We should rename:

User stories -> Missions
Tests -> Quests
Business value -> Ability points

"We're working on a quest as part of a mission for 5 ability points"

#agile #xp #tdd

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@alexboly it's a metaphor right? But not a metaphor understandable to someone like me not familiar with role-playing games?

@giorgiosironi @alexboly My version is
User stories -> Experiments
Tests -> Documentation of the current understanding
Business value -> Outcome

Measuring value with numbers was proven long ago to be the worst idea ever.

@yellowbrickc @giorgiosironi sounds good for product teams.

I'm of two minds about numbers. I think specific goals based on realistic numbers are useful (eg. "reduce to 3 steps the complex flow X", or "increase conversion from free to paying users by from 20% to 25%"). However, it's tough to find these good goals, and if they aren't good they can prove detrimental.

@alexboly @giorgiosironi Exactly this. It would be good if we could resist only using numbers if they are a good fit. This is what I meant by "proven as the worst idea": the last decades have shown that we are not mature enough to go the extra mile and differentiate like you did, at least in my experience. Story Point, OKRs with scary metrics bent somehow to fit the goal someone wants to achieve, and the worst case: performance reports as numbers 😱. I don't have any doubts anymore.

@yellowbrickc @nick_tune @giorgiosironi I was lucky to avoid OKRs until now, so I feel I don't fully get your jokes :)

@alexboly @nick_tune @giorgiosironi Not your fault 😆 It is less about OKRs but more about ongoing jokes between Nick and me. I was surprised that he hasn't mentioned TOGAF yet 😜

@yellowbrickc @alexboly @giorgiosironi ignore her!

Just remember one thing and you will be totally fine: pain is just a state of mind.

@nick_tune @alexboly @giorgiosironi Take care that your cape doesn't get stuck somewhere, it would look funny :P

@nick_tune @yellowbrickc @giorgiosironi ... and this closes the story from RPGs to secret initiations... I'll get my cape and hood now :)

@giorgiosironi yes, it's very similar to a role playing game in which the product is your character. Depending on the teams, they might find it more engaging. Anyway, take it as it is: a wild idea :)

@giorgiosironi to clarify: in RPGs you typically have a character, are offered quests that you can accept and that give you experience points. For enough experience points you level up and get ability points that can be spent to add more skills to your character. Multiple quests can be grouped in a mission.

You can see the product as the character that you level up through achieving missions that give you ability points (aka more business value).

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