This Focused Performance Weblog is a "business management blog" containing links and commentary related primarily to organizational effectiveness with a "Theory of Constraints" perspective. TOC is noted for its applications in Project Management and Multi-Project Management (Critical Chain) and Operations Management (Drum-Buffer-Rope), as well as in Marketing, Strategic Planning and Change Management (TOC Thinking Processes). If you are on an archive page, current postings are found here.
Friday, May 28, 2004
Someone Will Set Priorities -- Esther Derby writes...
When customer priorities aren't explicit, developers will (naturally enough) fill in the blanks based on their own values.
A corollary is the priorities (not only of features, but also what to work on) will always be set. If priorities aren't made clear, then in addition to the values that Esther mentions, individual interests and relationships will dominate what gets done. The question is whether those setting the priorities are in alignment with the larger goals of the organization or the effort. If you are responsible for priority setting, and you waffle it, don't complain when things you expect or want don't happen in the manner or with the speed that you expect or want.
(By the way, as a trigger to her post, Esther points to a new - to me - weblog, Michael Farmer's Nerdherding for Beginners. Looks to be some good stuff there. Some of what I've skimmed there is ringing quite true with my recent experience. Check it out. I'll continue to.)
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