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<h1 class="landing-title landing-title--large">Even Keel</h1>
<p class="landing-subtitle">Stop the Churn and Deliver Work Worth Shipping</p><p class="landing-author">by Mara Elstin</p>
<p class="landing-summary"></p>
<p><a class="button" href="/_404.html">Order the print copy</a></p>
<p><a class="button" data-target="bookmark.button" href="/shapeup/0.1-foreword">Begin reading →</a></p>
<hr/>
<div class="toc">
<div class="toc__part">
<h2 class="toc__part-title sr-only">Orientation</h2>
<ul class="toc__chapters">
<li class="toc__chapter">
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/0.1-foreword">Foreword by Priya Raman</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/0.2-acknowledgements">Notes of thanks</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<p class="toc__chapter-number">Chapter 1</p>
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/0.3-chapter-01">The Big Idea</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/0.3-chapter-01#growing-pains">Scaling pains</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/0.3-chapter-01#six-week-cycles">Fixed-time runs</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/0.3-chapter-01#shaping-the-work">Framing the work</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/0.3-chapter-01#making-teams-responsible">Making teams accountable</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/0.3-chapter-01#targeting-risk">Spotting risk</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/0.3-chapter-01#how-this-book-is-organized">How this guide is arranged</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="toc__part">
<h2 class="toc__part-title">Part 1: Framing</h2>
<ul class="toc__chapters">
<li class="toc__chapter">
<p class="toc__chapter-number">Chapter 2</p>
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/1.1-chapter-02">Principles of Framing</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.1-chapter-02#wireframes-are-too-concrete">Detailed mockups box you in</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.1-chapter-02#words-are-too-abstract">Words are too slippery</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.1-chapter-02#case-study-the-dot-grid-calendar">Case study: The Milestone Board</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.1-chapter-02#property-1-its-rough">Property 1: Stay rough</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.1-chapter-02#property-2-its-solved">Property 2: It's worked</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.1-chapter-02#property-3-its-bounded">Property 3: It's limited</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.1-chapter-02#who-shapes">Who frames</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.1-chapter-02#two-tracks">Two lanes</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.1-chapter-02#steps-to-shaping">Steps to framing</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<p class="toc__chapter-number">Chapter 3</p>
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/1.2-chapter-03">Set the Limits</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.2-chapter-03#setting-the-appetite">Setting the time box</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.2-chapter-03#fixed-time-variable-scope">Fixed time, flexible scope</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.2-chapter-03#good-is-relative">"Good" is contextual</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.2-chapter-03#responding-to-raw-ideas">Handling incoming ideas</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.2-chapter-03#narrow-down-the-problem">Focus in on the problem</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.2-chapter-03#case-study-defining-calendar">Case study: Defining "milestone"</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.2-chapter-03#watch-out-for-grab-bags">Avoid catch-all buckets</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.2-chapter-03#boundaries-in-place">Set the limits early</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<p class="toc__chapter-number">Chapter 4</p>
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/1.3-chapter-04">Name the core parts</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.3-chapter-04#move-at-the-right-speed">Work at a steady pace</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.3-chapter-04#breadboarding">Rough layouts</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.3-chapter-04#fat-marker-sketches">Broad-stroke sketches</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.3-chapter-04#elements-are-the-output">Parts are the deliverable</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.3-chapter-04#room-for-designers">Space for designers</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.3-chapter-04#not-deliverable-yet">Not finished work yet</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.3-chapter-04#no-conveyor-belt">No assembly line</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<p class="toc__chapter-number">Chapter 5</p>
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/1.4-chapter-05">Risks and Blind Spots</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.4-chapter-05#different-categories-of-risk">The kinds of risk to watch</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.4-chapter-05#look-for-rabbit-holes">Spot the hidden traps</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.4-chapter-05#case-study-patching-a-hole">Case study: Closing a gap</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.4-chapter-05#declare-out-of-bounds">Mark it off-limits</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.4-chapter-05#cut-back">Trim down</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.4-chapter-05#present-to-technical-experts">Review with the engineers</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.4-chapter-05#de-risked-and-ready-to-write-up">Cleared and ready to draft</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<p class="toc__chapter-number">Chapter 6</p>
