An Agile fable about keeping the race manageable.
One afternoon the Hare and the Tortoise were planning their next race.
The Agile Coach had drawn a simple path across the field with four flags marking the milestones.
“Run to each flag,” he explained, “and you will reach the finish quickly.”
Just then the Fox appeared.
“What a wonderful race you’re planning!” he said.
“Thank you,” replied the Hare.
“But wouldn’t it be even better,” said the Fox, “if the race also included a hill climb?”
The Hare looked interested.
“Well…”
“And perhaps a river crossing,” continued the Fox.
“That might be fun,” said the Tortoise.
“And maybe,” the Fox added excitedly, “a maze through the forest, a bridge over the stream, and a loop around the mountain!”
Soon the race path was covered with new lines and twists.
The flags were moved again and again.
The starting time came and went.
Finally the Hare sighed.
“We still haven’t started.”
The Tortoise looked at the tangled map.
“This race is much bigger than we planned.”
The Agile Coach quietly erased most of the additions.
“Let’s run the simple course first,” he said. “Then we can decide what to add next.”
They ran the race, finished quickly, and celebrated.
Later they added a hill climb in the next race.
But only after the first one was complete.
The Fox watched from a distance.
“Perhaps,” he muttered, “that was a better idea.”
Moral: When every new idea is added at once, nothing gets finished.
