Cleeve Amos - Bowood

Software Development Methodologies

A Religion?

Self Evident Truths

❖ Throughout my IT career there have been a number of constant themes. Here is one of them.

❖ Software Methodologies tend to become religions.

Religious Methodology Characteristics

❖ Ceremonies - Rituals that reinforce a sense of belonging

❖ Commandments - Though shalt have no other method but me

❖ High Priests - Masters of the art

❖ Confirmation - Induction by the high priests into the path to enlightenment

❖ Tithes - Money makers in the temple

Why is this so?❖ People enjoy belonging to

something special

❖ People need rules and structure

❖ The high priests are revered and respected - “Can I be one?”

❖ Some responsibility for failure can be abdicated - “But I followed the method”

❖ There is money to be made in marketing methods - the last but the most significant

So what can we do?❖ “In theory there is no difference between

theory and practice. But in practice there is.”

❖ Methodologies are not a substitute for good people - hire the best people you can afford

❖ Experience is more important than certificates - mentor on real projects

❖ Unsure everyone understands they are guidelines not rules - the high priests are just people

❖ Remember that delivering the product is more important than delivering a methodology