Comments on Agile Development Made Easy!: The Problem With Planning

I think I know what you mean. The problem with pla...

2009-10-26T19:35:44.334Z

I think I know what you mean. The problem with planning is that it relies on "knowns" and stability of circumstances over time, when more often the back-drop is unknowns (or even unknowables) and dynamic circumstances. So I'd agree that being able to adapt is often more important. I think I blogged on a similar theme a while ago myself

http://blog.capablepeople.co.uk/2008/08/is-long-term-goal-driven-planning-a-waste-of-time/

The only thing we have to fear is...change itself....

2009-10-25T14:04:00.103Z

The only thing we have to fear is...change itself. This is what most planning is about. Protecting against change. At least a perception that we can avoid change. Wikipedia.org states that agility means the capability of rapidly and cost efficiently adapting to changes. Let's face it...software development is all about evolving a software product to deliver business value over time. Evolution is not a planned event, it is a guided event. The most important thing you need is an initial vision of the product, a definition of what constitutes business value, an open minded team/organization that can adapt to changes for the sake of TRUE business value, and a culture and processes that expect and embrace change.

Peter DeYoe
www.peterdeyoe.wordpress.com

Fear seems to be a factor. Fixed cost is seen as a...

2009-10-19T11:04:44.781Z

Fear seems to be a factor. Fixed cost is seen as a safety net, so people prefer to have everything planned and costed up front, rather than releasing funding in smaller chunks to allow for the inevitable change in direction and scope.
I often have conversations beginning with "... but Agile can't work with fixed cost projects?". I try to counter that with, "Do you think it is more acceptable to agree a cost, knowing full well that the project will run over budget?", but still they cling... Perhaps we need to convince the accountants?

Couldn't agree more. Detailed, up-front planning i...

2009-10-05T19:21:32.442Z

Couldn't agree more. Detailed, up-front planning is usually a waste of time considering that once we start to get feedback the direction can change considerably. What we think the market or our users want isn't always, or usually, the case. As you say, it's necessary to have goals and a vision, but for some reason, most people see a project plan as set in stone. Working against goals rather than milestones can retain the flexibility we need to remain truly agile.