Title :
The project scoping gamble
Author :
Lawrence, B. ; Johnson, Bryant
Author_Institution :
Coyote Valley Software Consulting, USA
Abstract :
A discussion is given on how to get people and technology to work together. The authors argue that software project managers can learn important lessons from the gambler. Software development is a gamble. Its a risky game-not unlike high stakes poker. And, like a gambler who must try to figure the best bet, when we´re put on the spot trying to “scope” a software project we feel in need of some advice. Judging the timing and resources for a project is difficult when there´s not much to go on. And yet, if you fail to estimate correctly, developers, management, and customers will all be unhappy. Defining a proper scope for your project won´t guarantee its success, but a poor and especially an overly restricted scope may doom your project to failure. A gambler playing poker uses a variety of strategies to improve the odds of winning
Keywords :
project management; software development management; gambler; high stakes poker; overly restricted scope; project scoping gamble; risky game; software development; software project managers; software project scoping; Economic forecasting; Engineering management; Humans; Job shop scheduling; Programming; Project management; Software development management; Software engineering; Software quality; Timing;
Journal_Title :
Software, IEEE