Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
scope of the CMMI model is intended to address all training needs relevant to
associated practices, including
communication
skills.
In the example just described the systems engineer consciously or uncon-
sciously decided it was safer not to communicate with senior management
about the true state of the requirements. It appears to me that this project is
likely to slip its schedule. It also appears to me that it is unfortunate that dis-
cussions are not happening now between senior management and
engineering on
options
to
mitigate the slip
and still provide
best value
to the
customer.
Let me say a little more about this recent requirements management story.
After it happened, I thought this was an area we could dig into and provide
some real process improvement help.
My thought was that we needed to engage a small team that included senior
management and engineering and work to align the real requirements
process that was going on in the organization with what management was
seeing in the periodic briefings. However, when I attempted to do this I was
told that:
I “shouldn't push it” and that if I did, “it wouldn't be taken well.”
LESSON 12
If people don't feel safe in their work environment, they won't raise valuable
issues or provide innovative options.
Clearly, the individual who told me not to “push it” was afraid of something
and was not comfortable moving forward to address this real issue in the
company.
LESSON 13
It is unfortunate that some of the most valuable potential real improvements
in organizations never get addressed due to fear.
One of the reviewers of this topic who is a senior manager in a large high-
tech company commented on this story, saying he felt that things were
“upside down” in most large high-tech organizations. When I asked him
what he meant, he said:
