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Unsuccessful projects often lack collaboration between key parties. When the Icelandic volcano erupted, key parties didn’t communicate for too long which resulted in disruption to aviation across Europe. IT methodologies have definable, planned, controlled activities and timelines which allow you to say what to do, when to do it and how to do it.
But IT methodologies only deal with the hard definable activities and not with the complex people issues and soft problems. Complex problems need people who are willing to learn, willing to share, able to adapt. Engaged people get things done.
That’s my view. You can join the debate with The Open University.
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IT is unlike any other engineering activity. If you are building you can't redesign the ground floor to make changes in the 1st floor with out huge costs. In software the programmer is regularly asked to redesign the structure because anything is possible, and those asking can not be told of the cost. There is no external body tell you how to construct the structure or to check that you have followed the correct regulations of safety. Each piece of software has to include these checks as it is developed. Most of the over run of costs is because management refuse to wait until they can provide the whole picture or assume that as it is only software it can be added on at the end with out problems and issues, some of which are fundamental to good design. Most projects are also rushed. They don't go through the planning to build a factory or office building and management want a unique bespoke solution last week. Adequate design and on going testing are the after thought.