Comments on: Setting and Managing Expectations http://blog.mountaingoatsoftware.com/setting-and-managing-expectations Succeeding With Agile® Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:51:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Simon Bestbier http://blog.mountaingoatsoftware.com/setting-and-managing-expectations/comment-page-1#comment-61759 Simon Bestbier Fri, 18 Dec 2009 08:35:18 +0000 http://blog.mountaingoatsoftware.com/?p=408#comment-61759 Great read. I recently had a similar experience with a project although we seemed to be on the same "expectation track" until the last minute when the client went a bit wild. 2010 is definately going to see a massive increase in our client contact and communication through out the development process. Great read. I recently had a similar experience with a project although we seemed to be on the same “expectation track” until the last minute when the client went a bit wild.

2010 is definately going to see a massive increase in our client contact and communication through out the development process.

]]> By: Arjan’s World » LINKBLOG for Dec 2, 2009 http://blog.mountaingoatsoftware.com/setting-and-managing-expectations/comment-page-1#comment-60249 Arjan’s World » LINKBLOG for Dec 2, 2009 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:04:14 +0000 http://blog.mountaingoatsoftware.com/?p=408#comment-60249 [...] Setting and Managing Expectations – Mike Cohn [...] [...] Setting and Managing Expectations – Mike Cohn [...]

]]> By: Mike Cohn http://blog.mountaingoatsoftware.com/setting-and-managing-expectations/comment-page-1#comment-60039 Mike Cohn Tue, 01 Dec 2009 07:17:04 +0000 http://blog.mountaingoatsoftware.com/?p=408#comment-60039 Thanks, Robert. I'm pleased to hear you like the book so far. I look forward to seeing you again in Orlando. Hopefully you've been able to make some good video interviews lately. I saw the video of <a href="http://blog.adsdevshop.com/2009/11/20/tony-hsieh-ceo-of-zappos-big-summit-keynote/" rel="nofollow">Tony Hsieh of Zappos</a> on your site and liked it. Thanks, Robert. I’m pleased to hear you like the book so far. I look forward to seeing you again in Orlando. Hopefully you’ve been able to make some good video interviews lately. I saw the video of Tony Hsieh of Zappos on your site and liked it.

]]> By: Robert Dempsey http://blog.mountaingoatsoftware.com/setting-and-managing-expectations/comment-page-1#comment-59976 Robert Dempsey Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:16:31 +0000 http://blog.mountaingoatsoftware.com/?p=408#comment-59976 @Mike: exactly. Also I got a copy of your book here and will do a video review of it once I finish it. Fantastic stuff as usual sir. When you come to Orlando again, or if I see you elsewhere, I'll have to get you to sign it :) @Mike: exactly. Also I got a copy of your book here and will do a video review of it once I finish it. Fantastic stuff as usual sir. When you come to Orlando again, or if I see you elsewhere, I’ll have to get you to sign it :)

]]> By: Mike Cohn http://blog.mountaingoatsoftware.com/setting-and-managing-expectations/comment-page-1#comment-59972 Mike Cohn Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:02:53 +0000 http://blog.mountaingoatsoftware.com/?p=408#comment-59972 Hi Robert-- Oooh, Great point. Understanding others' expectations is (as you say) as critical as setting expectations of us. I do talk about the need to do that somewhere in the Succeeding with Agile book but wasn't think about it when writing this post. I have a great example of a business that wanted an app rewritten to make it more maintainable. But when I met with team members individually at that company each person gave me a completely different reason why they thought the business was undertaking a rewrite of the system. Eight people, eight reasons. Hi Robert–

Oooh, Great point. Understanding others’ expectations is (as you say) as critical as setting expectations of us. I do talk about the need to do that somewhere in the Succeeding with Agile book but wasn’t think about it when writing this post. I have a great example of a business that wanted an app rewritten to make it more maintainable. But when I met with team members individually at that company each person gave me a completely different reason why they thought the business was undertaking a rewrite of the system. Eight people, eight reasons.

]]> By: Robert Dempsey http://blog.mountaingoatsoftware.com/setting-and-managing-expectations/comment-page-1#comment-59971 Robert Dempsey Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:58:27 +0000 http://blog.mountaingoatsoftware.com/?p=408#comment-59971 Great post Mike. Managing expectations is the job of any manager or Scrum Master, and as you say especially at the start of a major shift to Agile. I would add that knowing what the expectations are on the business side is very important as well. What do they expect to gain from the move to Agile? How do they expect to be able to visualize the progress? Then communicating that to the team so everyone knows what is expected is imperative. Great post Mike. Managing expectations is the job of any manager or Scrum Master, and as you say especially at the start of a major shift to Agile.

