Tech Workers Coalition Berlin - Learning Club

Learning is central to workers’ empowerment. Without knowledge on the complex world we operate in, we are prey to the interests of those who capitalize on exploitation. Tech Worker Coalition organizes regular sessions in the form of reading groups to read and discuss articles, books and pamphlets about a variety of topics that sit on the boundary between technology critique, politics, philosophy and sociology. The role of the Tech Worker, the possible strategies and the history of worker organizations are also targets to our work.

Wednesday, 15 April 2020 at 19:00

Agile: managerial control, empty ritual or a form of workers power?

Since its inception, Agile and agile methodologies have received a mix of love and hate from software developers. A multitude of opinions, voices and positions populate the debate. While Agile seems to be less and less adopted in IT because associated with empty rituals and disconnected from modern development needs, new methodologies born from the same ideas are starting to be used in other industries as a new form of production to better control workers.

This month we will read a collection of short articles that exemplify some of the voices that often reoccur in this debate. We also present as optional readings some more in-depth articles that try to map the state of Agile.

Readings:

Agile Methods

The agile software manifesto

Agile is the new waterfall

The end of Agile

The Agile labor union

Agility for Anxiety Capitalism

Optional:

Back to the future: origins and directions of the “Agile Manifesto”

How to participate

Finish the readings before hand, and download Zoom/call in.

Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/743206255

Meeting ID: 743 206 255

Tap your preferred telephone country to call in:

We have a Slack group and a Facebook eventin which we might publish some additional readings for the more passionate participants.

Accessibility

Check the accessibility features of Zoom. It is also possible to use Zoom over mobile telephone. If you have any additional concerns, contact us at accessibility@techworkersberlin.com

Code of Conduct

Get involved

All meetings and communications are covered under the Berlin Code of Conduct . The privacy and safety of our members is important to us. Sharing the identity of members and or taking/sharing photos are strictly forbidden unless express consent is given.