By bfwebster on Apr 8, 2008 in Change management, IT project disputes, Main, Patterns, Pitfalls, Quality assurance, Software engineering | 0 Comments
The opening of Terminal 5 at London Heathrow Airport has not been without problems, to say the least. And one of the specific problems appears to be the automated baggage handling system: …the computer-operated baggage system has crashed and luggage is now being sorted manually before being loaded on to planes. Twelve return flights to [...]
By bfwebster on Apr 3, 2008 in Books, Development, Main, Pitfalls, PMSE | 0 Comments
[From Pitfalls of Modern Software Engineering by Bruce F. Webster (forthcoming)] CATEGORIES: conceptual, managerial Make no mistake: modern software development techniques and methodologies, combined with powerful user-interface classes and software development tools, can greatly speed application development. However, they also allow application prototypes to be put together and demonstrated very quickly. This is great for [...]
By bfwebster on Mar 27, 2008 in Books, Pitfalls, PMSE, Recruiting, Training | 0 Comments
[From Pitfalls of Modern Software Engineering by Bruce F. Webster (forthcoming)] CATEGORIES: conceptual Training is the acquisition of information and practices geared toward a certain end. For example, send a group of engineers to a conference with seminars on object technology, hold a class on C++ programming, or give them a set of books and [...]
By bfwebster on Mar 26, 2008 in Main, Pitfalls, Technology | 0 Comments
The US Census Bureau is having problems with its new TOMs [technology-or-methodology] for the 2010 Census (emphasis added): WASHINGTON (AP) — Big worries for the nation’s first high-tech census should have been obvious when tests showed some of the door-to-door headcounters couldn’t figure out their fancy new handheld computers. Now, officials say, technology problems could [...]
By bfwebster on Mar 25, 2008 in Books, Pitfalls, PMSE | 0 Comments
[From Pitfalls of Modern Software Engineering by Bruce F. Webster (forthcoming)] CATEGORIES: conceptual Using tools designed for a given technology or methodology (”the TOM”) does not mean that the project will follow solid TOM principles, any more than sitting in (or even driving) an Indy-class race car qualifies you for the Indy Racing League circuit. [...]