Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Some Places in the Life Cycle Are Better Suited to
Terminate a Project
If a project life cycle must be terminated prematurely (and perhaps
restarted at a later date spearheaded by a different set of workers), are
there points in the life cycle where it is better done, where there is least
loss of work? One obvious conclusion is that any cutoff should occur at
the logical end of a phase, rather than somewhere in between. Further,
we believe that:
User needs analysis
Requirement specification
Prototype
Integration test
are the completion points that are better suited, and resource continuity
after their completion is not critical. Note that we have tried to steer clear
from any form of design, as a recommended place to break. This may
be of significance in software more than in consumer product manufac-
turing where designs are usually created far from the manufacturing plants.
So also with VLSI design and the actual chip fabrication. In software,
however, the designer deals with soft issues of interpreting user specifi-
cations. Implicit calls are made about code structure, style, programming
practices, organization tiers, and technology base throughout the process
of design. In software, the designer outlines not only the “what,” but also
the “how” to a great extent.
Partial code blocks are also places where care should be taken while
transitioning across teams. On the shop floor of a manufacturing company,
one would not see workers transitioning their jobs, before finishing, to
tighten the screw, or welding the joint completely. Unless coding styles
and practices have been well documented and rigorously observed, fol-
lowing someone else's code is always difficult to understand and continue
where they left off.
Software Shelf Life
How do built-in obsolescence (BIO) and planned obsolescence in various
products affect a life cycle? Do they follow a different life cycle that takes
these factors into consideration? Contrary to popular belief, the life cycle
of such products does not differ much from those that do not take BIO
into consideration. However, BIO is factored into the various phases of
the life cycle. Automobile manufacturers introduced the notion of BIO in
