> Up front analysis is not the problem It depends, the idea of working in short sprints with deliverables at the end of it is that often you do not know what y

> Up front analysis is not the problem It depends, the idea of working in short sprints with deliverables at the end of it is that often you do not know what you need and the best way of finding out is by trying out and talking to the customer. The place I'm currently working at is agile on paper but 90% of the work is just implementing external requirements we have no say in. Needless to say, not analysing the problem up front and not designing the general architecture up front leads to building roadblocks later on that prevent getting work done. To stay with your metaphor: Sometimes you have to eat shit (because of legal requirements, etc.). Planning ahead is very useful in those situations for not choking on the shit.