Who Plans the Liftoff?

The sponsor, program manager, and/or product manager collaborate with the appropriate stakeholders to plan the liftoff. Look for a small group—three to five people—rather than a single individual. Groups plan the most effective liftoffs for agile team efforts. For the best result, the small group will include a variety of perspectives. The members think through the planning questions together, then collaborate to develop the plan.

The best people to plan the liftoff have the following three characteristics:

Relationship

They have an obvious connection with the team or teams, and an ongoing investment in the success of the product or service. They know the product context and technology.

Skills

They bring the needed skills in communication, coordination, meeting facilitation, and possibly training.

Knowledge

They know the organizational values, the culture, and the political climate. Ideally, they’re familiar with group dynamics, change management, and agile methods and practices.

Plan the liftoff with an open mind. Developers, testers, and user-experience professionals view the work through different lenses. You’ll want all team members to contribute their unique points of view as well. These differences reveal gaps, contradictions, and new possibilities. The more ways that team members take part in the liftoff, the more they’ll feel invested in the outcome. In your plans, make sure you allow for the diverse perspectives represented in your team.

During the planning phase, stay alert! Participants’ contributions can lead to discoveries. You might choose to end an ill-advised product before it even starts, saving money and effort. Participants’ insights can also bring out ideas that lead to a new product that provides higher business or customer value.