[[se-radio-389]] | [web](https://www.se-radio.net/2019/11/episode-389-ryan-singer-on-basecamps-software-development-process/) (2019-11-19) ### Ryan Singer on "Shape Up" book in SE-Radio 389 [[Ryan Singer]], the author of [[Shape Up📚2019|Shape Up📚 (2019, Basecamp)]], appears on the show to discuss the development process at [[37signals]] described in the book. > Ryan Singer, head of strategy at Basecamp, discusses the “Shape Up” method of software development with host Nate Black. > > Scrum pushes too many strategic decisions down on development teams, without giving them enough time to do meaningful work. Instead, Basecamp uses an up-front mix of strategy and design called “shaping”. Basecamp sees backlogs as a psychological weight and a credibility problem. They replace up-front front task assignment with strategic “bets” on time-limited projects. Teams handle task discovery and “map” the solution space. Rather than completion status, they focus on knowns and unknowns — risk — using tools like scope mapping, checklists, and hill charts.