Agile Development - A Product Owner's Story

I owe an apology to everyone. I've been so busy lately with a new business venture that I'm trying to launch in the Mobile Marketing arena that I've made far too few posts over the last month or so. In fact, I owe you another apology because I haven't had time to write anything on the wonderful world of Mobile Commerce this week either. Instead, I wanted you to hear a story I was told that helps me put life into perspective when things get too busy and hectic. A mobile commerce strategy consultant was taking a few days off near a small coastal Spanish village, where he came upon a fisherman............ The consultant complimented the fisherman on his catch, and was astonished to learn that it didn't take long for the fisherman to complete his daily work. The consultant then asked the fisherman what he did for the rest of his day. 'I sleep late', the fisherman replied, 'fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, stroll ...

I've been working for some time now with a company that, in partnership with a large UK telco, develops and manages SMS middle ware applications for corporates and the public sector. One particular solution they offer in the Health sector allows SMS , Email and automated voice IVRs , to be used to remind patients about upcoming clinic or minor surgery appointments. Over 15 Primary Care Trusts in the UK use this service from my client and recently I was told by one of them that since introducing the service 12 months ago, their "did not attend " or DNA rates have dropped from 30% to less than 10%. It's difficult to put a fiscal benefit against these savings, but you can imagine the sunk cost that goes into running a clinic - the salary of the consultants and the nurses. Medicines and prescriptions that are prepared and never collected and have to be disposed of and the cost of re-arranging the missed appointment. Also, there are knock on effects as Consultants c...