RE: [AM] Article of Interest in CIO Magazine

Is there a big difference between facilitating the implementation of next week's requirements and facilitating the implementation of next year's requirements?

	-----Original Message----- 
	From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] 
	Sent: Sun 3/7/2004 10:26 PM 
	To: [email protected] 
	Cc: 
	Subject: Re: [AM] Article of Interest in CIO Magazine
	
	
	In a message dated 3/7/2004 7:22:47 PM Pacific Standard Time, [email protected] writes:

		Incidentally, I’ve never been satisfied with how development methodologies address the issue of promoting design quality. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

	Actually, that was one of the points I had intended to address in my post, and I apologize for not explaining it more clearly or thoroughly. (I think I just ran out of steam at the time!). 
	 
	One of the "unclarities" I have regarding virtually all of the agile methodologies pertains to  system design, as in: "How do we build complex systems "in the agile way" that are maintainable and sustainable, when we know up front that we are looking at what might be a very small subset of the requirements that the system might ultimately be called upon to satisfy?" 
	 
	While the purists among us might suggest that we disregard those things that are not known, because there is some likelihood that whatever work we do on them may ultimately be unnecessary, and therefore a waste of resources, the "impurists" might suggest that to do nothing in the face of seemingly incontrovertible evidence that the system will require some level of post-deployment maintenance or modification is irresponsible, derelict, or worse. 
	 
	Now, 'fess up, boys: How many of you design systems in a manner that facilitates post-deployment modification, even though this might not be strictly in accordance with either the system requirements or the spirit of agility? I do! I admit it! Go ahead, drag me down to the plaza in downtown Los Gatos, where everyone will  laugh at my clothes! (supposedly, the depths of Silicon Valley ignominy).
	 
	Hey, I'm kidding, at least the part about Los Gatos. They don't actually laugh, they smirk! (I'm told: this is second-hand hearsay). Actually, I suspect that this is the point at which the immovable object meets the irresistible force. (Hey, it's a phrase from my youth; stuff like that is in my genes!), In this case, it's experience versus dogma. 
	 
	I may be making too much of this, but it seems to come up often enough in this forum (and others in which agile methodologies are diiscused). It is, however, a topic that I've wondered about at times, and would appreiate the counsel of the Elders on it.
	 
	Regards,
	 
	Pete


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