In reviewing older posts, I came across this little gem that is particularly relevant to development today.
The succinct message? Burnout looms when we aren’t releasing regularly.
A client of mine recently embraced agile methodologies like iterative development. Initially, we had three-week sprints. However, feedback from the testing team prompted a shift to more frequent, one-week iterations. A challenging change, but it brought to mind the principle:
“When feeling overwhelmed, reflect on what you can release this week.”
During a discussion about the compressed timeline, two points emerged:
- Time Sensitivity: Missing a single day puts you 20% behind. This can be daunting, especially for teams accustomed to compressed work weeks or juggling multiple commitments.
- Limited Flexibility: A one-week iteration eliminates the pitfalls of endless design-tweaking. The one week iteration ensures there are no “beware the man in a dark room” syndrome; however, it offers little room for significant redesigns and refactoring. Those who love reiterating designs might struggle with this pace. Our remedy? Enforce that tasks must be completed within an 8-hour frame. If not feasible, break it down further. Consider occasional light iterations or dedicated refactoring sprints. But caution: mid-week refactoring that disrupts the code may necessitate a rollback.
The focus shifts from “What am I working on?” to “What am I releasing this week?”
Consistent releases compel teams to function efficiently. Our regimen comprises:
- Monday: Morning release, followed by a backlog review.
- Wednesday: Feature Go/No-Go decision.
- Friday: Final check-in, with room for weekend adjustments.
From a consultancy standpoint, weekly sprints are intriguing. They instill an agility in clients to conclude a project whenever they deem fit, be it due to budget constraints or feature completion. And that’s advantageous. As consultants, our mission is to facilitate businesses in delivering solutions. With a one-week cycle, you’re constantly prepared to deliver. And it invigorates Mondays!