Scrum/Pigs and Chicken

The Scrum naming scheme of pigs as opposed to chicken is based on the fable of the chicken and the pig.

This fable is about a chicken and a pig wanting to open a restaurant called "Ham & Eggs" together. So while the chicken is involved, only the pig will put its bacon on the line and be committed.

Who is a pig

Translated into our use of the term, a pig is a team member so it is

• developing the actual product
• puts his "bacon on the line" (meaning betting his career on the quality of the work he delivers)
• not just involved in just defining requirements or parts of the process

Who is a chicken

Translated into our use of the term, a chicken is not a team member, but involved with the product so it can be

• a product owner
• an advisor
• any other stakeholder in the project

The fact that the chicken is not involved at the low level does of course not mean there is no risk for it or that its involvement is irrelevant. This is often discussed in this context.