Extreme Programming vs Interaction Design. An interview with Kent Beck and Alan Cooper.

Wouldn't it be lovely if things were just this clear-cut in the real world? (as opposed to the one Kent seems to inhabit)

Can XP work without that key element?

Beck: From the customer's perspective, no. I've had teams be called "whiners" because after 25 percent of the budget is spent, they're saying, "We have 10 features to add and we're going at half the speed that we expected. Which five would you like us to work on first?" And the customer says, "Oh, you whiners. Work some overtime or just get back to work or quit complaining." What do you say in a situation like that?

I don't know. What do you say?

Beck: You say, "I quit." Life's too short to work on doomed projects you already know are doomed after 25 percent of the budget is spent.