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/1.5-chapter-06">Shape the Pitch</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.5-chapter-06#ingredient-1-problem">Piece 1. The Problem</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.5-chapter-06#ingredient-2-appetite">Piece 2. The Appetite</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.5-chapter-06#ingredient-3-solution">Piece 3. The Solution</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.5-chapter-06#help-them-see-it">Show, don't tell</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.5-chapter-06#embedded-sketches">Inline sketches</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.5-chapter-06#annotated-fat-marker-sketches">Labeled broad-stroke sketches</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.5-chapter-06#ingredient-4-rabbit-holes">Piece 4. The Dead Ends</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.5-chapter-06#ingredient-5-no-gos">Piece 5. The No-Gos</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.5-chapter-06#examples">Examples</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.5-chapter-06#ready-to-present">Ready to share out</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.5-chapter-06#how-we-do-it-in-basecamp">How we run it at Klaravo</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="toc__part">
<h2 class="toc__part-title">Part 2: Choosing</h2>
<ul class="toc__chapters">
<li class="toc__chapter">
<p class="toc__chapter-number">Chapter 7</p>
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/2.1-chapter-07">Picks, Not Backlogs</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.1-chapter-07#no-backlogs">No wishlists</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.1-chapter-07#a-few-potential-bets">A few possible picks</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.1-chapter-07#decentralized-lists">Distributed lists</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.1-chapter-07#important-ideas-come-back">The best ideas return</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<p class="toc__chapter-number">Chapter 8</p>
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/2.2-chapter-08">The Decision Table</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.2-chapter-08#six-week-cycles">Six-week rounds</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.2-chapter-08#cool-down">Wind-down</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.2-chapter-08#team-and-project-sizes">Team and project scope</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.2-chapter-08#the-betting-table">The planning board</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.2-chapter-08#the-meaning-of-a-bet">The shape of a plan</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.2-chapter-08#uninterrupted-time">Protected focus time</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.2-chapter-08#the-circuit-breaker">The hard deadline</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.2-chapter-08#what-about-bugs">What about fixes?</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.2-chapter-08#keep-the-slate-clean">Keep the deck clear</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<p class="toc__chapter-number">Chapter 9</p>
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/2.3-chapter-09">Commit the Plan</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.3-chapter-09#look-where-you-are">Know where you stand</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.3-chapter-09#existing-products">Ongoing products</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.3-chapter-09#new-products">Fresh products</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.3-chapter-09#rd-mode">Idea mode</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.3-chapter-09#production-mode">Delivery mode</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.3-chapter-09#cleanup-mode">Polish mode</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.3-chapter-09#examples">Patterns</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.3-chapter-09#questions-to-ask">Signals to check</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.3-chapter-09#does-the-problem-matter">Does this problem hurt?</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.3-chapter-09#is-the-appetite-right">Is the appetite fair?</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.3-chapter-09#is-the-solution-attractive">Is the approach convincing?</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.3-chapter-09#is-this-the-right-time">Is this the right week?</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.3-chapter-09#are-the-right-people-available">Are the right people ready now?</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.3-chapter-09#post-the-kick-off-message">Post the launch message</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="toc__part">
<h2 class="toc__part-title">Part 3: Shipping</h2>
<ul class="toc__chapters">
<li class="toc__chapter">
<p class="toc__chapter-number">Chapter 10</p>
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/3.1-chapter-10">Hand Over the Ownership</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.1-chapter-10#assign-projects-not-tasks">Assign outcomes, not steps</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.1-chapter-10#done-means-deployed">Done means shipped</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.1-chapter-10#getting-oriented">Finding your feet</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.1-chapter-10#imagined-vs-discovered-tasks">Planned vs discovered work</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<p class="toc__chapter-number">Chapter 11</p>
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/3.2-chapter-11">Get One Slice Done</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.2-chapter-11#integrate-one-slice">Connect one slice</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.2-chapter-11#case-study-clients-in-projects">Case study: Guests on a project</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.2-chapter-11#programmers-dont-need-to-wait">Engineers don’t need to wait</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.2-chapter-11#affordances-before-pixel-perfect-screens">Rough controls before polished screens</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.2-chapter-11#program-just-enough-for-the-next-step">Build just enough for the next move</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.2-chapter-11#start-in-the-middle">Begin in the middle</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<p class="toc__chapter-number">Chapter 12</p>
