Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!decwrl!infopiz!athertn!hemlock!mcgregor
From: mcgregor@hemlock.Atherton.COM (Scott McGregor)
Newsgroups: comp.software-eng
Subject: Re: Today's Software Standards (was RE:some advice to a sw e
Message-ID: <30822@athertn.Atherton.COM>
Date: 24 Sep 90 18:23:11 GMT
References: <3259@mindlink.UUCP>
Sender: news@athertn.Atherton.COM
Reply-To: mcgregor@hemlock.Atherton.COM (Scott McGregor)
Organization: Atherton Technology -- Sunnyvale, CA
Lines: 41

In article <3259@mindlink.UUCP>, a1157@mindlink.UUCP (Reece Markowsky) writes:
> 
>         Can this be attributed to the "gap" that exists between the customer
> and the developer?  This gap encompasses all the misunderstanding and
> misconception.  For example, a customer's misunderstanding of what a
prototype
> actually is could hurt the developer more than it has helped in defining
> precise specifications!  The customer sees what appears to be a
working version
> of the software, and because of the "gap" is unaware that it is held together
> with (to quote Pressman) "chewing gum and baling wire".  They see that
> prototype and don't understand it when the developer says... well this has to
> be scrapped.... the product must now be rebuilt.  The customer demands
   that
> a few fixes to the prototype can be made to build a working  product.
> Pressman says "Too often software development relents".

No doubt that the "gap" contributes to software developers not forseeing what
customers will want.  However, I think that to expect customers to change
their WANTS based upon the problems that the developer faces is unreasonable,
except in certain captive/contract development situations.  In open market
situation the customer will typically say "I don't care what your technical
problems are.  If you can't provide me with XYZZY today, I'll just keep
shopping and go to the first competitor that has it.   Note that this
is not only true for software (where XYZZY might be "Motif look and
feel", or "distributed databases"...) but is equally true for everyday
products such as cars.  Millions of people didn't care what Detroit's
engineering and retooling  problems were when they wanted smaller more
gas efficient cars in the 70's, and so they bought from some other
competitors (primarily Japanese and European manufacturers) instead.
Even today, people may say they want the safety of Anti-lock brakes, and/or
airbags--but at the same price as last year's models.  Some companies 
are able to deliver that and some are not.  Those that can use their
ingenuity  do so to competative advantage--those who can not can only
complain that the customer doesn't understand their problems. 
Of course they are right--but that's little consolation as business is lost
and jobs are lost.

Scott McGregor
Atherton Technology
mcgregor@Atherton.COM