Home > Store

Planning Smarter: Creating Blueprint-Quality Software Specifications

Register your product to gain access to bonus material or receive a coupon.

Planning Smarter: Creating Blueprint-Quality Software Specifications

  • By
  • Published Mar 11, 2002 by Pearson.

Book

  • Sorry, this book is no longer in print.
Not for Sale

Description

  • Copyright 2002
  • Edition: 1st
  • Book
  • ISBN-10: 0-13-065414-0
  • ISBN-13: 978-0-13-065414-4

Software planning and specification development: no fluff—just results!

  • Create better specifications-with less complexity, and less work!
  • Best practices that work with any language or development environment
  • CD-ROM exclusive: Software Blueprinter, a powerful software application for real-world specification development
  • For all software team members: developers, architects, managers, clients, and software quality specialists

Planning Smarter demystifies software planning, cuts out to the chase, and shows exactly how to create higher quality, more useful specifications with less complexity and less work! Tyson Gill presents a complete blueprint for improving the quality of your software specifications, reducing errors and omissions, simplifying planning, and establishing a rock-solid foundation for any software development project. Coverage includes:

  • Understanding the planning process-and why it so often fails
  • Getting the planning process "just right" and identifying the best lifecycle approach
  • Optimizing the communication that is critical to successful planning
  • 13 powerful strategies for more effective requirements development
  • Planning in the context of leading software process models: CMM, MSF, UML, and RUP
  • Recognizing and making effective use of planning metadata

Planning Smarter is an invaluable resource for every member of the software development project team. It will help executives and clients understand the key factors associated with success-and it will give planners, developers, architects, and team leaders the proven techniques they need to build specifications that work.

CD-ROM INCLUDED

The accompanying CD-ROM contains Software Blueprinter, a powerful specification development application that embodies the key principles in this book.

Sample Content

Online Sample Chapters

Improving the Planning Process

Project Planning for Successful Software Development

Table of Contents



Preface.


1. About Planning Smarter.

The Companion BooK. Executive SummarY. Getting Acquainted. Acknowledgments.



2. Understanding the Planning Process.

The Pathology of Poor Planning. The Vision Document. The Functional Specification. Recognizing a Bad Plan. Excellence Is Attainable. A Software Blueprint.



3. Improving the Planning Process.

A Project Planning Plan. Planning Phases. Life-cycle Models. Choosing a Life-cycle Approach. An Adaptive Life-cycle Approach. Process and Role Overlap. Getting Planning Just Right.



4. The Role of Communication in Planning.

Software Communications 101. Use Simple Language. Go Look It Up. The Data Dictionary. Anyone Can Pseudocode. Show Me the Prototype! Direct to Blueprint. Effective Requirements Elicitation. Software for Planning. Creative Software Writing.



5. Strategies to Support Effective Planning.

Putting Theory into Practice. A Developer Focus. Enlist a Champion. Hire the Cream. Specialize. Trust in Instinct. Collaborate. Catalyze. Work Smarter. Change Facilitation. Living with Estimates. No Silver Bullets. Code Smarter.



6. Software Process Models.

Best Practices. The Capability Maturity Model. The Microsoft Solution Framework. The Unified Modeling Language. The Rational Unified Process.



7. Planning Metadata.

Using Metadata Effectively. Types of Metadata. Envisioning Phase Metadocuments. Analysis Phase Metadocuments. Design Phase Metadocuments. Architecture Phase Metadocuments. Other Metadocuments.



8. Software and Beyond.

Software and the Future. Software and Ethics. Software and Clients. Software and the Secrets Clients Should Know. Software and the CEO. Software and Process Improvement.



9. The Software Blueprinter Application.

About Software Blueprinter. Using Software Blueprinter. Applying Software Blueprinter. Possible Enhancements.



10. Wrap Up.

Nonnegotiable Demands. On the CD-ROM. Restrictions of Software Use. Join the Discussion. The Last Word.



Appendix: Postmortem Interview and Analysis.


References.


List of Terms.


Index.

