Software in Kilograms

Software is by far different than tomatoes!

Software development depends heavily on the following factors:

Requirements clarity
Business complexity
Client maturity
Team understanding for the requirements
Team experience
Team productivity
People mood
Technology
Aiding tools availability
Company processes and strategy

Any of these factors or the combination of these factors can heavily impact the project and its estimate. I am not saying that we cannot estimate projects, I am saying that we cannot estimate accurately, and even if the estimate is accurate, given other circumstances, the same estimate may not be accurate.

The major difference between Software and other merchandises is that Software cannot really be measured. There were and are many efforts and theories trying to quantify Software and measure it, yet there is nothing accurate. Software can be measured by complexity, lines of code, effort, features, points… too many theories and models, yet none of them suggested measuring Software in Kilograms!

Grocery Model

Given the fact that no 2 developers with the same skill set and years of experience can develop the exact same application using the same requirements, clients don’t trust/believe the time and cost plans vendors provide for their projects and they always bargain these plans and push on vendors to reduce the cost and shorten the time duration whether it is acceptable and achievable or not.

Clients bargain as if they are at the grocer’s choosing tomatoes for dinner! They bargain as if they understand how Software is made. Unfortunately, many PMs allow their clients to behave in such a shaming manner and also encourage them to do so by the unethical tricks they use to manage projects and clients. Some PMs abuse their clients and use the intangibility of Software as a double edge weapon which the client can also use to fire back on vendors.

These PMs introduced the Grocery Model in the field of Software Development. The model is simple in definition, and at the same time very difficult to apply. The model totally depends on the bargaining power and negotiation skills, it has nothing to do with actual Software Development, processes or the proposed effort and cost.

The Grocery Model is driving the Software field into an abyss of no creativity and no serious work. This model empowers the Hit & Run concept and destroys vendors differentiators, reputation, and long term relationships where all parties benefit from the work done and produce good Software.

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