Separating discovery and build tracks

Dual Track Agile divides product development into two parallel streams:

• Discovery. Teams research user needs, test ideas, and validate potential solutions. Discovery teams can conduct deeper research without blocking development progress.
• Delivery. Teams build, test, and ship solutions that have already been validated. Delivery teams maintain consistent velocity because they always have validated work to build.

Teams can also specialize based on their strengths, with more research-oriented members focusing on discovery.

The biggest challenge is avoiding a waterfall-like handoff culture. When discovery happens without delivery team involvement, teams risk creating silos where designers and product managers validate solutions, then simply hand specifications to developers.

Successful implementation requires strong connections between tracks: invite developers to discovery sessions, hold regular sync meetings, deliver in smaller chunks rather than big designs, and ensure both tracks share common goals and metrics. Remember, the goal isn't to divide teams but to organize work modes while maintaining collaboration.