Preface

Preface

Did I write this? Other authors have almost certainly experienced that peculiar feeling when they reread their work after having been away from it long enough. As I went and reread Planning Smarter, that feeling definitely struck me. And it was a good feeling. The book does achieve the goals I set out to accomplish. It presents a balanced, sensible, and achievable strategy for software requirements planning set against a stimulating and entertaining industry backdrop.

Despite my satisfaction with the work, I don't for a moment imagine many readers will agree with everything in it. Quite the contrary. Given the astounding variety and range of projects, companies, and individuals involved in software projects, any specific recommendations will only be embraced by a relatively small segment of the industry. I have learned that even seemingly "apple pie" generalities like "error prevention is good" or "project planning is important" elicit strong objections from many professionals.

Since I give you lots of little anecdotes throughout the book, let me warm you up with one here. In teaching my programming class, I generally stress approach and style over specific language syntax. It is your approach to programming that will endure and serve you well as languages evolve and become extinct. In keeping with that philosophy, I was stressing the importance of error prevention, as opposed to mere error handling or trapping, to my students. I mentioned that most errors occur because the programmer makes a false assumption of some kind. I urged them never to assume an error would or could not occur.

One of my students raised his hand and objected angrily. He said he had been programming for 20 years and saw no need for error prevention. He insisted that all errors can be avoided by specifying that the situation should not occur. He went on to turn my assumptions logic back on me by insisting that it would be a false assumption to assume that errors will occur. I was not clever enough to counter his twisted logic on the spot so I simply indicated that I did not agree and got the class back on track. On the last week of class the students demonstrate their class projects. Out of 25 or so projects, only one project was simply too buggy to demonstrate. I'm sure you can guess which one.

What this story reflects is the dramatic range of opinion that exists in our industry. Even the most seemingly reasonable and common sense suggestions are not immune to debate, let alone the many perfectly legitimate and reasonable differences in perspective. There is simply too wide a range of opinion and experience in this industry to hope for consensus.

Nor should there be "one" approach to planning, because every project is unique. What I've tried to do is to provide recommendations that apply to the widest range of projects and permit the greatest degree of flexibility. Despite the dramatic variation that exists, however, there is commonality that is shared by almost every software project. I have tried to focus my recommendations on that core commonality.

Because I have strived for a minimalist approach to planning, many readers will feel that I underemphasize planning. Others will still feel that I overemphasize it. I know this to be true because I have already received this wildly differing feedback from my reviewers. Some felt that my recommendations were far too complex and costly to implement, while others felt I did project planning a disservice by simplifying it so much.

I find the fact that the criticism is evenly mixed between "too much" and "too little" to be a reassuring indicator that I am properly positioned in the center. Is the planning recommended in this book "just right" for you? I hope it is. At the very least, however, it should provide a sound starting point no matter where your needs and inclinations lie on the wide software--planning spectrum. Even if you don't agree with some or all of the recommendations in this book, I am confident that you will be stimulated by it and will hopefully benefit from reading it.

Given this wide and strong range of opinion on the topic of project planning, you may be asking yourself "Why in the world would anyone take on such a project?" Believe me, I have asked myself that same question many times. Although this book is based on considerable experience, it is still an "opinion" book. That makes it much more difficult to write and vulnerable to differing opinion than other kinds of books.

I have written fiction novels in the past. They are a joy because you can say anything you want and no one would think to dispute your version of the "facts." You try to invoke emotions, but no one takes anything in them personally. You don't tell your reader what they should be doing or thinking, at least not directly.

I have also written standard technical books before, which limit themselves to documenting or explaining languages, operating systems, and so on. Those are relatively easy as well because you simply organize and explain the facts. There is no room for interpretation. There is no "right or wrong" there is only "correct or incorrect." There are no emotional, political, and interpersonal issues to complicate the technical ones. There is nothing controversial or delicate to deal with. You don't have to persuade, convince, or justify.

This type of "opinion" book is by far the most difficult to write. You want everyone to take it personally. You want to stimulate emotions and challenge existing ideas. In doing so, you open yourself up to criticism and in the end the best you can hope for is that it has a huge impact on a few people and at least stimulates some others to improve their practices.

Why write it? In the hopes that you might be one of the people who resonates with it.

Why read it? For the same reason.

Enjoy!

Tyson Gill

Updates

Submit Errata

More Information

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020