Steve McConnell helped us understand how poorly timed thrashing sabotages every failed software project. It turns out that the problem extends far beyond software.
\nAny project worth doing involves invention, inspiration, and at least a little bit of making stuff up. Traditionally, we start with an inkling, adding more and more detail as we approach the ship date. And the closer we get to shipping, the more thrashing occurs. Thrashing is the apparently productive brainstorming and tweaking we do for a project as it develops. Thrashing might mean changing the user interface or rewriting an introductory paragraph. Sometimes thrashing is merely a tweak; other times it involves major surgery.
\nThrashing is essential. The question is: when to thrash?
\nIn the typical amateur project, all the thrashing is near the end. The closer we get to shipping, the more people get involved, the more meetings we have, the more likely the CEO wants to be involved. And why not? What\u2019s the point of getting involved early when you can\u2019t see what\u2019s already done and your work will probably be redone anyway?
\nThe point of getting everyone involved early is simple: thrash late and you won\u2019t ship. Thrash late and you introduce bugs. Professional creators thrash early. The closer the project gets to completion, the fewer people see it and the fewer changes are permitted.
\nEvery software project that has missed its target date (every single one) is a victim of late thrashing. The creators didn\u2019t have the discipline to force all the thrashing to the beginning. They fell victim to the resistance.
\nSeth Godin. \u201cLinchpin.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Steve McConnell helped us understand how poorly timed thrashing sabotages every failed software project. It turns out that the problem extends far beyond software. Any project worth doing involves invention, inspiration, and at least a little bit of making stuff up. Traditionally, we start with an inkling, adding more and more detail as we approach …<\/p>\n