Willem van den Ende

Welcome! I am currently working as an independent software developer, consultant, trainer and coach. I work around the world; wherever I find clients that want to be the best in what they do. I am based in the Netherlands (Eindhoven) and the UK (Bath). If you want to know what I am up to now, read my weblog ; the most recent posts are featured here in the News section as well.

I strive to do only those activities that really add value, to empower myself and others, and to improve teamwork, quality, and pleasure. I recognize that each organisation, team, and individual has a unique context and capabilities. I leverage these capabilities by looking at what works well, and adding to that. 

Most people will know me for the work I have been doing in the agile software develoment space. I was drawn to the agile manifesto early on, because I have been "uncovering better ways of developing software by developing software and helping others do it" since I started working with computers. Whenever someone asks me: "why are you doing that?" My answer is usually: "because 'that' is the best way I have found of doing something so far" (in the particular context I am doing it in).  

Since 2000 I spend most of my time supporting organisations in becoming agile. I do so by teaching courses, mentoring and coaching software development teams, organizing conferences, courses, workshops and tutorials and by writing for magazines, my blog and systems thinking net. From July 2006, to August 2008 I have served as a board member to the Agile Alliance .

Services:

• Courses, workshops and tutorials

  I organise experiential workshops and tutorials. These days I provide most courses with my partners in QWAN. Our customers report that participants effectively change their way of working after attending one of our intensive courses. That is our main motivation: giving people the tools to do their job more effectively, paired with the conviction that they have the skills and power to change their environment for the better.

• Retrospectives

  Most things I do help teams go faster. Every once in a while it helps to stand still. Taking a longer view helps all stakeholders to uncover deeper improvements together .

• Coaching

Coaching involves me asking difficult questions, observing what goes on on a daily basis and (systems) thinking with you, so you can devise solutions that work for you now and in the future.

• Mentoring

Mentoring involves me setting an example with practices that work. I share my experience, based on priorities we set together with the people I will work with. Then we work together for a while, evaluating our progress as we go. I only visit your site(s) for those moments I add most value.

• Facilitation

Do you have to organize a (difficult) meeting in which you also want to participate? Hiring outsiders to facilitate the meeting for you can help you achieve your goals.

• Conference organization

A conference helps a large group make (un)common sense of the world. I co-organize events that make a difference in the daily (work)life of people.

• Micro-fixed-price projects

Micro fixed-price (or micro fixed-everything) is a way of doing a software development project that shares risks and rewards between customer and supplier equally, and gives both of them regular opt-out opportunities. 

• Consulting

Let me work with you to make complex things simple, not complicated. 

I am happy to respond to any questions you might have. Call me: +31-6 413 06 965 or use the contact form.