1.0 Introduction

You are holding in your hands the very first WIMMA Lab Black Book!

It's a guide for anyone interested in getting to know more about WIMMA Lab's practises and activities. The guide has excellent tips and exercises that have been tested under real conditions and proven to work.

Black Book author, Minttu Mäkäläinen, worked as a head coach at the WIMMA Lab in JAMK University of Applied Sciences in the summer of 2018. She wrote Black Book as her thesis based on the summer's experiences.

The images used include members from virtual companies IoTitude, Overflow, Mysticons and Pengwin Media in the summer of 2018.

WIMMA Lab employees enjoying summer day

WIMMA Lab employees enjoying the summer day.

1.1 What is WIMMA Lab?

WIMMA Lab is a project learning model launched by Marko “Narsu” Rintamäki, a teacher at JAMK University of Applied Sciences, where the students can practice the skills they learn at school with real assignments given by different companies and employers. The students also have the opportunity to learn new things that are not necessarily taught at the school.

Students are divided into different virtual companies, which are small groups of like minded people, where they act as employees for two and a half months (for more about virtual companies, see chapter 5). Students accumulate ECTS credits during the project and gain work experience in their field.

WIMMA Lab is looking for different assignments for students by utilizing existing networks and seeking the right customers for virtual companies. At the same time, students get to expand their network with experts in the field and get in touch with new companies and contacts.

WIMMA Lab uses methods based on the ideology of agile development, such as working on a sprint model and Kanban boards (read more in chapter 8). New practices are constantly tested and embedded in the process if they are perceived as good.

1.2 Main Objectives of WIMMA Lab

The main purpose of WIMMA Lab is to teach students how to work in groups using agile product development methods, and to develop problem solving skills. At the same time, students will learn about the different processes of service design that are used in real working life. Assignments are sought to address the needs of a real customer, so the course is as close to work experience as possible.

Another main purpose is to develop business cooperation and to learn new technologies. Students are more likely to be recruited when they are able to apply the latest technology in practical work. During WIMMA Lab, students will also be able to create contacts with business representatives, which will help finding a job later.

Overflow

Overflows' teamwork is going smoothly.

1.3 WIMMA Lab's Brief History

JAMK University of Applied Sciences needed operatives for many different research programs, when it was concluded that the students could be involved working for the projects.

2011

  • WIMMA Lab got its start as Summer Factory
  • Strategic Research Programs: Cloud Software Finland

2014

  • The name changed to Challenge Factory
  • Strategic Research Programs: Need for Speed (N4S)

2015

  • Strategic Research Programs: Cyber Trust

2016

  • A virtual company model was created
    • IoTitude - Full Stack Development
    • Overflow - Network Solutions
    • Kumos - Cloud Services

2017

  • WIMMA Lab brand was created
  • More virtual companies were established
    • Mysticons - Data Analyzing, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence
    • Pengwin Games - Game Development
    • Pengwin Media - Web Design, Graphics, Web Development

2018

  • WIMMA Lab Black Book was written
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