Archive for March, 2007
Favorites for 2007-03-31
Stakeholder interviews, necessity of the functional spec – or not, document templates, non-functional requirements and more.
The REAL Development Lifecycle?
Ok, time for something light. This is funny stuff. Forget the phases or iterations – THIS is how the development lifecycle really plays out… Right?
More Analysis Paralysis
Breaking out of analysis paralysis doesn’t require you to lower your standards, or to aim lower than you would otherwise. It just requires some prioritization. What you have to do is identify those things you have to get right from the get-go, those items that do need analysis, and what can be fixed later.
Weaknesses of E-mail Communication
E-mail is a great communication medium, but it is not without its weaknesses.
Advantages of E-mail Communication
Here are just a few benefits of communicating via the most popular application on the Internet.
Curing Analysis Paralysis
You’ve poured your heart and soul into drafting the perfect requirements specification. You’ve checked, doubled checked, and triple checked every syllable of the document for clarity, spelling, testability. You have full traceability to every business requirement. You’ve been extra, extra careful not to tread in the domain of design. Your spec is rock solid.
So, why, after 5 review sessions with project stakeholders and document consumers, are you still making edits?
Excellent Use Case Primer
If you’re new to use case modelling, or just need a refresher, here is an excellent resource; the UML Use Case Diagrams: Tips and FAQ.
Timeless Management Principles
I found an excellent post on Leader Notes on some selected key management principles while actually doing some research to try to pen a similar post on my own blog. I liked Malcom Munro’s post so well that I thought I’d just do some commentary on some of the principles listed in hist post instead of trying to reinvent the wheel.
The 6 “Be’s” of Meeting Etiquette
A meeting can be very productive. A meeting can be a veritable nightmare. A lot depends on the professionalism of the participants.
I’ve devised a list that I think provides a broad but helpful guide that, if followed by meeting attendees, will result in a quality meeting where objectives can be met, and the tearing out of hair by its roots by participants can be greatly reduced, if not eliminated.