Chapter 12. Rhythm

One of the things that characterize successful projects is that they fall into a rhythm. Actually, several rhythms. There is the overall rhythm as you move from phase to phase in the iterative development process. There is the somewhat shorter rhythm that paces the team iteration to iteration. Finally, there is the build rhythm, the heartbeat of the project that can be as frequent and regular as once a day. All these rhythms are healthy signs that the “project machine” is working. Of course there are setbacks from time to time, but these are unusual when set against the regular progress that the steady rhythms indicate.

In contrast, the less successful projects, to be euphemistic, have a herky-jerky feel about them. Things ...

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