Feature shoot-out
It is especially useful when the client is not familiar with agile methodologies and the idea of variable scope breeds distrust. By making the comparison in a participatory way and with the project's own data, resistance to agility softens organically.
Description
The feature shoot-out invites the client to a contest in which the benefits of several contract types are compared. It lets the client see firsthand the advantages of an agile contract, and it can also be useful for convincing a wider circle of the client's employees.
Structure
- The contract types most suitable for the project are presented: both agile and traditional.
- The advantages and disadvantages of each one are written down on a visible surface.
- A debate is opened on the individual advantages and disadvantages of each contract type.
- Through the debate, contract types are progressively ruled out until only one remains: the one the group considers most suitable for the project.
Visual aids (color flip charts) during the sessions are important. At the end of each session, a visual summary is presented that clearly shows the outcome of the debate.
Relationship with the Workshop on contract setup
The feature shoot-out and the Workshop on contract setup are complementary strategies for the adoption of agile contracts. The feature shoot-out is shorter (two hours) and focuses on comparing contract types; the Workshop on contract setup is longer (one or two days) and simulates the development of the entire project under the chosen agile contract.
Common mistake
Turning the workshop into a sales pitch. The feature shoot-out works because it is participatory: the client reaches their own conclusions through debate. If the facilitator lobbies too hard for the agile contract instead of facilitating an honest comparison, the client senses that they are being "sold" something, and trust erodes. The disadvantages of the agile contract must be presented as honestly as those of the traditional contract.
Resources
📄 Descubriendo Agile Contracts [Discovering Agile Contracts, in Spanish]Scrum Manager · Downloadable PDF
References
- Gloger, Boris; Mittermayr, Ralf; Opelt, Andreas; Pfarl, Wolfgang. (2013). Agile Contracts: Creating and Managing Successful Projects with Scrum. Wiley.
See also
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