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Solution Demo
The objective of the pull event was simple. It was designed to focus the development organization on a tangible event to force completion of a learning cycle with the objective to physically demonstrate it.
—Dantar P. Oosterwal, The Lean Machine [1]
Definition: The Solution Demo provides stakeholders an integrated view of the contributions of multiple ARTs and suppliers to obtain objective evidence of solution performance and to gather feedback.
The Solution Demo presents the combined development efforts of multiple Agile Release Trains (ARTs)—along with the contributions of Suppliers and other solution participants—to Customers and other stakeholders. This demo is critical for the Solution Train to receive objective evaluation and feedback. It’s also a moment to celebrate the accomplishments of the last PI.
Each solution demo represents a significant learning point in the history of the Solution, converting some product development uncertainty into knowledge. The results of this demo determine the future course of investment in the solution.
Details
During the solution demo, Agile Teams demonstrate the solution’s new Capabilities, its compliance with Nonfunctional Requirements (NFRs), and its overall fitness for purpose. To ensure progress throughout the PI, ARTs and suppliers should strive to continuously or partially integrate their changes whenever possible. (See also the discussion of frequent integration in Enterprise Solution Delivery). At a minimum, changes across the entire Solution Train should be integrated before the solution demo. (Figure 1).
The solution demo provides essential input to near-term Development Value Stream and Portfolio Level investment decisions. The objective measure of progress gives early validation and mitigates investment risk.