Sparx Systems

The second Sparx University Week will be run during October, with most training sessions being held during the week of October 23-27.

University Weeks are hosted by Sparx Systems Japan, Sparx Systems Central Europe, Sparx Services North America, Sparx Systems India and Sparx Services UK (Hippo Software).

The delivery format for each course varies depending on the subject, audience and location, with a mix of both online and face-to-face seminars and courses.

It is anticipated that Sparx University Week will be run on a global basis every few months, in conjunction with Sparx Systems Sister and Services Partner network.

Bookings are essential, please review the course schedule below and visit the course provider's website for more details and to register your place.

Sparx University Week Schedule:

Scott Hebbard, Communications Manager at Sparx Systems will present on the Sparx Systems Tools and Techniques for BABOK at the upcoming event for Business Analysis Professionals in Melbourne.

The BABOK® Guide has long been acknowledged as the authoritative source of knowledge and practices for business analysis. Sparx Systems and the International Institute of Business Analysis™ (IIBA®) have collaborated to produce the Tools and Techniques for BABOK Guide v3.

This session will introduce you to the Sparx Systems Enterprise Architect Tools and Techniques for the BABOK® Guide v3. Learn how to tackle common business analysis challenges, using real world Enterprise Architect examples in conjunction with the BABOK®Guide.

This session is ideal for any business analyst that would like to become more familiar with using tools to improve business outcomes.

For more information, visit the BA professional day website:

http://baprofessionalday.com/quick-bites-melb-2017/

Knowledge Exchange & Networking Opportunity

Join us in Chicago on Thursday 16th of November to hear from senior representatives from Sparx Systems HQ and Sparx Services North America, along with Partners and senior industry representatives. Lunch and refreshments will be provided during the day.

Tom O'Reilly COO, will highlight the latest product developments from Sparx Systems and provide insights into the new features of Enterprise Architect 14 and the Pro Cloud Server.  Presentations from Sparx Systems US Partners and leading industry experts will provide insightful case studies and valuable solutions based on world best practice.

Enterprise Architect User Group events are an ideal opportunity to foster collaboration and develop long lasting professional relationships.

North America Enterprise Architect User Group:

• Date / Time: Thursday 16th November, 8:00am to 5:00pm CST
• Venue: East-West University, 816 Michigan Avenue, Chicago IL
• Tickets: $100 per person - includes Networking Lunch

Limited Availability - Register Today!

In BA Lens this month - the IIBA magazine discusses how Sparx Systems has brought the BABOK Guide for Business Analysts into Enterprise Architect's tooling environment, helping to make it more interactive and functional.

Sparx Systems' BA toolset is a product of a memorandum of understanding between the two organizations that aims to "create greater connections and engagements across the business analysis community" (see press release). 

As stated by the editor at BA Lens - "As a business analysis professional, you need access to the leading-edge tools and resources. This toolkit will allow BAs to meet any challenge with instant access to BABOK® Guide v3 in a convenient and familiar web-based format."

The toolset comprises of two different parts - an interactive, editable example model of business analysis techniques and a convienient web-based reference to the BABOK.

“It is the first-time business analysis techniques have been actualized in this way, and the solution has the capacity to revolutionize the way the BABOK® Guide v3 is applied within the enterprise,”, Sparx Systems COO Tom O'Reilly said.

To read the BA Lens article in full visit:  http://balens.iiba.org/?q=content/collaboration-driving-new-level-efficiency-and-engagement

To learn more about Tools and Techniques for BABOK Guide v3 visit: http://www.sparxsystems.com/products/mdg/babok

Upcoming Community-based End User Events in Europe - September & October, 2017

Two European User Group events will be held during late September and early October. The Scottish Gathering of Enterprise Architect Users will be held again in Livingston, as well as a new 2 day User Group event to be hosted at the Aeropolis in Brussels.

Scottish Gathering of Enterprise Architect Users - 29th September, 2017

Hippo Software will be hosting their next User Group event at Livingston, Scotland; the single day event costs just £48, including lunch and refreshments. Previous Scottish End User events have been very popular and is an excellent opportunity to share knowledge and network with like-minded professionals.

Delegate registrations are open now, event hosts are also requesting Speaker submissions until August 31; for more details please visit the event website.

