Adapting Agile Scrum for Middleman Pricing: A Web-to-Print E-Commerce Case Study
Keywords:
Web-to-print e-commerce, Scrum, Tooling limitations, Pricing-Aware Sprints, Hybrid Agile Model, Process Improvement, SaaS WorkaroundsAbstract
Agile Scrum methodologies assume stable backlog effort, but middleman-driven e-commerce platforms face volatile pricing derived from competitors rather than internal cost logic. This paper analyzes a 2025 web-to-print case study where two Scrum teams stalled when 30% of sprints required real-time, reverse-engineered pricing adjustments. As both developer and project manager during this case study, I document how surface-area pricing and non-linear formulas forced sprint overrides and SaaS workarounds in tools designed for manufacturers. Key interventions included process redesign, the development of practical tooling workarounds, and enhanced client communication, leading to the conceptualization of "Pricing-Aware Sprints"—a hybrid Agile model. Findings from this study reveal that 80% of standup disruptions traced to pricing volatility (half from tooling limitations, half from delayed competitor analysis), which were significantly reduced by these interventions, ultimately improving product delivery timelines. This bifurcation suggests Agile's 'defined work' principle collapses when backlogs depend on external market forces. The study proposes the "Pricing-Aware Sprints" model to stabilize workflows in such intermediary sectors, offering critical insights for practical application and engineering education. Generalizability is limited by confidentiality constraints (anonymized client, partial artifact access).
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References
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