I got another opportunity for an elevator pitch. I could see this senior executive was a man of illustrations. So I chose to give an illustration on the classic questions. Agile Vs Waterfall.
I said -Waterfall projects are like making a table and agile projects are like growing a tree and got his attention immediately. I continued.
When you decide to make a table you would prepare a design on paper before going to homedepot to get timber, nails and paint. Then you would follow the design to make the table. You have lot of experience in table making. It is under your control. There is no scope for this to grow beyond your design. There is no risk involved in this implementation as you have done this earlier.
On other hand, you don’t have an exact design to grow a tree. You can plan on which tree, which location etc. But the growth and yield of the tree is not in your hand. All you can do is to provide fertile land and selected seed and water and sun light. The tree will adapt to the environment by reaching for sunlight or by shedding leaves. Growing is a new activity every time. Your plans may not be fully implemented during the tree growing process.
Making a table is inorganic and growing a tree is organic.
Creating Software is not like making a table. You don’t create the same software repeatedly. Since the environment is dynamic the requirements may change at any point of time; like growing a tree.
We continued to discuss outside the elevator as well..
I said -Waterfall projects are like making a table and agile projects are like growing a tree and got his attention immediately. I continued.
When you decide to make a table you would prepare a design on paper before going to homedepot to get timber, nails and paint. Then you would follow the design to make the table. You have lot of experience in table making. It is under your control. There is no scope for this to grow beyond your design. There is no risk involved in this implementation as you have done this earlier.
On other hand, you don’t have an exact design to grow a tree. You can plan on which tree, which location etc. But the growth and yield of the tree is not in your hand. All you can do is to provide fertile land and selected seed and water and sun light. The tree will adapt to the environment by reaching for sunlight or by shedding leaves. Growing is a new activity every time. Your plans may not be fully implemented during the tree growing process.
Making a table is inorganic and growing a tree is organic.
Creating Software is not like making a table. You don’t create the same software repeatedly. Since the environment is dynamic the requirements may change at any point of time; like growing a tree.
We continued to discuss outside the elevator as well..