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/3.3-chapter-12">Map the Slices</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.3-chapter-12#organize-by-structure-not-by-person">Organize by structure, not by owner</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.3-chapter-12#the-scope-map">The slice map</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.3-chapter-12#the-language-of-the-project">The vocabulary of the work</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.3-chapter-12#case-study-message-drafts">Case study: Draft reminders</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.3-chapter-12#discovering-scopes">Discovering slices</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.3-chapter-12#how-to-know-if-the-scopes-are-right">How to tell if the slices are right</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.3-chapter-12#layer-cakes">Stacked work</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.3-chapter-12#icebergs">Riptides</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.3-chapter-12#chowder">Tangles</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.3-chapter-12#mark-nice-to-haves-with-">Flag optional items with ~</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<p class="toc__chapter-number">Chapter 13</p>
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/3.4-chapter-13">Reveal Status</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.4-chapter-13#the-tasks-that-arent-there">The work you can't see yet</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.4-chapter-13#estimates-dont-show-uncertainty">Guesses hide the true unknowns</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.4-chapter-13#work-is-like-a-hill">Work follows a curve</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.4-chapter-13#scopes-on-the-hill">Pieces on the slope</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.4-chapter-13#status-without-asking">Answers without asking</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.4-chapter-13#nobody-says-i-dont-know">No one is quietly stuck</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.4-chapter-13#prompts-to-refactor-the-scopes">Signals to reshape the work</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.4-chapter-13#build-your-way-uphill">Work your way upward</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.4-chapter-13#solve-in-the-right-sequence">Solve the hard parts first</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<p class="toc__chapter-number">Chapter 14</p>
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/3.5-chapter-14">Know When to Ship</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.5-chapter-14#compare-to-baseline">Measure against plan</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.5-chapter-14#limits-motivate-trade-offs">Limits force smart choices</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.5-chapter-14#scope-grows-like-grass">Scope creeps like weeds</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.5-chapter-14#cutting-scope-isnt-lowering-quality">Trimming scope isn't cutting quality</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.5-chapter-14#scope-hammering">Scope trimming</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.5-chapter-14#qa-is-for-the-edges">QA lives at the edges</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.5-chapter-14#when-to-extend-a-project">When to give more time</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<p class="toc__chapter-number">Chapter 15</p>
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/3.6-chapter-15">Wrap Up</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.6-chapter-15#let-the-storm-pass">Let the dust settle</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.6-chapter-15#stay-debt-free">Avoid new debt</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.6-chapter-15#feedback-needs-to-be-shaped">Feedback needs framing first</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/3.7-conclusion">Conclusion</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.7-conclusion#key-concepts">Core concepts</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.7-conclusion#get-in-touch">Contact us</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="toc__part">
<h2 class="toc__part-title">Appendices</h2>
<ul class="toc__chapters">
<li class="toc__chapter">
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/4.0-appendix-01">How to Put the Method to Work in Klaravo</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/4.0-appendix-01#a-basecamp-team-for-shaping">A Klaravo Team for planning</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/4.0-appendix-01#basecamp-projects-for-the-cycle-projects">Klaravo Projects for cycle work</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/4.0-appendix-01#to-do-lists-for-scopes">To-Do Lists for pieces</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/4.0-appendix-01#track-scopes-on-the-hill-chart">Track pieces on the Slope Chart</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/4.1-appendix-02">Fit It to Your Team</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/4.1-appendix-02#basic-truths-vs-specific-practices">Broad truths vs. specific habits</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/4.1-appendix-02#small-enough-to-wing-it">Small enough to improvise</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/4.1-appendix-02#big-enough-to-specialize">Large enough to specialize</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/4.2-appendix-03">How to Start Planning</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/4.2-appendix-03#option-a-one-six-week-experiment">Option A: A single six-week trial</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/4.2-appendix-03#option-b-start-with-shaping">Option B: Begin with planning</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/4.2-appendix-03#option-c-start-with-cycles">Option C: Ease into cadence</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/4.2-appendix-03#fix-shipping-first">Fix delivery first</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/4.2-appendix-03#focus-on-the-end-result">Focus on the real outcome</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/4.5-appendix-06">Glossary</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/4.6-appendix-07">About the Author</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
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        We shaped <a href="/_404.html" target="_blank">Klaravo</a> to put the ideas in these pages into daily practice. It keeps project conversations, task tracking, and shared documents in one calm place where designers and engineers move forward together. See <a href="/shapeup/4.0-appendix-01">How to Apply the Even Keel Method in Klaravo</a>.