Event Details & Registration

Brussels Enterprise Architect User Group - 5th & 6th October, 2017

The 2 day event includes an 'EA training day' and a typical User Group day. Delegates can register for either or both days, early bird discounts end on the 18th of August. Previous User Group events held in the region have been very popular, the new 2 day format will provide additional value to delegates.

Event hosts are currently requesting Presentation submissions and Sponsorship opportunities are also available, please visit the event website for details.

Event Details & Registration

Sparx Systems has been identified as an exemplar model regarding the firm's approach to Agile in an article published in the August issue of BA LENS online magazine.

The feature highlighted that in order to fully understand Agile, an organisation needs to embed the principles of Agile into it's DNA.

"Sparx Systems has built the agile mindset into the organization’s culture and to the delivery of the recognized products they provide to their global network of users."

In partnership with the International Institute of Business Analysis, Sparx Systems released the Tools & Techniques for BABOK Guide v3, a digital reference for IIBA's Business Analysis Body Of Knowledge. Tools & Techniques for BABOK Guide v3 can be accessed freely via the new Pro Cloud Server, viewed on any mobile device browser.

With the recent inclusion of OSLC RESTful API within Sparx Systems products, and increasing number of web-based integrations will be available to users of Enterprise Architect, Web EA and Pro Cloud Server in the near future. The Beta release of Enterprise Architect 14, slated for late 2017, will prove to be another quality product as a result of Agile methodologies and best practices.

Read the article in full on IIBA's BA LENS website

In this month's SD Times 100 Winner's Supplement, Sparx Systems CEO, Geoffrey Sparks discusses Enterprise Architect's new collaborative tools supported by the Pro Cloud Server. The Pro Cloud Server released in June, offers secure access for enterprise-wide discussion and review of the model via web-enabled devices, as well as new ways to exchange model repository information with other systems.

“Our new Pro Cloud Server, WebEA and OSLC-based RESTful API are integrated so Enterprise Architect repositories can be hosted in the cloud or on a corporate intranet to provide optimized web-based access from browsers, mobile devices, Enterprise Architect and other network-based devices,” said Sparks.

The SD Times 100 honors companies, consortia and projects that have put their stamps on the industry through innovation and leadership. 

A copy of the entire article is attached to this article.

David Rubinstein, Editor in Chief at SD Times, recently interviewed Geoffrey Sparks regarding Enterprise Architecture and how effective collaboration platforms assist in delivery of business value.

In this month's SD Times, Sparx Systems is in the industry spotlight, discussing the new Pro-Cloud Server, WebEA and RESTful API for OSLC, as well as the role of dynamic collaboration in digital transformation.

In the interview, Geoffrey Sparks, CEO of Sparx Systems, comments "The ability to dynamically create models, collaborate and integrate models over multiple domains and technical platforms is a remarkable and highly agile solution that has the capacity to radically improve the quality, accuracy and effectiveness of model-based project."

The article also calls attention to the collaboration between Sparx Systems and the IIBA, resulting in the development of a toolkit for IIBA's Business Analysis Body of Knowledge® (BABOK® Guide v3). On the collaboration Sparx Systems COO, Tom O'Reilly commented " It is the first time business analysis techniques have been actualized in this way and we are excited about the outcome."

Read the full article on the Sparx Systems website (PDF, 1.4Mb)

On the 30th of June, Catherine Vance was awarded the Sparx Systems Award for her exceptional project work and dedication to her studies at Federation University, Australia.

The award was presented at the Faculty of Science and Technology Student Award Ceremony by Sparx Systems' Communications Manager, Scott Hebbard, who noted "I was pleasing to present an award to a student so dedicated and passionate about learning programming and software engineering using Enterprise Architect."

On her award win, Catherine has commented: "I would like to thank Sparx Systems for presenting me with the Sparx Systems Pty Ltd award, along with a copy of Enterprise Architect Ultimate Edition and a cheque for $500. I am a mature aged student studying Bachelor of IT, Professional Practice at Federation University Australia. I recently completed a software engineering subject where I found Enterprise Architect to be invaluable for creating sequence diagrams, class diagrams, domain model diagrams and various other models. I also found the reverse engineering function to be particularly useful. I have used Enterprise Architect in programming subjects throughout my degree and it is a great program for all IT students to use. I enjoy programming, and software engineering was one of my favourite subjects so far. I work very hard in my studies and greatly appreciate this award. Thank you very much to all at Sparx Systems."

All of us at Sparx Systems congratulate Catherine on her win, and wish her all the best in her career.