Re: The Mythical Man-Month

[Ned Bedinger <doc -at- edwordsmith -dot- com>]

neilson -at- windstream -dot- net wrote:
>> neilson wrote:
>>    
>>>   The key is to focus on the user view and not on the technology. This
>>> paradigm even applies for products that are for very technical users,
>>> in my opinion.

Wow, that is pretty darned condensed wisdom you're offering, Peter. Thanks.

Interpreting this in light of MMM, implementation is where the rubber 
meets the sky--requirements and design usually turn out to be 
incomplete, and the details of this incompleteness don't become obvious 
until the implementation. So I guess the analysts and developers tend 
toward implemetation fixations because they're psyched for it. I'm not 
sure how this realization helps to move their attention back to research 
and planning, but it sounds like a step in the right direction, doesn't it?

I used to have a clipping of an old Tom Peters newspaper column where he 
tossed off an insight that has borne me much fruit:  software 
development never rises above the methodology of prototyping. 
Implementation is ultimately an exploration, a test of concept, a 
prototype that will be melted down and recast as learning moves the 
effort along.  The columnist's point was something to do with the 
dot-com business model, but it explained a lot to me as a queasy 
passenger along for the ride in the careening vehicle of a software 
development team.


> 
> Sounds brilliant, unless you're making wine

That sour wine could be gourmet vinegar!  All that's missing is the spin 
selling (and a gullible grocer).

Ned Bedinger
doc -at- edwordsmith -dot- com
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