SunkCostDrivenMethodology

I was thinking about some of the discussions I’ve been having lately about how the methodology (gasp – I used the M word) we are using to manage a software project doesn’t exactly conform to the organisational standard.

The funny thing is – what we are doing is currently working whereas the previous methodology (even allowing for other influences on the project) wasn’t. I’ve been in this situation before, quite often organisations buy into one particular project management methodology – they even hire experts in its application to guide their staff in its use on an ongoing basis. Its a huge $$$ investment.

Then – into my head poped a term – SunkCostDrivenMethodology. Its very similar to the SunkCostDrivenArchitecture that Martin Fowler documented. I think we have a meta-anti-pattern here.

My blog is one year old.

Wow! One year ago I decided to start a blog for both technical and personal subject matter. I didn’t really know what to expect when I started and if you look back over my history in those early months you can see I was posting fairly irregularly – maybe the content was better?

I’ve decided that I am going to celebrate by blogging for another year and encouraging some other people to start blogging. The first target is my wife (Nicola) who I think has lots of interesting things to say but (incorrectly) assumes no one wants to hear them. What should her domain name be?

Here is a list of some of my favorite posts over the past twelve months:

• Don’t build a framework!
• A <csunit /> NAnt task for csUnit fans!
• Do we have to have the coding standards discussion again? OK then.
• catch { // Nothing bu whitespace } should be banned!
• Design-Time Type Resolution
• <startcassini /> and <stopcassini /> Tasks for NAnt
• Whidbey C#: Expansions Rock!
• Expansions Cont’d – How To
• FirewallPermission: For the XP SP2 enabled!
• Clippy calls “developer tools” home . . .
• Clippy has been retrofitted into VS.NET 2003.
• NIHSFUD
• Combating the Comment Spam Problem
• Thought #1 on API Design
• Orcas: Code Builders
• Code Builders – Feature Creep
• Can’t sleep: More Code Builder Stuff
• Windows Reporting Services
• Shrinklet 1.0.0
• NHashcash 1.0.0.0 Released
• Project plans and other works of fiction.
• Project methodologies are like sample code.
• Requirements analysis is like painting the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Thanks for coming with me on the trip!