Software and Oatmeal

Why aren’t software suppliers required to produce the same proof of planning that someone starting a business must produce? These are big ticket items and the risks associated with spending that kind of money are substantial.

Another way of asking the question is… how is it that soe many software projects have been sold without a thorough written plan that makes sense to the buyer?

I think the answer is simple, really. The buyers didn’t know any better. That’s changing.

The statistics on failed projects are getting around and the pain of huge overruns is now part of software legend. The word is out on companies that don’t take the time to plan. Business owners are tired of the nightmare projects that follow in their wake.

An old joke says, “There’s never time to do it right, but there’s always time to do it over.” This may be true for the bad paint job in the den, but it’s absolutely not true for an enterprise software system. If a small business spends $250K on a software system and it doesn’t work, that can be crippling. It’s not an option.

Business startups require a business plan. Commercial construction requires a blueprint. Software systems should be held to the same standard.

Be safe out there. Make the fast-talking salesperson with the shiny watch show you a sample of the plans they produce. Can you read and understand it? Is it in English and not geek-speek? Insist that your supplier build a plan that you can sign with confidence. Get that done before you commit to the whole development project. Like eating oatmeal, it’s the right thing to do.