On Microsoft, Scrums and Burndown
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I think my boss is finally discovering that for prototypes and maybe demos, agile is okay, but if you're doing a production product, you really need design and requirements documentation so that everyone is on the same page as far as what's expected of the application, and who's responsible for which parts.
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
I think my boss is finally discovering that for prototypes and maybe demos, agile is okay, but if you're doing a production product, you really need design and requirements documentation so that everyone is on the same page as far as what's expected of the application, and who's responsible for which parts
Do you have user stories? Do you derive programming tasks from said stories and assign them to various developers for implementation? Although in agile there's no such thing as a functional specification (in form of a Word document, etc.) there are story cards which describe a feature in client's words (2-3 sentences) from which you can derive programming tasks and schedule them. Maybe it's not like having a huge document but still looks like some sort of documentation and you still can schedule work and prepare a release plan. In Scrum you have "sprints" which usually last a few (1-3?) weeks during which you work on the schedule for that sprint. How does agile look in your company?
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Marc, do you do Scrum in your company?
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The following quote from the recent article about Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 had the whole office in stitches: "We'll include in the [VSTS] box an Excel workbook for teams that are leveraging, say, the Scrum process so they can get burndown from their project." I'm sorry. Is this some language very similar to, but subtly different from, English or have I accidentally stumbled into a parallel universe? Here in the UK we have this theory that we invented English but not one person in my office had the slightest notion what this author was on about. Discussions as to whether burning down the project is a good or bad idea are ongoing. Keith
Am I reading this correct? I microsoft finally providing tools to burn down your project? They would be the first company that have tools for letting a project fail miserably... I feel a great punchline coming up: This project was made impossible by microsoft. (For you dutch people: Dit project wordt mede onmogelijk gemaakt door...)
WM. My blog
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Marc, do you do Scrum in your company?
Pawel Krakowiak wrote:
Marc, do you do Scrum in your company?
None of my clients have ever come close. Marc
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I do now understand that this is the case but it's a striking example of how some folks seem to go around inventing new words, willy-nilly. I have a suspicion that in many cases it's because they think it sounds trendy, rather than through any actual need. Incidentally, I'm not overly fond of the word "methodology" either. It doesn't feature in my (admittedly aging) Pocket Oxford Dictionary. What's wrong with real words like "technique" or, if you want to be a bit grander, "philosophy"? I realise that I am an old and reactionary dinosaur and that my rants against the inevitable evolution of the English language are in vain, but it keeps me happy on a damp Tuesday morning. Keith
Member 3857771 wrote:
It doesn't feature in my (admittedly aging)
PocketOxford Dictionary.I've found your problem, unless you need a definition of the words 'the', 'to', or 'is' yours is worthlessly small. Admittedly I have a large vocabulary, but I've never found a word I was looking for a definition of in a dictionary that small, or (after primary school) in a textbook sized one. In HS/college my success rate fell below 50% with my parents two 3" coffee table book sized dicts. If it wasn't for the internet I'd have bought at least an 8" one. My HS library had one of those, and I could find *most* of what I was looking for in it.
Today's lesson is brought to you by the word "niggardly". Remember kids, don't attribute to racism what can be explained by Scandinavian language roots. -- Robert Royall
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Agile development: The notion that if you take enough code monkeys, and have them fling their feces at a board, a useful product will come out of it.
Software Zen:
delete this;Except that seems to be how most software products are implemented anyhow, regardless of whether they call it "agile" development.
¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! Real Mentats use only 100% pure, unfooled around with Sapho Juice(tm)! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! VCF Blog
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Am I reading this correct? I microsoft finally providing tools to burn down your project? They would be the first company that have tools for letting a project fail miserably... I feel a great punchline coming up: This project was made impossible by microsoft. (For you dutch people: Dit project wordt mede onmogelijk gemaakt door...)
WM. My blog
WillemM wrote:
This project was made impossible by microsoft.
They've been offering that for years - it's called VB.
¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! Real Mentats use only 100% pure, unfooled around with Sapho Juice(tm)! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! VCF Blog
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The following quote from the recent article about Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 had the whole office in stitches: "We'll include in the [VSTS] box an Excel workbook for teams that are leveraging, say, the Scrum process so they can get burndown from their project." I'm sorry. Is this some language very similar to, but subtly different from, English or have I accidentally stumbled into a parallel universe? Here in the UK we have this theory that we invented English but not one person in my office had the slightest notion what this author was on about. Discussions as to whether burning down the project is a good or bad idea are ongoing. Keith
Member 3857771 wrote:
teams that are leveraging, say, the Scrum process
Personally I'd rather not get involved in a programming methodology that requires me to force my head between large men's arses and reach between their legs. [^]
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Member 3857771 wrote:
It doesn't feature in my (admittedly aging)
PocketOxford Dictionary.I've found your problem, unless you need a definition of the words 'the', 'to', or 'is' yours is worthlessly small. Admittedly I have a large vocabulary, but I've never found a word I was looking for a definition of in a dictionary that small, or (after primary school) in a textbook sized one. In HS/college my success rate fell below 50% with my parents two 3" coffee table book sized dicts. If it wasn't for the internet I'd have bought at least an 8" one. My HS library had one of those, and I could find *most* of what I was looking for in it.
Today's lesson is brought to you by the word "niggardly". Remember kids, don't attribute to racism what can be explained by Scandinavian language roots. -- Robert Royall
I think pockets were bigger in those days too. My "Pocket" Oxford measures 6"x3" by about 2 inches thick. Keith
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Pawel Krakowiak wrote:
Marc, do you do Scrum in your company?
None of my clients have ever come close. Marc
Marc Clifton wrote:
None of my clients have ever come close.
So that article was just theoretical? Only a hobby?
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Marc Clifton wrote:
None of my clients have ever come close.
So that article was just theoretical? Only a hobby?
Pawel Krakowiak wrote:
So that article was just theoretical? Only a hobby?
I was doing a quick look at different agile methodologies with Justin for a book that I was writing a few years ago (that never came to fruition) and the articles were mostly the results of Justin's research. Marc
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I think pockets were bigger in those days too. My "Pocket" Oxford measures 6"x3" by about 2 inches thick. Keith
