Task Ownership

Core Idea

Instead of assigning tasks to members, lay out the tasks and let members choose what they want to work on. Choosing implies commitment, and commitment brings a sense of responsibility.

How to Implement

Task Pool

• During Sprint Planning, list out all tasks that need to be done, forming a task pool
• Let members claim tasks based on their interests and abilities
• If a task goes unclaimed, discuss why: Is the task unclear? Or is nobody interested?
• For unclaimed tasks, negotiate a solution rather than directly assigning

Making Choices Effective

• Task descriptions should be clear enough for members to judge whether they're interested and capable
• Allow members to take on tasks beyond their current ability, but ensure someone is available to help if needed
• After choosing, give members enough autonomy to decide how to implement
• Don't micromanage — focus on outcomes, not the process

Balancing Mechanism

• Some tasks may be less interesting but important — these can be shared through rotation
• Track the types of tasks each person chooses to avoid some people always picking easy ones
• Encourage members to try different types of tasks to expand their skill boundaries
• For urgent tasks, communicate first before assigning, and explain the reason