Iteration Planning May 2026

“We need to get the payment retry logic in,” she said. “Business says failed payments are the top drop-off point.”

“We measure by finishing,” Priya said. “Pick three things. Just three. Not the biggest three. The three that actually unblock the rest.” iteration planning

They started with payment retry. Five points. Then compliance. Three points. Then reporting. Eight points—big, but doable. “We need to get the payment retry logic in,” she said

Then Priya did something unexpected. She closed her laptop. never actually faced.

They never had room. The refactor had become a ghost story—told to new hires, never actually faced.