[asark]

I've noticed some managers and project managers love to emphasize the that sprint plans are "commitments". "OK, is this what we're committing to for this sprint? Is everyone comfortable committing to this?". LOL. OK. Maybe that guilts the young bloods into doing free overtime or something. But no.

It's like when car salesmen try to get you to name a number you'd definitely buy the car for and sign it on some not-at-all-binding-or-official piece of paper, like that means something, before they go back and "ask their boss if they can make it work". Psychological trickery bullshit.

[acct1771]

You work on a team with members that make you feel like you're buying a car..?

[asark]

It's a very similar psychological trick. I've even heard project managers I like and who I think are generally very good do it. I think it's just part of their language now, and some may not realize they're doing anything kinda shitty. But it's something straight out of Cialdini's Persuasion, and unsubtle enough that even I can tell what it is.

"Do you feel comfortable committing to these stories?" Always a question.

Committing. If you don't make it for any reason not obviously caused by "outside blockers" you're morally responsible—and maybe even then. What are you, some kind of liar? Quite a step from an estimate. Kind of harsher than a deadline, even, which are oh-so-rarely as "deadly" as the name implies. But people close enough to Scrumish processes to get in the meetings but far enough away not to be writing code or testing things or putting out designs sure seem to like that word. Commit.