Call for Papers - Rethink, Reframe, Rekindle

Last year, our theme was Igniting Growth. This year, we would like to build on that by inviting you, as the speaker, to reassess the way we, as a community, have been working in Agile. 

We would like you to:
Rethink the different Ways of Work by asking yourself, what’s truly driving successful outcomes of value, growth etc. 

Reframe perspectives, adopting a more open and positive mindset that encourages innovation and adaptability

Rekindle the passion that brought you to Agile in the first place, reigniting our commitment to this ever-evolving, human-centric craft. 

By embracing this approach, we can create deeper connections, foster meaningful impact, and drive both personal and collective growth. 

Tracks? This year, we’re stepping away from the traditional tracks, giving you the freedom to explore, create, and share without boundaries. Let your ideas run wild and showcase your work with limitless creativity! While you have the freedom to innovate, we encourage you to consider the following guidelines to ensure alignment with our overall theme.

Some considerations before submitting your paper:

How can Agile be extended beyond IT into areas like marketing, HR, and other industries to demonstrate its flexibility while ensuring teams focus on delivering real value that aligns with business goals and customer needs?

How does the role of Agile leadership evolve to support teams with understanding and help them thrive in a constantly changing environment?

How can we build cross-functional teams that break down silos and create holistic solutions, while also focusing on togetherness, user experience, and well-being to make Agile human-centred?

How can Agile be combined with frameworks/methodologies such as Lean or Design Thinking to develop a flexible, hybrid approach?

How do recognising both small and large achievements build momentum, strengthen team cohesion, and foster a sense of purpose?

How can personal connections, empathy, and open communication enhance team dynamics, while leaders cultivate a culture of experimentation that encourages creativity and learning from failure?

Points to guide you with your submission:

• Your proposal aligns with our theme – Rethink, Reframe, Rekindle – and adds depth or breadth to the community's discussions.
• You can confidently deliver your session, whether you're a seasoned speaker or a first-timer on the conference stage.
• Your session sparks excitement and curiosity among attendees.
• Attendees gain something valuable from the time spent in your session
• Share any prior knowledge or experience that would help an attendee get the most out of your session. If your session is selected, the prerequisites may be included in your session description.

Catering to your Target Audience: 

Carefully consider the primary level of audience understanding and comprehension for whom your session is intended. Choose from the following:

Foundational: Focuses on attendees with 0-2 years of agile experience

Intermediate: Focuses on attendees with 2-5 years of agile experience

Advanced: Focuses on attendees with 5+ years of agile experience 

(Note: The target audience may be adjusted by the Program Team).

Factors That Could Lead to Rejection:

• Propose a common, outdated topic / approach or a resubmission unless it includes a new twist or showcases a truly deep experience.
• Include thinly-veiled or outright marketing and promotion of services.
• If your submission’s golden thread and "Why?" is difficult to follow or understand.
• Show that insufficient effort went into your submission.
• Please avoid including personally identifiable information (such as your name or company) in the body of your submission, as we aim to make an unbiased selection.
• Disregard any of the guidelines or suggestions outlined above.

In addition to these guidelines, please review two past examples of successful submissions for a talk and workshop, respectively.

Example Talk

Example Workshop

__________________________________________________________________________________

Additional Information  

(guidance for submitting a session)

A workshop versus a talk

A good guideline for a workshop is that your speaking time should be 40% or less of the total session duration, with the remainder dedicated to participant activities (such as exercises, group work, or interaction with other attendees). Workshops typically last 90 minutes, while talks are usually 45 minutes.

We pride ourselves on hosting a conference where all speakers respect one another and the audience, helping us to stay on schedule.

A lightning talk 

Is short and punchy—just 15 minutes—including a brief introduction from the facilitator and any Q&A. A lightning talk doesn’t need to offer a solution; it can be designed to start a conversation, spark ideas, and get people thinking, or it could share something interesting you’ve experienced.

Successful Submissions: 

All accepted speakers and co-speakers will receive a ticket to attend the full conference.

Please ensure you are familiar with the Code of Conduct and Speaker Terms & Conditions before making a submission.

By submitting to the SGZA 2025 system, you confirm that you have fully understood the content of both.

• Speaker Terms and Conditions
• SUGSA Code of Conduct 

(Initially set for anonymous submission, however, the feedback team needs to be able to send feedback if it was requested)

Please note that the submitter's details are collected upfront as part of their profile. This is not unique to our submission process; they use the same profile for submissions to any conference. We can request unique information here.

Timeline (Central Africa Time UTC+2)

01 October 2024: Call for Papers opens
01 October 2024 - 22 October 2024 midnight: During this time submitters can ask for feedback to polish their submission. They will be able to resubmit.
23 October 2024 - 31 October 2024: Submissions still allowed however no feedback will be given.
31 October 2024: Call for papers close
01 November 2024 - 20 November 2024: Paper reviews in progress
24 November 2024: Notify successful speakers
08 December 2024: Final confirmation of speakers
15 December 2024: Programme announcement

Submission Guidelines    

Read Carefully Before Completing the Call For Papers Fields

Attendees will see your title, description, and learning outcomes.

Session Title
Include a short, catchy title for your session.

Session Description
This will appear on the agenda. Consider what would motivate someone to attend your talk, what could draw their attention.

Talk Format 
A Talk should be 45 minutes including time for Q&A; 

Workshops should last 90 minutes; and 

A Lightning Talk is 15 minutes.

Levels 

This is the expected level of experience of attendees you intend to target in the audience as mentioned above.

Foundational: Focuses on attendees with 0-2 years of agile experience

Intermediate: Focuses on attendees with 2-5 years of agile experience

Advanced: Focuses on attendees with 5+ years of agile experience 

Learning Outcomes

Please tell us what guests will gain from this session? What will they leave with or what might have changed for them as a result of attending your session?
State this in 3 to 5 bullet points.

Information for the Review Team

• Please do not include any personally identifiable information (such as your name or organisation) in this section.
• Please do an outline of how you will use the time and the structure of your talk or workshop (see examples of successful submissions for reference).
• Why will your session be relevant to the community?
• Provide any additional information that will help reviewers understand the value that participants will gain from your session.

Feedback: Yes/No

Previous Talk Resources:

Please share any previous talks you’ve done, including links to recordings of these sessions if available. We strive for a balance of new and experienced speakers at each Gathering, so don’t worry if you don’t have anything to include here—SGZA25 may be your first, and we welcome new speakers!

FAQs:

How do I add another submission?

• Select ‘My Events’ on your navigation bar/menu
• Select ‘Submit more’ under the heading ‘Sessions”

Am I going to get feedback on my submission?

• 01 October 2024 - 22 October 2024 midnight: During this time submitters can ask for feedback to polish their submission. They will be able to resubmit.
• You may also request feedback after the programme has been announced.
• Please note that we cannot guarantee that all submissions will receive reviewer feedback during the evaluation.