Jake Harper
The Chicken and Pig fable is a well-known story that has been used to illustrate the concept of commitment and involvement in a project or team. In the fable, the chicken suggests that they open a restaurant together, to which the pig responds that it would be fully committed while the chicken would only be involved. This analogy has been applied in various fields, including sports and software development, to define the levels of commitment and contribution of different team members. The story has also been adapted into cartoons, such as the Scrum Chicken and Pig cartoon, which was first published in 2006 and gained popularity within the agile and scrum community.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the cartoon | "The Chicken and the Pig" |
| Date of publication | September 11, 2006 |
| Cartoonist | Tony |
| Concept co-created by | Tony and Michael Vizdos |
| Cartoon story | The Chicken says: "Hey Pig, I was thinking we should open a restaurant!" Pig replies: "Hm, maybe, what would we call it?" The Chicken responds: "How about 'ham-n-eggs'?" The Pig thinks for a moment and says: "No thanks. I’d be committed, but you’d only be involved." |
| Moral of the story | The fable has been used to define two types of project members: pigs, who are totally committed to the project and accountable for its outcome, and chickens, who consult on the project and are informed of its progress. |
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What You'll Learn
The fable of the chicken and the pig
The pig's response varies slightly across sources but maintains the same meaning:
> "No thanks. I'd be committed, but you'd only be involved."
The fable has been used to define two types of project members: those who are committed to the project and accountable for its outcome (the pigs), and those who consult and are informed of its progress (the chickens). This analogy is based on the level of sacrifice required from each animal to produce the dish. While the pig must give its life to provide bacon, the chicken can provide eggs without sacrificing its life.
In the context of Scrum, a software development framework, the pigs include the development team members who decide how the product will be developed and the rate at which it can be accomplished. The chickens, on the other hand, have input on the product but are not as deeply committed to the project. They include stakeholders, customers, and executive management who are kept informed of the project's progress.
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Levels of commitment in a team
The fable of the chicken and the pig is often used to illustrate the concept of varying levels of commitment in a team. The story goes that the chicken suggests to the pig that they open a restaurant together, to which the pig replies that it would be committed, but the chicken would only be involved. This fable has been interpreted in the context of team dynamics, particularly in the scrum framework, to define two types of project members:
The Pigs:
The pigs represent the team members who are fully committed to the project and accountable for its outcome. They are the ones who decide how the work will be done and the rate at which it can be accomplished. In the context of scrum, the pigs would include the development team members, product owners, and scrum masters. They are willing to make sacrifices for the success of the project. Just as the pig provides the ham for a dish, which requires its sacrifice, the pigs in a team are willing to go above and beyond to ensure the project's success.
The Chickens:
The chickens, on the other hand, are involved in the project but to a lesser degree. They have input on the product that will be developed and provide ideas on how the work will get done. However, they are not as deeply invested in the project's outcome as the pigs. In the scrum framework, chickens can include stakeholders, customers, executives, and other important people with vision. Like the chicken that provides the eggs for a dish, the chickens in a team contribute but are not making a sacrificial offering.
The fable emphasizes the importance of having both pigs and chickens in a team. While the pigs provide the deep commitment and drive needed to see the project through, the chickens offer valuable insights and ideas. Together, they create a balanced team with diverse levels of commitment, each contributing to the project's success in their own way.
In practice, the roles of pigs and chickens may not always be clearly defined, and individuals may transition between the two levels of commitment depending on the project or context. It is important to recognize that both levels of commitment are necessary and valuable, and fostering a collaborative environment where ideas and contributions are respected, regardless of the level of commitment, is key to a successful team dynamic.
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The origin of the scrum chicken and pig cartoon
The "Scrum Chicken and Pig" cartoon was first published on September 11, 2006, by Michael Vizdos and Tony on their website www.ImplementingScrum.com. The cartoon was based on a fable that Vizdos had heard from Ken Schwaber, the co-creator of Scrum, during a Certified Scrum Master certification course in January 2004.
