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From: Rud Merriam <merriam@platinum.com>
Subject: Re: Analysis vs Design/Implementation (was Re: SCRUM and Why the...)
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Organization: Platinum technology inc. \ Software Interfaces
Date: Tue, 19 Dec 1995 19:43:05 GMT
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rmartin@oma.com (Robert C. Martin) wrote:
>
>There is truth to this. There are those who specialize in analysis, or
>design, or implementation; and can do one better than the others.
>However, I have found that the *best* analysts are also the *best*
>designers and *best* implementors.
>

We are currently interviewing for a large number of developer positions. The overall 
quality of the candidates we see is not impressive even in people with years of 
experience. I'm beginning to suspect that the only way to develop software successfully 
is to have best of the breed developers. This means finding the *best* as your 
experience indicates. Our interview model is decidedly skewed by the existing staff 
which leans heavily toward best of the breed.

I know there are those who argue software shouldn't be developed only by best of the 
breed. Unfortunately I think this is the current situation. It will change only when we 
do have the analysis, design, and implementation methods required to communicate 
effectively across those three disciplines.

It is also is necessary to move away from the research and development model that 
currently plaques all existing development efforts. House builders don't see the same 
impact on their efforts because the users do have a fair idea of what they want in the 
majority of situations. At least they can answer up front how many bedrooms, baths, 
stories, and garage doors they want. We still have to explain what it means to have 
the equivalent of a bathroom in software. 

-- 
Rud Merriam                          voice:(713) 492-0707 x118
PLATINUM technology, Inc.            fax:  (713) 492-0725
Software Interfaces Lab              merriam@platinum.com
1400 Broadfield, Suite 600,          CIS: 74431,1620
Houston, TX 77084


