Hippos, Seagulls, Chickens & Pigs
How many times have you been off on your merry way during a design effort and in comes the stakeholder that completely de-rails what is looking to be a success? Jared Spool calls this “swoop and poop” leaving everyone in chaos. Beware of Seagull Management!
How about the HIPPO that drops a bomb on a feature or design direction?
And don’t forget about chickens and pigs:
Funny that “design” and “experience” can mean so many things to decision makers that are not in the game but call it from the sidelines or the stands. Personally, I strive for practical ways, tools, and exercises to get everyone on the same page and committed.
When it comes to teams that perform well, remember the now classic analogy. Pigs should be empowered and expected to make decisions, as they’re the ones with skin in the game and on the front lines. Chickens only have something to gain by the pigs performing. I continue to believe that Agile & SCRUM are a perfect fit in the creative workplace and not just a methodology for software development.