The fable, also known as "The Chicken and the Pig," is about a chicken and a pig discussing opening a restaurant together. The chicken suggests the name "Ham-n-Eggs," to which the pig replies, "No thanks. I'd be committed, but you'd only be involved." The moral of the story is that, in producing a dish made of ham and eggs, the pig is truly committed because it provides the ham, which requires sacrifice, while the chicken is only involved because it provides the eggs, which are easier to produce.
In the context of Scrum, a project management framework, the fable is used to differentiate between the levels of commitment and involvement of different project stakeholders. The "pigs" are the development team members who are fully committed to the project and accountable for its outcome, while the "chickens" are the stakeholders, customers, and executives who are involved by providing input and ideas but are not as deeply committed.
The cartoon series by Vizdos and Tony gained popularity, with translations in over a dozen languages, and they published over a hundred cartoons before ending the series. However, the chicken and pig metaphor in the Scrum Guide has been updated to remove references to animals and instead directly discuss accountability and the distinction between Scrum team members and individuals who are part of the process.
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The chicken and pig in scrum project management
The fable of the chicken and the pig is a metaphor used in the context of Scrum project management to illustrate the roles and involvement of team members. The parable is used to distinguish between two types of roles within a Scrum team: the "chicken" and the "pig" (also referred to as the "egg"). The chicken represents individuals who are involved in or have a stake in the project, while the pig (or egg) represents those who are fully committed or accountable for the project's success.
In the fable, the chicken says to the pig: "Hey Pig, I was thinking we should open a restaurant!" The pig replies: "No thanks. I'd be committed, but you'd only be involved." This analogy is based on the idea that, in producing a dish made of ham and eggs, the pig provides the ham, which requires sacrifice, while the chicken provides the eggs, which are not difficult to produce. Thus, the pig is truly committed to the dish, while the chicken is only involved, yet both are needed to create it.
In the context of Scrum, chickens have input on the product that will be developed, but pigs decide how it will be done and the rate at which it can be accomplished. The pigs include the development team members, product owners, and Scrum Masters, who are responsible for organizing Scrum events, particularly during Scrum stand-ups. The chickens in Scrum are the customers, vendors, executives, and other important stakeholders with a vision for the project.
While the chicken and pig metaphor has been used to define the levels of commitment and accountability in a Scrum project, it has also fallen out of favor with some practitioners. The labels "chicken" and "pig" have generated controversy, with some arguing that they are derogatory and create a negative power dynamic. As a result, the Scrum Guide has removed references to animals, instead discussing accountability directly and using terms like "the organization," "employees," and "stakeholders."
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The chicken and pig cartoon in the real world
The "Chicken and Pig" cartoon is a well-known business fable that illustrates the different levels of commitment required in a project or team. In the cartoon, the chicken suggests to the pig that they open a restaurant together, to which the pig replies that he would be "committed" while the chicken would only be "involved". This analogy is often used in the real world, particularly in the context of scrum project management and software development, to define two types of project members: those who are fully committed to the project and accountable for its outcome (the pigs), and those who have input on the product but are not as deeply invested (the chickens).
In the context of scrum, the pigs are typically the development team members who are responsible for the actual work and decision-making, while the chickens are the stakeholders who provide ideas and input on how the work will be done. The fable emphasizes the importance of having both types of contributors in a project, as they are needed to produce the final dish, but it also highlights the distinction between being merely involved and being fully committed.
The cartoon has been used to explain the different roles and levels of commitment in a team, and it has been referenced by coaches, leaders, and organizations to create a shared understanding of expectations and responsibilities. It provides a simple and memorable way to distinguish between those who are deeply invested in a project and those who have a more peripheral involvement.
While the specific cartoon characters may not be directly applicable to every situation, the underlying message of commitment and involvement is versatile and can be applied to various real-world scenarios. For example, in sports teams, the coach and players may be seen as the "pigs," fully committed to the team's success, while the support staff and fans are the "chickens," involved but not to the same degree.
The "Chicken and Pig" fable has had a significant impact and has been translated into multiple languages. It has helped people understand the dynamics of collaboration and the importance of recognizing and valuing different contributions. By distinguishing between "pigs" and "chickens," the fable provides a framework for fostering effective teamwork and ensuring that projects are approached with the right level of commitment and accountability.
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