Policy : Avoid Over-Planning the Future

Commitment to Responsive Planning
In a fast-changing environment, excessive upfront planning leads to waste, rigidity, and misalignment. We plan just enough, just in time-allowing learning to inform direction. By avoiding over-planning, we stay responsive to new information, emerging needs, and user feedback.

What This Means
We use rolling wave planning and feedback-driven iteration to evolve roadmaps and priorities based on what we learn-not just what we guessed early on. Teams are empowered to adjust direction in pursuit of value, not constrained by prematurely fixed plans.

Our commitment to adaptive planning is built on:

  • Rolling Wave Planning – We plan at high-level for the long term, and in detail only for the near term-adapting as we go.
  • Outcome-Driven Backlogs – Work is prioritised and refined based on validated learning, not arbitrary long-term schedules.
  • Short Feedback Loops – We use demos, experiments, user testing, and analytics to guide direction frequently.
  • Flexible Roadmaps – Roadmaps are directional, not fixed-they represent intent, not promises, and are updated as context evolves.
  • Transparent Trade-Offs – Teams and stakeholders engage in regular dialogue about changing priorities, timelines, and dependencies.

Why This Matters
Rigid plans create waste, delay value, and reduce the organisation’s ability to respond to change. By planning lightly and iterating deliberately, we stay focused on delivering the right thing, not just sticking to the original plan.

Our Expectation
All teams and functions must adopt planning practices that support learning, responsiveness, and outcome focus. Leaders must model adaptive behaviour, discourage plan worship, and reward teams for adjusting based on evidence-not just delivery against outdated assumptions.

To support this policy, we will provide standards for agile portfolio management, feedback-informed prioritisation, and dynamic roadmap practices. By avoiding over-planning the future, we enable Better Value Sooner Safer Happier - ensuring time, effort, and creativity are focused on what matters most.