YAGNI for managers

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 15:00:00 +0000

I almost never happens, but only almost: all the team is working. They are probably working on the right thing. Nothing is stopping them. There are no roadblocks to annihilate, no interruptions, no misunderstandings. In that lucky moment, my fellow PMs, Coaches, Scrum Bosses, take a deep breath and… don’t disturb anybody. Anybody.

There is certainly a doc to be reviewed, an e-mail to be written, a long overdue, low priority phone call to be made. Do it.

Yeah, you could use the moment to query a developer on the feasibility of a future feature or to check if you like the interface the webdev is doing. These are the kind of things that you are constantly doing to keep the car running, the juggling ball in the air. You do them so constantly that they become an internal rhythm. But. If you thing carefully, they are ALL not needed now.

So, for one time, apply the YAGNI (You Ain’t Gonna Need It) philosophy you are constantly rambling about to yourself. And enjoy the moment.

It won’t last.

fabiobeta

YAGNI for managers