Being Agile: Eleven Breakthrough Techniques to Keep You from “Waterfalling Backward”

Stakeholders Should Have Skin in the Game

Any customer requesting a new feature will likely tell you that the solution is needed urgently. However, we see teams that deliver capability that is not rolled out at their customer sites for months or, in worst-case scenarios, years. Delivering value that satisfies a customer need is a two-way street and, if customers are gaining real benefits by being part of the process, they should be willing to put some skin in the game. Find out how and when customers plan to roll out your new release. If customers tell you that they plan to do so at some later date, then you have negotiating room to move their requested functionality down on the rank-ordering of user stories. This also allows you to talk to customers ...