Chapter 3
Design a Great Liftoff for Your Team

As each development effort is unique, every liftoff is unique. As a planning-group member, design your liftoff for the combination of attributes at hand. Consider the nature of the product, the nature of the work, and the people. Take into account the knowns and unknowns. Think about the work environment and the circumstances driving delivery.

Here’s where it gets tricky and you’ll get agile when you’re working on a liftoff design. There’s no cookie-cutter approach, standard recipe, or best-practice template. Your team characteristics will drive many of the design decisions.

In this chapter, you’ll find effective (not best) practices. We’ve included practices based on our experiences of what’s worked for many teams, including the five most important design principles that any planning committee should follow to design a great liftoff:

• Every liftoff needs a sponsor or executive introduction.

• Only include activities in liftoffs that have real work purpose.

• The best liftoffs create a sense of ownership of the outcomes.

• Every work group and project team needs agile chartering.

• Take time to include participants in design decisions.