Rapid Development: Taming Wild Software Schedules

What Kind of Rapid Development Do You Need?

The most central issue to the topic of rapid development is determining what kind of rapid development you need. Do you need a slight speed edge, more predictability, better progress visibility, lower costs, or more speed at all costs?

One of the most surprising things I've discovered while doing the background research for this book is that many people who initially say they need faster development find that what they really need is lower cost or more predictability—or simply a way to avoid a catastrophic failure.

You can ask several questions to help determine what kind of rapid development you need:

• How strong is the product's schedule constraint?

• Does the project's emphasis on schedule arise because ...