The Importance of Trusting Programmers in Product Development

Consider the absurdity of asking a sculptor to estimate how long it would take to complete a statue’s arm. What about making them commit to finishing it before the end of a two-week sprint?

Like designers and artists, programmers can and should be trusted to make correct product decisions. The sculptor has their process. He may have sketched his projects first and built a completed version out of plaster before even starting with the final material. It is best to leave him alone to carry out his work. Imposing an exterior model on his efforts would only result in frustration, poor quality, and delay.

As an architect would decide how many doors and windows to sketch on a blueprint, programmers can make feature decisions that will contribute to a cohesive product.

The process is not free. It will affect productivity and morale — often. The lightest, leanest process you can get away with is always best — and you will be amazed how little process you need.

Programmers are self-managing and self-motivated. Resist the desire to track everything. Programmers thrive in a flat organizational structure. Allow each programmer to track their tasks with whatever tool they prefer.