Scope, deadlines, and decisionmaking

You can be firm on your defined scope–if you’re willing to adjust and redefine your timeline:

We have this project; how many sprints will it take?

Alternately, you can be firm on your timeline–if you’re willing to adjust and redefine your scope:

We have six weeks; what can we get done?

You can be firm on both–if you’re willing to be surprised and disappointed:

We’ve already committed to shipping the full scope by Q3, so let’s make it happen!

(If you’re going to take this approach, at least do it consciously.)