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Construction site metaphor - exercises week 2:

Imagine yourself at a construction site:
  • feel the busy atmosphere
  • see the different parts and trades
  • notice how everything is in process
  • recognise the schedule and budget pressure
Relate this to collaborative work on a software development project.

Some collaborative situations are described in the following, using the metaphor. For each of these, translate to your situation in a software project:

  • What does this correspond to ?
  • What actions do you perform currently ?
  • What are the risks and opportunities ?
  • What will you do on this project ?
1. The carpenter wants to mount the windows, but must wait for the mason to complete the surrounding wall:
  • What type of collaboration is in action here?
  • What rules of good conduct should be used?

2. A cupboard cannot be opened after the oven has been installed. Somebody forgot to allow for the handle on the oven door. We solve the problem by having the cabinet-maker switch the mounting on the cupboard door:

  • What might have been the original cause?
  • What must be done as a consequence of our solution to the problem?
  • What rules of good conduct should be used?

3. The basement is flooded. The main faucet was opened according to plan. However, no-one noticed that a stub was missing. The plumber didn't have one with him yesterday when he was finishing up:

  • What errors might lie behind this?
  • How could the problem have been prevented?
  • What rules of good conduct should be used?

 
 
 
Analyse for each activity in the model:

  • how do you perform this currently?
  • does this give you any  problems?
  • how can you improve it?
Which variants of collaboration do you foresee on a typical software project?
  • what value does it provide the individual person?
  • what does it bring to the project?
What rules of good conduct do you need?
  • integration and verification
  • quality of work and communication
  • priorities
How will you manage collaboration?
  • merging of parts
  • co-ordination
  • control changes
How do you maintain overview?
  • of the parts and the system
  • mechanisms, tools, check lists
How do you ensure that the system:
  • consists of the right parts
  • parts are available when needed
  • is consistent, doesn't break, is stable ...

Updated November 3, 2003