Saturday, March 28, 2026

Agile Draw a House Game – Step-by-Step

🎯 Objective:

To illustrate the importance of continuous user feedback and collaboration in agile development through a simple drawing exercise.


🔹 Step 1: Initial Drawing (No Requirements)

  • Instruction: Participants are told to "draw a house" with no further details.

  • Time Limit: 1 minute.

  • Outcome: Everyone draws based on their own assumptions.

  • Agile Principle Highlighted:

    • "Working software over comprehensive documentation"

    • "Customer collaboration over contract negotiation"

🔹 Step 2: User Feedback

  • The facilitator (acting as the user) reviews the houses.

  • Provides feedback like:

    • Doesn’t like chimneys (ecologist).

    • Likes bicycles, dislikes cars.

  • Agile Principle Highlighted:

    • "Business people and developers must work together daily throughout the project."

    • "Welcome changing requirements, even late in development."

🔹 Step 3: Second Drawing (With Requirements)

  • Instruction: Redraw the house, but this time the user gives 3 specific requirements while participants are drawing:

    1. Lots of windows (loves looking outside).

    2. Big garden (keen gardener).

    3. Eco-friendly features (e.g., solar panels, lean-to for a bike).

  • Time Limit: 1 minute.

  • Outcome: Drawings are more aligned with user needs.

  • Agile Principle Highlighted:

  • "Deliver working software frequently, from a couple of weeks to a couple of months."

  • "Continuous attention to technical excellence and good design enhances agility."

🔹 Step 4: Comparison and Reflection

  • Participants compare their first and second drawings.

  • The facilitator discusses how the second round better met their expectations.

  • Agile Principle Reinforced:

    • "The best architectures, requirements, and designs emerge from self-organizing teams."

    • "At regular intervals, the team reflects on how to become more effective."


 Key Takeaways:

  • Early and continuous feedback leads to better outcomes.

  • Assumptions without user input often miss the mark.

Agile is about iterative improvement and collaboration.

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