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<h1 class="book-info__title"><a href="/shapeup">Even Keel</a></h1>
<p class="book-info__subtitle">End the Overwhelm and Ship Work People Care About</p>
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<div class="toc">
<div class="toc__part">
<hr/>
<h2 class="toc__part-title sr-only">Preface</h2>
<ul class="toc__chapters">
<li class="toc__chapter">
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/0.1-foreword">Foreword by Priya Naidu</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/0.2-acknowledgements">Acknowledgements</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<p class="toc__chapter-number">Chapter 1</p>
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/0.3-chapter-01">Introduction</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/0.3-chapter-01#growing-pains">Growth strains</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/0.3-chapter-01#six-week-cycles">Six-week rhythms</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/0.3-chapter-01#shaping-the-work">Framing the work</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/0.3-chapter-01#making-teams-responsible">Giving teams ownership</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/0.3-chapter-01#targeting-risk">Aiming at risk</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/0.3-chapter-01#how-this-book-is-organized">How this book is arranged</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="toc__part">
<h2 class="toc__part-title">Part 1: Framing</h2>
<ul class="toc__chapters">
<li class="toc__chapter">
<p class="toc__chapter-number">Chapter 2</p>
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/1.1-chapter-02">Principles of Framing</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.1-chapter-02#wireframes-are-too-concrete">Sketches are too detailed</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.1-chapter-02#words-are-too-abstract">Words stay too abstract</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.1-chapter-02#case-study-the-dot-grid-calendar">Case study: The Weekly Board View</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.1-chapter-02#property-1-its-rough">Property 1: It’s loose</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.1-chapter-02#property-2-its-solved">Property 2: It’s settled</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.1-chapter-02#property-3-its-bounded">Property 3: It’s limited</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.1-chapter-02#who-shapes">Who frames</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.1-chapter-02#two-tracks">Two lanes</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.1-chapter-02#steps-to-shaping">Steps to framing</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<p class="toc__chapter-number">Chapter 3</p>
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/1.2-chapter-03">Draw the Lines</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.2-chapter-03#setting-the-appetite">Naming the appetite</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.2-chapter-03#fixed-time-variable-scope">Fixed time, flexible scope</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.2-chapter-03#good-is-relative">"Done" is relative</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.2-chapter-03#responding-to-raw-ideas">Handling raw requests</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.2-chapter-03#narrow-down-the-problem">Narrow the problem down</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.2-chapter-03#case-study-defining-calendar">Case study: Shaping the "calendar"</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.2-chapter-03#watch-out-for-grab-bags">Beware of scope creep</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.2-chapter-03#boundaries-in-place">Guardrails that hold</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<p class="toc__chapter-number">Chapter 4</p>
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/1.3-chapter-04">Spot the Elements</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.3-chapter-04#move-at-the-right-speed">Work at a steady pace</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.3-chapter-04#breadboarding">Flowsketching</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.3-chapter-04#fat-marker-sketches">Broad brush sketches</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.3-chapter-04#elements-are-the-output">Blocks are what we ship</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.3-chapter-04#room-for-designers">Space for designers</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.3-chapter-04#not-deliverable-yet">Not shippable yet</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.3-chapter-04#no-conveyor-belt">No assembly line</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<p class="toc__chapter-number">Chapter 5</p>
