Re:Why Software Jewels Are Rare (1996) [pdf]
by marcosdumay on Saturday April 03, 2021 @06:01PM
(#26685134)
A large part of the problem is about differing time horizons, and the fact that low quality is always slower on the long term. So, it's not ok to just say "we don't need quality, we need speed", because quality will imply on reduced speed sooner or later.
On the best places, a lot of the communication problems come from the fact that managers tend to willfully ignore the fact that low quality is a losing proposition at the long term, and developers tend to willfully ignore the fact that short term only gains have value.
On the worst places, communication problems tend to come from the fact that management wants to artificially prop the numbers before they get a way to jump ship, defrauding everybody else, so they simply can not be honest.
On the best places, a lot of the communication problems come from the fact that managers tend to willfully ignore the fact that low quality is a losing proposition at the long term, and developers tend to willfully ignore the fact that short term only gains have value.
On the worst places, communication problems tend to come from the fact that management wants to artificially prop the numbers before they get a way to jump ship, defrauding everybody else, so they simply can not be honest.