The Blind TEAMS AND THE ENTERPRISE
© 2011 Lynn Noel with apologies to John Godfrey Saxe's version
It was six teams of Industry
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Enterprise
(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind.
Exec approach'd the Enterprise,
And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl:
"God bless me! how this Enterprise
Has whiteboards like a wall!"
PM, feeling of the tusk,
Cried, -"Ho! what have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me 'tis mighty clear
This project of an Enterprise
Has targets like a spear!"
Sales then approached the Enterprise,
And happening to take
That squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up and spake:
"These deals that feed the Enterprise
Are pipelined like a snake!"
A Dev reached out an eager hand,
And felt about the knee.
"What most this wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain," quoth he,
"'This epic, Agile Enterprise
Is backlogged like a tree!"
Training, who chanced to touch the ear,
Said: "E'en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most;
Deny the fact who can,
This living, learning Enterprise
Is list'ning like a fan!"
Infra no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Then, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
"I see," quoth he, "the Enterprise
Is networked like a rope!"
And so these teams of Industry
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right,
Yet all were in the wrong!
MORAL.
So oft in technologic wars
Does every project team
Rail on in utter ignorance
Of what each other mean
And build and lead an Enterprise
Not one of them has seen!