Last updated on Jan 26, 2024

What are the best practices for conducting planning games and stand-ups in Extreme Programming?

Extreme Programming (XP) is an agile software development methodology that emphasizes frequent feedback, customer collaboration, and quality code. One of the core practices of XP is the planning game, where the team and the customer define the scope and priorities of the project in short iterations. Another key practice is the stand-up, where the team members share their progress, challenges, and plans for the day. In this article, we will explore the best practices for conducting planning games and stand-ups in XP, and how they can help you deliver value to your customers and stakeholders.

1 Planning game basics

The planning game is a meeting where the team and the customer work together to create and estimate user stories, which are small, testable, and valuable features or requirements. The planning game has two phases: release planning and iteration planning. In release planning, the team and the customer agree on a high-level vision, scope, and schedule for the project, and prioritize the user stories based on their value and risk. In iteration planning, the team and the customer select a subset of user stories to be implemented in the next iteration, usually one or two weeks long, and break them down into tasks.

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2 Planning game tips

To make the planning game effective and productive, involve the whole team and customer in the decision-making process. Use index cards, sticky notes, or a digital tool to write and organize the user stories and tasks. Estimation techniques such as planning poker or t-shirt sizes can be used to assign relative effort or complexity. Velocity, which is the number of user stories or points completed in an iteration, should be used to plan and track progress. Adjust the scope and schedule based on the actual velocity. Lastly, keep the planning game short and focused by limiting time for each phase and activity. The goal is to have a rough plan, not a perfect one.

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3 Stand-up basics

The stand-up is a daily meeting where the team members share their progress, challenges, and plans for the day. This meeting is held in the morning, at the same time and place, and typically lasts no longer than 15 minutes. Each team member answers three questions: what they did yesterday, what they will do today, and what obstacles or impediments they are facing. By having a consistent format, the stand-up helps to keep the team focused on their goals and tasks.

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4 Stand-up tips

To make the stand-up effective and productive, there are some tips to keep in mind. Standing up during the meeting will help keep energy and attention high, while also avoiding distractions and interruptions. Focus on the work, not the people, as this is a way to coordinate and align the team's efforts and goals. Keep it brief and relevant by only sharing information that is useful and important for everyone else, avoiding too much detail or technical jargon. Address any obstacles or impediments as soon as possible; the stand-up is not a problem-solving session, but it should identify and communicate any issues that are blocking or slowing down work. Assign responsibility and accountability for resolving them, then follow up regularly.

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Albert Hovhannisyan

Head of the Digital Product Division at Ucom | PM Trainer | 9 Years experience in PM | Edtech | Gambling | Fintech | E- Commerce
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Start on time, and end on time to respect everyone's schedule. Keep the stand-up brief and focused, avoiding unnecessary details. Maintain a positive and engaging atmosphere to boost team morale. Rotate speaking orders to keep everyone attentive during updates. Use visuals or physical task boards for a clear representation of progress. Avoid detailed problem-solving discussions during the stand-up. Encourage everyone to speak, promoting a collaborative environment. For remote teams, utilize video conferencing and collaboration tools effectively. Address obstacles but save detailed discussions for post-stand-up interactions. Continuously assess and adjust the stand-up format for improvement.

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5 Benefits of planning games and stand-ups

Planning games and stand-ups are more than just rituals or ceremonies; they are essential practices that can bring many benefits to your XP project. For instance, involving the customer in the planning game can ensure that you are building the right product, meeting their needs and expectations, and delivering it on time and within budget. Additionally, participating in the planning game and stand-up can foster a culture of transparency, feedback, and learning. This allows everyone to share their ideas, opinions, and concerns and support each other. Finally, creating and estimating user stories and tasks in the planning game will ensure that you are working on small, manageable units of work that can be delivered quickly and frequently. Sharing progress and challenges in the stand-up will also help detect and fix errors, bugs, or deviations early on.

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