As an SDE Intern at a service-based company, I navigate the chaos of client demands by staying agile and organized. I prioritize tasks by maintaining a dynamic backlog that balances internal development goals with urgent client needs, ensuring that no critical issue goes unnoticed. Effective time management, clear communication with team leads, and frequent check-ins help me stay aligned with shifting priorities. I also leverage project management tools to track progress and allocate dedicated time for coding, which enables me to adapt quickly while still delivering quality work to our clients.

If client demands are impacting your development timeline, it could be because you're not clear about the urgency and timelines of the demands. I would first list all the demands, clarify each one's priority and adjust them in the Product Roadmap accordingly. I would then deduce the timelines with sufficient buffer and communicate them proactively to clients to manage their expectations. If the client continues to pile up requests for the team, I would push back, shield the team from constant changes and encourage the client to prioritize demands in regular prioritization meetings instead of pushing ad-hoc changes.

Prioritize requests based on impact and urgency. Use Agile methods like sprints and backlog grooming to keep work structured. Set clear boundaries with clients, managing expectations through transparent communication. Offer phased deliveries or MVPs to address urgent needs without disrupting long-term plans. Automate testing and deployment to handle changes efficiently. A balanced approach keeps both client needs and development timelines in check.

From my perspective there are two ways in which we can handle this situation:- 1. Let the client know, the limits and boundaries in solving the problem. 2. Sit down with them one day, and clearly understand their expectations.

All new demands must be added to new tasks and implement in the next sprint. Everything is chaos if it is not confirmed by Agile and scrum master. New demands - new risks, new costs, new issues. Is not easy to implement what you want. Processes - key to chaos omitting ;)