Re: [re-online] request for suggestions for a Masters Thesis - Sweden

From: Andrew Gabb (agabb@tpgi.com.au)
Date: Tue Jun 01 2004 - 10:15:25 EST


David Lightstone wrote:
> This is closest to the opinion that I hold. There is always uncertainty in
> need of resolution. The uncertainty is attributable to the a priori need for
> knowledge that can only be obtained a posteriori to the completion of an
> implementation task. At best one structures the implementation effort so as
> to provide that knowledge when it is needed (ie delay decisions until you
> are sufficiently informed). It is an accross the board type situation. It
> affects requirements, design and implementation efforts.

Well said.

Your example about 'delaying decisions' is actually one of the not so subtle factors working against RE that you mentioned, ie the impression that RE takes too much time - when we could be doing *real* work - and "we can't afford to wait forever".

One way we offset/minimise these delays is to include risk reduction activities in our planning to ensure that the information *is* ready when we need it.

When it comes down to the wire, I think the single most important factor in bad RE is bad risk management. As the old saying goes, "Anyone who can get this far into the swamp and not see any alligators deserves to get eaten." So those who ignore or undermine RE: 

#  See little or no risk in avoiding the RE activities, and/or
#  See some risk, but trade it off against time pressure, and/or
#  Don't even think about risk, let alone plan for risk (very common
unfortunately).

For the same reasons, these folks often ignore other fundamentals of systems engineering, including interface management, integration planning, test planning, life cycle considerations, performance modelling, etc., etc.

Andrew 

-- 
Andrew Gabb
email: agabb@tpgi.com.au       Adelaide, South Australia
phone: +61 8 8342-1021, fax: +61 8 8269-3280
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