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Cindy works for AgileSoft as the Product Owner for its clients. AgileSoft contracted with Acme to do product development for its marketing website. Acme sells a variety of products and services, and wants the website to serve all audiences, from casual browsers to long-time customers. Acme’s Marketing, Sales and IT teams are involved, but Acme’s representative on the project is Bob from Marketing.

Bob is on board with an agile approach. He likes the idea of seeing steady progress and being able to make changes along the way. However, Bob’s boss, Martha, is not so sure. She just wants to know, “Will everything get done?”

Bob tried to explain the benefits of agile to Martha — Acme can see the product as AgileSoft develops it. He said, “You and I get to make some changes in the order in which AgileSoft develops it. We might realize we want different things, not just in a different order.”

Martha said, “Look, I need everything. I scoped this project with everyone — Marketing, Sales, and IT. You all agreed about our needs. I don’t care what order Cindy’s team works on the items, but I want everything we scoped.”

Martha is being reasonable in wanting to know the duration and cost of the project. However, any estimate is unreliable. As Yogi Berra said, “It's tough to make predictions,…

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