First time Quote by Marty Cagan
““If the first time your developers see an idea is at sprint planning, you have failed. We need to ensure the feasibility before we decide to build, not after. Not only does this end up saving a lot of wasted time, but it turns out that getting the engineer's perspective earlier also tends to improve the solution itself, and it's critical for shared learning.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Talk at Product Management Conference, 2018
Early engineering involvement prevents wasted effort and improves solutions by adding feasibility checks and shared learning before building.
In simple terms: Involve engineers early to avoid waste and improve ideas.
Key Takeaway
Engage engineers early in planning.
Themes
product development
collaboration
efficiency
learning
design thinking
Mood
pragmatic
collaborative
forward‑looking
Type
process
strategy
insight
When to use this quote
- sprint planning
- feature brainstorming
- roadmap creation
- risk assessment
Key Concepts
feasibility analysis
cross‑functional teamwork
continuous improvement
Questions to Reflect On
- How can teams balance speed with early feasibility checks?
- What mechanisms ensure engineers’ input is constructive?
A Different Perspective
If engineers are overloaded, early input may delay decisions.
