Today's Daily 60 is on The Expendables. Well, that and effective management of expectations.
So who's seen the Expendables? I'll bet if you saw it you loved it. Absolutely amazing movie, jaw dropping, the kind you could watch more than once, and I agree myself, it was amazing!
Why do I say that? Was it good acting? or amazing dialogue? Maybe the setting was shocking, or the plot, that was it, the plot was fantastic, right? No, they were all passable at best.
The movie was about some amazing 80s stars getting on the screen at the same time and blowing everything else away. Lots of guns, no plot, and huge explosions. That makes a terrible movie unless that was the exact thing that the movie maker promised.
Software development could learn a lot from The Expendables. Manage expectations. Tell them what they're getting, and improve on it if you can, but stop there.
Ever told a client they'd have their software in a month and it took 3 weeks? How about telling them it will take a week but it takes 2? The client that took two weeks is mad as hell, but the one that took 3 weeks is ecstatic!
Control your estimates, plan your features, and give the best product you can in the time you have promised, or better. Don't fall into the trap of "just one more feature" because, well, then you get Minority Report.
See ya next time!
