The Hare & The Tortoise

The fable of the Hare & the tortoise has been used to draw lessons in competing and co-operating.

The fable also applies to software organizations.

The Hare Company.

• No prototypes are being worked on. (Hare Sleeping)
• No experiments being done to Cross The Chasm. (Hare Sleeping.)
• Wishful thinking about own capability. (Hare Dreaming.)
• RFP is received. (Hare wakes up.)
• Estimate based on myth.
• Mad scramble to bung in a business proposal. (Hare racing.)
• Loses Contract. (Tortoise wins. Hare team gets more dysfunctional.)

The Tortoise Company.

• Prototypes concepts that are likely to win in the marketplace. (Steady progress.)
• Experiment. Be ready. (Steady Progress.)
• Fast feedback loops. (Course correction. Prepare to undertake "Op Overlord")
• Has true picture of own Capability. Uses CMM as a "dashboard" instrument.
• Estimate based on track record.
• RFP is answered based on known facts. Risk minimized.
• Wins without breaking a sweat.
• Proceeds with Agile implementation of project.

Surprisingly, It is the Tortoise that is Agile!