The “Salt and Pepper” story is a popular analogy in Agile planning that highlights the importance of clarity and shared understanding when defining work. Imagine you’re sitting at a dinner table and someone says, “Please pass the salt and pepper.” That request seems straightforward, but without context, it’s ambiguous. Do they want both at once? Just salt first? Or maybe only pepper? Each person at the table might interpret it differently. In Agile, this is similar to how teams sometimes receive vague user stories or requirements. Without proper clarification, there’s a risk of delivering something different from what was actually needed.

To avoid this confusion, Agile teams can take three key actions. 

First, ask clarifying questions. Just like you’d ask, “Do you want both salt and pepper now?” the team should ask the product owner or stakeholder questions to fully understand the requirement. This helps uncover hidden assumptions and ensure everyone is aligned.  Second, define clear acceptance criteria. This acts as a shared agreement on what “done” looks like. For instance, if the salt and pepper are to be passed together on a tray, that becomes a clear outcome. In Agile, listing acceptance criteria in the user story serves this purpose and minimizes misunderstandings. Third, collaborate continuously. Agile emphasizes constant communication between developers, product owners, and stakeholders. If the need changes—like someone deciding they only want salt after all—the team can quickly adjust. This responsiveness is at the heart of Agile.

In essence, the Salt and Pepper story is a reminder that even simple requests can be misinterpreted without proper context. Through clarification, defined expectations, and ongoing collaboration, Agile teams can ensure they’re building the right thing at the right time.