To me prioritization is key. If a client demand does not align with the companies strategic imperatives it should be deprioritized and our resources should only be working on projects that align to company strategy. More often than not, I feel we try to please everyone and therefore burn out our teams. Instead we need to empower them to prioritize work appropriately and step in to assist as leaders with messaging that to our business partners if needed.

To manage conflicting client demands in IT projects using agile, focus on clear communication and organization. Start by agreeing on a shared goal with all clients to ensure everyone is on the same page. Prioritize the most important tasks based on their value and impact, and be transparent about what can realistically be achieved. Break larger requests into smaller, manageable steps, and deliver results in stages to keep clients updated and satisfied. If disagreements remain, involve a decision-maker to help resolve the conflict. In the end, alignment with the company’s strategy, values, and vision is crucial and will help resolve both expected and unexpected conflicts.

From my experience, this happens when a customer is either unclear of their end objective or there is shift in organization's priorities or there is external market dynamics factor. In any of these, proper communication, prioritization and setting clear incremental goals helps. Agile delivery is all about being flexible and being adaptive. Be transparent on product backlog, ensure product owner manages the conflicting priorities of stakeholders and agree on MVP (minimum viable product) to be demonstrated in iterations. As long as we are able to show business value instead of focusing just on features of a particular Sprint, we can easily navigate through.

Agile manages conflicts with internal clients through frequent communication, active involvement, iterative deliveries, transparency, and retrospectives. By focusing on shared goals and adaptability, it reduces misunderstandings and turns conflicts into opportunities for collaboration.