Specs? Those were specs? I thought it was a Christmas wish list!
Have you ever worked on a project where the entire idea was drawn on a napkin from some drunkin dinner? I know I have. I started in the IT field in 1996 working bleeding edge technology (yeah, old stuff now) and that's how everything was done.
Now, nothing has really changed. Well, I'll get to that in a minute. I have worked a lot of projects where the customer engaged my services a little late in the game. The requirements and specs are there, but they're useless as the current rendition of the project in no way resembles the instruction manual. We've all been there.
Now, I'm at the height of glory, or so I thought. I am working on a large project probably worth 10's of millions of dollars (obviously not in my pocket or I would be someplace else and NOT writing this..). In any case, there are requirements, specifications, everything that one could ask for and more! More you say?? Yes indeed. It seems that just about every document on this project references some other document. It took me 5 documents to gather the rudimentary requirements for the data synchronization deliverable for my current phase. The documents were produced by 3 different teams and 2 different companies.
And even though the "requirements" are there, they are always subject to intepretation by the various individuals who steer the bus. Kinda makes me want to wipe my mouth with that napkin.
Now, nothing has really changed. Well, I'll get to that in a minute. I have worked a lot of projects where the customer engaged my services a little late in the game. The requirements and specs are there, but they're useless as the current rendition of the project in no way resembles the instruction manual. We've all been there.
Now, I'm at the height of glory, or so I thought. I am working on a large project probably worth 10's of millions of dollars (obviously not in my pocket or I would be someplace else and NOT writing this..). In any case, there are requirements, specifications, everything that one could ask for and more! More you say?? Yes indeed. It seems that just about every document on this project references some other document. It took me 5 documents to gather the rudimentary requirements for the data synchronization deliverable for my current phase. The documents were produced by 3 different teams and 2 different companies.
And even though the "requirements" are there, they are always subject to intepretation by the various individuals who steer the bus. Kinda makes me want to wipe my mouth with that napkin.
posted by Ray Moser at 11:19:00 PM
2 Comments:
Well, yeah I have seen those specs. The worst part is when you work an a Fixed Price Contract and the client updates his requirements 2 days before the deadline. Yeah I have worked on such projects. Down here in India's Silicon Valley its a part of the game. Being able to handle that dictates your survival in the rat race.. Yeah now you Survive!! So RUN.. Finish the Race. For all I know there is a Cat waiting at the finish line to gobble me up!
Vikram,
Yes, I know exactly what you are talking about. I guess I should add another post. I have worked on projects that when I get within 10 meters of the finish line, the client moves the finish line another 100m. You never get to the finish line and the project goes on forever. The change requests for that project was just sickening and we didn't start tracking the requests because they were "innocent" enough in the beginning. I guess things are not so different on the other side of the globe!
Ray
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