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/1.4-chapter-05">Risks and Dead Ends</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.4-chapter-05#different-categories-of-risk">Different kinds of unknowns</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.4-chapter-05#look-for-rabbit-holes">Watch for dead ends</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.4-chapter-05#case-study-patching-a-hole">Case study: Closing a gap</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.4-chapter-05#declare-out-of-bounds">Set clear boundaries</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.4-chapter-05#cut-back">Scale it</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.4-chapter-05#present-to-technical-experts">Review with the engineers</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.4-chapter-05#de-risked-and-ready-to-write-up">De-risked and ready to shape</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<p class="toc__chapter-number">Chapter 6</p>
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/1.5-chapter-06">Draft the Pitch</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.5-chapter-06#ingredient-1-problem">Ingredient 1. Context</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.5-chapter-06#ingredient-2-appetite">Ingredient 2. Timebox</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.5-chapter-06#ingredient-3-solution">Ingredient 3. Approach</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.5-chapter-06#help-them-see-it">Make it concrete</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.5-chapter-06#embedded-sketches">Embedded diagrams</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.5-chapter-06#annotated-fat-marker-sketches">Annotated broad brush sketches</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.5-chapter-06#ingredient-4-rabbit-holes">Ingredient 4. Dead Ends</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.5-chapter-06#ingredient-5-no-gos">Ingredient 5. Limits</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.5-chapter-06#examples">Samples</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.5-chapter-06#ready-to-present">Ready to review</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/1.5-chapter-06#how-we-do-it-in-basecamp">How we do it at Klaravo</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="toc__part">
<h2 class="toc__part-title">Part 2: Deciding</h2>
<ul class="toc__chapters">
<li class="toc__chapter">
<p class="toc__chapter-number">Chapter 7</p>
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/2.1-chapter-07">Bets, Not Queues</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.1-chapter-07#no-backlogs">No leftovers</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.1-chapter-07#a-few-potential-bets">A few possible bets</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.1-chapter-07#decentralized-lists">Decentralized notes</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.1-chapter-07#important-ideas-come-back">Good ideas resurface later</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<p class="toc__chapter-number">Chapter 8</p>
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/2.2-chapter-08">The Decision Table</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.2-chapter-08#six-week-cycles">Six-week rounds</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.2-chapter-08#cool-down">Wind-down</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.2-chapter-08#team-and-project-sizes">Crew and workload fit</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.2-chapter-08#the-betting-table">The pledge session</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.2-chapter-08#the-meaning-of-a-bet">What a pledge means</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.2-chapter-08#uninterrupted-time">Protected focus time</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.2-chapter-08#the-circuit-breaker">The reset trigger</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.2-chapter-08#what-about-bugs">What about fixes?</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.2-chapter-08#keep-the-slate-clean">Wipe the board clean</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<p class="toc__chapter-number">Chapter 9</p>
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/2.3-chapter-09">Commit the Work</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.3-chapter-09#look-where-you-are">See where you stand</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.3-chapter-09#existing-products">Shipping products</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.3-chapter-09#new-products">New offerings</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.3-chapter-09#rd-mode">Lab mode</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.3-chapter-09#production-mode">Delivery mode</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.3-chapter-09#cleanup-mode">Tidy-up mode</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.3-chapter-09#examples">Scenarios</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.3-chapter-09#questions-to-ask">Points to weigh</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.3-chapter-09#does-the-problem-matter">Does this problem count?</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.3-chapter-09#is-the-appetite-right">Is our appetite sound?</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.3-chapter-09#is-the-solution-attractive">Is the approach compelling?</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.3-chapter-09#is-this-the-right-time">Is the timing sound now?</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.3-chapter-09#are-the-right-people-available">Do we have the right crew?</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/2.3-chapter-09#post-the-kick-off-message">Share the kickoff message</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="toc__part">
