Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
and what will be rolled into production. For example, in produc-
tion, the log-in procedures may be different, they may be coming
in through some other URLs, and firewalls may see the screens a
little differently.
These days, many demos are done over Web conferences and the
nonverbal feedback gets attenuated. In such environments, you
have to watch out for the possibility that what you are seeing full-
screen may get slightly truncated because of all the administration
paraphernalia on the viewer's screen. At a minimum, slow the pace
of the presentation and avoid very fast cursor movements.
Demos are very essential steps in any software development. They
provide good validation from the users and can help catch serious errors
in direction up-front.
Other Aspects of Communications
Most internal communications are done through e-mail, and e-mail com-
munications were discussed in a previous section. However, there are
other interesting aspects of communication.
Informal Communication
Every company, project, or social organization has powerful channels of
informal communication. Formal communication rarely reveals the entire
or accurate picture. People discuss their fears and anxieties, gossip about
colleagues and managers, and share information about projects and prob-
lems. Ignoring this ground reality would be a mistake. Environments can
be created where the value systems discourage the negative aspects of
some of these behaviors.
It is safe to assume that a lot of information will leak out in any
organization (Figure 13.1).
Communicating across Fault Lines
Communications across what one can call
should be different
from internal communications. When one is communicating across depart-
ments or with subcontractors and vendors, the communication may have
to be more formal and has some implicit legal aspects. It is essential to
identify and restrict such formal communication to a few persons on the
project, perhaps the managers or the leads. However, work-related com-
fault lines
