Chickens & Pigs
Definition of Chickens & Pigs:
The terms "chicken" and "pig" come from Ken Schwaber's story "The Chicken and Pig Story". Ken Schwaber is a software developer who was involved in formulating the original version of Scrum. These terms are most commonly used in Scrum. "Chicken" refers to someone who is involved in a project but is not responsible for a specific outcome (such as a stakeholder or manager). "Pig" refers to someone who is committed and directly responsible for the deliverables.
"The Chicken and Pig Story" by Ken Schwaber:
A pig and a chicken are walking down the street.
The chicken looks at the pig and says, "Hey, why don't we open a restaurant?"
The pig looks at the chicken and replies, "Good idea, what are you going to call it?"
The chicken thinks about it and says, "Why don't we call it Eggs and Bacon?"
"I don't know," says the pig, "you'd just be involved, but for me it would be a commitment."
Use of Chickens & Pigs:
The terms "chickens" and "pigs" define the stakeholders and roles in Scrum. The "Pigs" are usually the actual team members, the Scrum Master or the Product Owner. "Chickens" are the roles of the managers or stakeholders.
Advantages of Chickens & Pigs:
- Roles are clarified and defined.
- Expectations for the project are clarified.
- Taking responsibility is encouraged.