<h2 class="toc__part-title">Part 3: Shipping</h2>
<ul class="toc__chapters">
<li class="toc__chapter">
<p class="toc__chapter-number">Chapter 10</p>
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/3.1-chapter-10">Pass Along the Ownership</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.1-chapter-10#assign-projects-not-tasks">Assign outcomes, not steps</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.1-chapter-10#done-means-deployed">Done means it's live</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.1-chapter-10#getting-oriented">Getting grounded</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.1-chapter-10#imagined-vs-discovered-tasks">Expected vs uncovered tasks</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<p class="toc__chapter-number">Chapter 11</p>
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/3.2-chapter-11">Get One Slice Done</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.2-chapter-11#integrate-one-slice">Stitch one slice in</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.2-chapter-11#case-study-clients-in-projects">Case study: Members in projects</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.2-chapter-11#programmers-dont-need-to-wait">Developers don't have to wait</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.2-chapter-11#affordances-before-pixel-perfect-screens">Interactions before pixel-perfect layouts</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.2-chapter-11#program-just-enough-for-the-next-step">Write just enough for the next stage</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.2-chapter-11#start-in-the-middle">Begin in the middle</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<p class="toc__chapter-number">Chapter 12</p>
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/3.3-chapter-12">Map the Slices</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.3-chapter-12#organize-by-structure-not-by-person">Split by structure, not by teammate</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.3-chapter-12#the-scope-map">The slice map</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.3-chapter-12#the-language-of-the-project">The shared project language</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.3-chapter-12#case-study-message-drafts">Case study: Draft messages</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.3-chapter-12#discovering-scopes">Finding new scopes</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.3-chapter-12#how-to-know-if-the-scopes-are-right">How to tell when a plan is ready</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.3-chapter-12#layer-cakes">Broad rivers</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.3-chapter-12#icebergs">Boulders</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.3-chapter-12#chowder">Filler</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.3-chapter-12#mark-nice-to-haves-with-">Flag the optional bits with</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<p class="toc__chapter-number">Chapter 13</p>
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/3.4-chapter-13">Track Progress</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.4-chapter-13#the-tasks-that-arent-there">The work you can't yet see</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.4-chapter-13#estimates-dont-show-uncertainty">Estimates hide the real unknowns</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.4-chapter-13#work-is-like-a-hill">Work moves like a tide</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.4-chapter-13#scopes-on-the-hill">Pieces on the slope</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.4-chapter-13#status-without-asking">Updates without asking</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.4-chapter-13#nobody-says-i-dont-know">No one has to say "I'm stuck"</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.4-chapter-13#prompts-to-refactor-the-scopes">Signals to rework the pieces</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.4-chapter-13#build-your-way-uphill">Work your way upward</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.4-chapter-13#solve-in-the-right-sequence">Solve in the right order</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<p class="toc__chapter-number">Chapter 14</p>