I would add that knowing what the expectations are on the business side is very important as well. What do they expect to gain from the move to Agile? How do they expect to be able to visualize the progress? Then communicating that to the team so everyone knows what is expected is imperative.

]]> By: Mike Cohn http://blog.mountaingoatsoftware.com/setting-and-managing-expectations/comment-page-1#comment-59965 Mike Cohn Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:23:52 +0000 http://blog.mountaingoatsoftware.com/?p=408#comment-59965 Hi Jack-- Excellent point. The product owner can play a huge part in setting expectations correctly. On many projects the product owner is the highest ranking person on the project (in the company hierarchy) or has the most political clout. A product owner who helps sets realistic expectations can be a real boon to a project--e.g., instead of "It WILL be done by June 1--guaranteed!" we want one who says "We're in great shape for June 1 but there's a lot of time left but the team is doing a good job of monitoring risk and helping me avoid scope creep so it looks good but nothing's ever guaranteed." Thanks for your comments. And, by the way, I like your blog http://productownerblog.com/ and need to spend more time checking out the posts there. Hi Jack–
Excellent point. The product owner can play a huge part in setting expectations correctly. On many projects the product owner is the highest ranking person on the project (in the company hierarchy) or has the most political clout. A product owner who helps sets realistic expectations can be a real boon to a project–e.g., instead of “It WILL be done by June 1–guaranteed!” we want one who says “We’re in great shape for June 1 but there’s a lot of time left but the team is doing a good job of monitoring risk and helping me avoid scope creep so it looks good but nothing’s ever guaranteed.”

Thanks for your comments. And, by the way, I like your blog http://productownerblog.com/ and need to spend more time checking out the posts there.

]]> By: Mike Cohn http://blog.mountaingoatsoftware.com/setting-and-managing-expectations/comment-page-1#comment-59964 Mike Cohn Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:18:18 +0000 http://blog.mountaingoatsoftware.com/?p=408#comment-59964 Hi Rajiv-- I think I set my wife's expectations correctly during our wedding ceremony. When asked if I "would take this woman as my wife," I turned to my groomsmen (who included her brother) and said, "So, what do you guys think? Should I get married or not?" They knew it was coming and so played along. But right there my wife's expectations were set that I would always be a practical joker! It must have worked though as we've been married for 21 great years so far. BTW: Her dad got back at me. Later in the ceremony he was asked "Who gives this woman for marriage." Instead of saying "her mother and I" like he was supposed to, he stood up, and asked his wife, "Well, should we or not?" I loved it! Hi Rajiv–
I think I set my wife’s expectations correctly during our wedding ceremony. When asked if I “would take this woman as my wife,” I turned to my groomsmen (who included her brother) and said, “So, what do you guys think? Should I get married or not?” They knew it was coming and so played along.

But right there my wife’s expectations were set that I would always be a practical joker! It must have worked though as we’ve been married for 21 great years so far.

BTW: Her dad got back at me. Later in the ceremony he was asked “Who gives this woman for marriage.” Instead of saying “her mother and I” like he was supposed to, he stood up, and asked his wife, “Well, should we or not?” I loved it!

]]> By: Jack http://blog.mountaingoatsoftware.com/setting-and-managing-expectations/comment-page-1#comment-59942 Jack Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:37:27 +0000 http://blog.mountaingoatsoftware.com/?p=408#comment-59942 Right on Mike! In my experience, whether it be for a simple one iteration story or a 24 month large scale project, setting the expectation as Product Owner has been critical to the perceived success of the project. It is often overlooked and unfortunately easily forgotten. Right on Mike! In my experience, whether it be for a simple one iteration story or a 24 month large scale project, setting the expectation as Product Owner has been critical to the perceived success of the project. It is often overlooked and unfortunately easily forgotten.

]]> By: Rajiv http://blog.mountaingoatsoftware.com/setting-and-managing-expectations/comment-page-1#comment-59926 Rajiv Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:24:54 +0000 http://blog.mountaingoatsoftware.com/?p=408#comment-59926 Mike, I wish I had read this post when I got married. *grin* Mike,
I wish I had read this post when I got married. *grin*

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