In the end, we all demand dates: A game about product timelines

As digital teams, we are expected to inspect and understand the ‘why’ and ‘what’ before thinking about ‘how’ and ‘when’. 

Using dates as the basis of estimation and planning is recognised as sub-optimal because the depth and breadth of unknowns are indeed unknown. And yet, there are no product development initiatives that don’t end up in some sort of discussion around dates. 

In this workshop, Jonathan will explore why that is the case and what you can do to become comfortable with this. He will talk about why commissioners of products and services are so obsessed with dates and how the curse of demanding dates comes to us all eventually. 

Participants will engage with these ideas through a timeboxed, tabletop game.

Participant takeaways:

• Why different personas are interested in dates rather than outcomes
• How to navigate the different questions about dates depending on your role
• When to accept that dates are needed
• The different techniques each person can use to navigate dates
• Where timelines are a poisoned chalice and where they are a useful forcing function

Themes:

Agile, Storytelling, Workshop, Tabletop game, Project, Product, Delivery

This session:

• Includes interaction
• Has a number cap: 50 participants