Definition
‘Under Promise, Over Deliver’ is an oft-debated, much discussed term in the Digital Product delivery business. It is something that in theory, drastically improves communication channels within the business and commitment towards the deliverables on a road-map. Ideally, the best scenario for everyone is to estimate accurately the scope of work and then deliver it. In reality though, this is almost impossible in a rapidly dynamic and changing business environment.
So the philosophy of ‘Under Promise and Over Deliver’ becomes a valid alternative. It offers the opportunity for the Team to set reasonable expectations regarding delivery, and in turn focus on improving their quality overall. It’s been debated so much, because of a school of thought that states that this method may lead to lower output overall.
Further Reading
- “Scrum : the art of doing twice the work in half the time” (book), by Jeff Sutherland.