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/3.5-chapter-14">Choose When to Stop</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.5-chapter-14#compare-to-baseline">Compare to the start</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.5-chapter-14#limits-motivate-trade-offs">Limits push clear trade-offs</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.5-chapter-14#scope-grows-like-grass">Work spreads like weeds</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.5-chapter-14#cutting-scope-isnt-lowering-quality">Trimming work isn't cutting quality</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.5-chapter-14#scope-hammering">Trimming the fat</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.5-chapter-14#qa-is-for-the-edges">QA hunts the edges</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.5-chapter-14#when-to-extend-a-project">When to give more time</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<p class="toc__chapter-number">Chapter 15</p>
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/3.6-chapter-15">Wrap Up</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.6-chapter-15#let-the-storm-pass">Let the dust settle</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.6-chapter-15#stay-debt-free">Avoid new debt</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.6-chapter-15#feedback-needs-to-be-shaped">Feedback has to be framed</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/3.7-conclusion">Wrapping up</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.7-conclusion#key-concepts">Core concepts</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/3.7-conclusion#get-in-touch">Contact us</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="toc__part">
<h2 class="toc__part-title">Appendices</h2>
<ul class="toc__chapters">
<li class="toc__chapter">
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/4.0-appendix-01">How to Run the Cadence Method in Klaravo</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/4.0-appendix-01#a-basecamp-team-for-shaping">A Klaravo Team for shaping</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/4.0-appendix-01#basecamp-projects-for-the-cycle-projects">Klaravo Projects for cycle projects</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/4.0-appendix-01#to-do-lists-for-scopes">To-Do Lists for pieces</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/4.0-appendix-01#track-scopes-on-the-hill-chart">Track work on the Slope Chart</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/4.1-appendix-02">Scale to Your Team</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/4.1-appendix-02#basic-truths-vs-specific-practices">Timeless truths vs. specific tactics</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/4.1-appendix-02#small-enough-to-wing-it">Small enough to improvise</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/4.1-appendix-02#big-enough-to-specialize">Large enough to specialize</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/4.2-appendix-03">How to Start the Cadence</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/4.2-appendix-03#option-a-one-six-week-experiment">Option A: A single six-week trial</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/4.2-appendix-03#option-b-start-with-shaping">Route B: Start with scoping</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/4.2-appendix-03#option-c-start-with-cycles">Route C: Start with rounds</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/4.2-appendix-03#fix-shipping-first">Fix delivery first</a></li>
<li class="toc__section"><a href="/shapeup/4.2-appendix-03#focus-on-the-end-result">Focus on the real outcome</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/4.5-appendix-06">Key terms</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
</ul>
</li>
<li class="toc__chapter">
<h3 class="toc__chapter-title"><a href="/shapeup/4.6-appendix-07">About the Writer</a></h3>
<ul class="toc__sections">
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<dl class="glossary hidden" data-target="glossary.source">
<dt class="glossary__entry-title">Allowance</dt>
<dd class="glossary__entry-definition">The span of time a team agrees to spend on an idea, chosen up front rather than</dd>
<dt class="glossary__entry-title">Backdrop</dt>
<dd class="glossary__entry-definition">How people are getting by today, without the thing we have set out to build.</dd>
<dt class="glossary__entry-title">Bid</dt>
<dd class="glossary__entry-definition">The choice to lock a team onto one project for a single round, with no breaks and a real aim to finish.</dd>
<dt class="glossary__entry-title">Picking table</dt>
<dd class="glossary__entry-definition">A meeting held during the breather where leaders decide which pitches to back next round.</dd>
<dt class="glossary__entry-title">Full load</dt>
<dd class="glossary__entry-definition">A single project that fills a team's whole round and ships once the round is over.</dd>
<dt class="glossary__entry-title">Skeleton</dt>
<dd class="glossary__entry-definition">A layout idea that maps out the parts and how they connect, with no visual styling at all.</dd>
<dt class="glossary__entry-title">Kill switch</dt>
<dd class="glossary__entry-definition">A way to manage risk: by default, drop any project that fails to ship in one round instead of letting it run on and on.</dd>
