Change Quote by Kenneth S. Rubin
““Plan-driven development works well if you are applying it to problems that are well defined, predictable, and unlikely to undergo any significant change. The problem is that most product development efforts are anything but predictable, especially at the beginning. So, while a plan-driven process gives the impression of an orderly, accountable, and measurable approach, that impression can lead to a false sense of security. After all, developing a product rarely goes as planned. For many, a plan-driven, sequential process just makes sense, understand it, design it, code it, test it, and deploy it, all according to a well-defined, prescribed plan. There is a belief that it should work. If applying a plan-driven approach doesn’t work, the prevailing attitude is that we must have done something wrong. Even if a plan-driven process repeatedly produces disappointing results, many organizations continue to apply the same approach, sure that if they just do it better, their results will improve. The problem, however, is not with the execution. It’s that plan-driven approaches are based on a set of beliefs that do not match the uncertainty inherent in most product development efforts.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Essential Scrum by Kenneth S. Rubin, 2012
Plan-driven methods assume stable, predictable work, but most product development is uncertain, making rigid plans risky and often misleading.
In simple terms: Rigid plans fail when projects are uncertain.
Adapt processes to uncertainty.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- startup product design
- software release cycles
- market research
- feature prioritization
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you incorporate flexibility without losing accountability?
- What signals indicate a need to shift from a fixed plan?
Plan-driven approaches can create false confidence and ignore emerging changes.