By Steve Nunn, The Open Group
TOGAF® Camp is one of the highlights of The Open Group Conference experience, in my opinion: a place where there are no rules that aren’t made to be broken, and where every voice counts. As we’re preparing to hold another TOGAF® Camp in London on May 11, it’s worth revisiting what one entails and the kinds of discussions we have had in past “unconferences.”
If you’ve read my previous post on what an unconference is, you know that there is no set discussion going into TOGAF® Camp; and indeed, any topic regarding Enterprise Architecture in general is welcomed. Previous discussions have revolved around evaluating TOGAF® usage in practice, including sharing experiences of such usage; and the use of EA/TOGAF® as a transformative framework (how to go from EA as a stovepipe to architecture in transformative projects). A particularly popular and instructive session that I recall focused on how to introduce EA with an enterprise. The ability to share experiences in relatively small groups appears to catalyze all attendees into full participation.
When I run The Open Group’s TOGAF® Camps, I enjoy watching people really delve into topics such as these, and getting excited about sharing their own experiences and learning from others. It’s rewarding to know that people take away new or refined ideas from these sessions that they will apply inside their own enterprises. And you, too, can benefit — not just from attending the next one in London, but by also reading highlights of the discussions from ones in the past on a wiki accessible to all.
The TOGAF® Camp in London will take place at Central Hall Westminster on Storey’s Gate as part of The Open Group Conference, London, May 9-13. It will be held from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 11 during the afternoon track session, and is free and open to all — whether attending the rest of the conference or not. Find out more or register here, or in person. Join us for libations afterwards for the full unconference experience!
Steve Nunn is the COO of The Open Group and the CEO of the Association of Enterprise Architects. An attorney by training, Steve has been with The Open Group since 1993. He is a native of the U.K. and is based in the U.S.