TIB #1: Custom software is too expensive.
A while back, I wrote about defining my TIBs. I’m still not done, but I’m going to randomly post a few from time-to-time. I don’t have them listed in any particular order, but here is TIB #1:
Custom software is too expensive.
There are many factors that eventually come together and make the world of custom software development more expensive than it should be. I believe this is because the majority of our focus in the field is primarily focused on technology solutions instead of business solutions. Sound software craftsmanship and business accumen can go hand-in-hand to create functional, beautiful, simple, and valuable software if we step back and question our assumptions on how software should be developed.
October 30th, 2006 at 11:39 pm
[...] Can you imagine what would happen if you took the time that you spent on “compliance for compliance sake” and spent that time with your customer? If we replaced the time we spent on a technical specification with having a couple of drinks with our customer then it would probably be for the better. If we removed the time wasted on the formalities and politics involved with functional specifications and put the effort towards understanding a day in the life our customer, or if we replaced change control formalities with a weekly game of golf with our customer then we might really get somewhere.In short, I think there’s value in making the move to unlearn and look at everything with new eyes. Simple economics and common sense make me think that we might just have the ability to make better software. [...]