D – Deliverables: Agile Starts with What You Build

Most Agile teams think they’re delivering value—but they’re really just delivering output. If your features don’t connect to real customer needs, you’re not just wasting effort—you’re harming your product and brand.

In this chapter of his book, Evan Smith introduces the four-level hierarchy of Agile deliverables: Epics, Features, Stories, and Tasks. This structure isn’t just theoretical—it’s your blueprint for aligning strategy to execution. Evan explains how to write crystal-clear acceptance criteria, apply Definition of Ready/Done (DoR/DoD) principles, and train teams to self-govern their quality standards.

Whether you’re using Jira, Rally, or VersionOne, Evan helps clients set up Agile platforms that enforce delivery discipline without adding unnecessary friction. When done right, deliverables become the engine of business impact—fueling adoption, customer loyalty, market share, and competitive moats.

Consulting takeaway: Evan’s workshops on Agile deliverables help teams move from chaos to clarity—designing work that drives real results, not just motion.