloomberg BNA, U.S. Bank, Pet 360, Blue Nile, eHarmony, Oracle, Starbucks, but we serve companies both big and small.  One of our clients, WebMD says that, “Velocity Partners is a great partner and everyone on the team is very proactive, produces high quality results, takes on any challenge and is always willing do whatever it takes to get things done.  I really love our current team and want to keep them happy long into the future!”

We work to make all of our clients that happy.  With a wide pool of talent, your team will be built to your specifications including technical expertise and business domain.  In addition we are committed to meeting our own employees’ needs as well as those of our clients, which may be why our employee retention rate is above the industry’s average.  This means that when you partner with us on a project, your team will most likely stay intact.  So whether you want to scale your business by expanding your own team or need to add some more development capacity to your organization, Velocity Partners can help. 

Velocity Partners expertly delivers nearshore (Western hemisphere) software development services using a distributed Agile model that offers outstanding planning, accurate delivery and optimal business value. Our team is comprised of talented leaders from the software development community, and we offer cost-effective solutions for any size company. Please see our website to learn more about our cost-effective software development services.