<dt class="glossary__entry-title">Polish phase</dt>
<dd class="glossary__entry-definition">The final stretch of building a new product, when we stop shaping or betting on set projects and instead set aside open time to repair whatever still needs fixing before we launch.</dd>
<dt class="glossary__entry-title">Breather</dt>
<dd class="glossary__entry-definition">A two-week pause between rounds set aside for loose ends, bug fixes, and holding a picking table.</dd>
<dt class="glossary__entry-title">Round</dt>
<dd class="glossary__entry-definition">A six-week window in which teams work without interruption on the projects they shaped.</dd>
<dt class="glossary__entry-title">Firm up</dt>
<dd class="glossary__entry-definition">Raise the odds of shipping within one round by shaping the work and clearing out dead ends.</dd>
<dt class="glossary__entry-title">Surfaced tasks</dt>
<dd class="glossary__entry-definition">Tasks a team turns up only once it is deep in the real work and sees what the job takes.</dd>
<dt class="glossary__entry-title">Coasting</dt>
<dd class="glossary__entry-definition">The stage of a task, scope, or project where every unknown is solved and only the doing is left.</dd>
<dt class="glossary__entry-title">Thick-line sketch</dt>
<dd class="glossary__entry-definition">A rough drawing of a screen idea kept very loose by using a heavy, broad stroke.</dd>
<dt class="glossary__entry-title">Ridge chart</dt>
<dd class="glossary__entry-definition">A picture that plots how far the work has moved along a path from unknown to known to done.</dd>
<dt class="glossary__entry-title">Deep end</dt>
<dd class="glossary__entry-definition">A slice of work where the behind-the-scenes part is far heavier than the screen, or the reverse.</dd>
<dt class="glossary__entry-title">Guessed tasks</dt>
<dd class="glossary__entry-definition">Work a team believes it will need after only picturing the project. Compare with surfaced tasks.</dd>
<dt class="glossary__entry-title">Even layer</dt>
<dd class="glossary__entry-definition">A slice of work you can size up just by scanning how much surface the screen covers.</dd>
<dt class="glossary__entry-title">Depth of description</dt>
<dd class="glossary__entry-definition">How much detail we choose to keep or drop when laying out a problem or its solution.</dd>
<dt class="glossary__entry-title">Essentials</dt>
<dd class="glossary__entry-definition">Work that has to be finished before a scope can be called complete.</dd>
<dt class="glossary__entry-title">Optional adds</dt>
<dd class="glossary__entry-definition">Work saved for the tail end of the cycle. If time runs short, it gets dropped. Flagged with a '~' at the start.</dd>
<dt class="glossary__entry-title">Brief</dt>
<dd class="glossary__entry-definition">A write-up that puts a shaped project idea forward for review at the planning table.</dd>
<dt class="glossary__entry-title">Build-out mode</dt>
<dd class="glossary__entry-definition">A stage of building a new product where the core architecture is locked and we follow our standard shaping process.</dd>
<dt class="glossary__entry-title">Blind alley</dt>
<dd class="glossary__entry-definition">A piece of a project that is too vague, tangled, or open-ended to commit to.</dd>
<dt class="glossary__entry-title">R&amp;D mode</dt>
<dd class="glossary__entry-definition">A stage of building a new product where a senior team prototypes the core features to define the architecture.</dd>
<dt class="glossary__entry-title">Raw notes</dt>
<dd class="glossary__entry-definition">Requests or feature notes captured only in words that have not yet been shaped.</dd>
<dt class="glossary__entry-title">Slices</dt>
<dd class="glossary__entry-definition">Slices of a project that can be built, merged, and wrapped up on their own, apart from the rest of the work.</dd>
<dt class="glossary__entry-title">Scope trimming</dt>
<dd class="glossary__entry-definition">Aggressively challenging a design, build, or use case to trim scope and land inside the fixed time box.</dd>
<dt class="glossary__entry-title">Frame</dt>
<dd class="glossary__entry-definition">Turn a fuzzy project idea into something concrete by settling the key parts of the solution before committing.</dd>
<dt class="glossary__entry-title">Six weeks</dt>
<dd class="glossary__entry-definition">How long each cycle runs. Six weeks is enough to ship something real, yet short enough that the deadline is felt from day one.</dd>
<dt class="glossary__entry-title">Short batch</dt>
<dd class="glossary__entry-definition">A group of 1-2 week projects that one team ships before the end of a six week cycle.</dd>
<dt class="glossary__entry-title">Time window</dt>
<dd class="glossary__entry-definition">The longest span in which a deadline still presses on us right from the outset. Six weeks.</dd>
<dt class="glossary__entry-title">Uphill</dt>
<dd class="glossary__entry-definition">The stage of a task, scope, or project where unknowns and unsolved problems still remain. See downhill.</dd>
</dl>
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