Articles

• What's the right level of detail when shaping?

  2026 — I get this question all the time. Look at whatever doc you're making in the shaping phase (eg a "pitch" per the book or something else) and ask yourself: What am I trying to do with this doc? Am trying to get approval with this? Or

• End-To-End with Shape Up: A Real-World Case Study

  2025 — Here's a new case study, showing a project end-to-end. It's about 30 minutes, and you'll see every step from choosing the initial idea through framing, shaping, and building. Pay special attention to how different roles are involved at different stages, and how we consciously

• Common Pitfalls When Adopting Shape Up (and How to Avoid Them)

  2025 — I see some common pitfalls when people try to do Shape Up "by the book." There are things in the book that are Basecamp-specific or often misunderstood, and teams who successfully adopt Shape Up route around them.