December 2009 Archives
Some quick principles on communicating software project scope with clients that I follow:
- Make it a picture. It's understandable, digestable, communicable, and invokes thought on the part of the client.
- Communicate scope early and often. Change is inevitable...change without communication is inevitable failure.
- Like Scotty on the starship Enterprise - never let them know how the magic happens. And always under-promise and over-deliver.
- Invoke clients to think about what is agreed, and make sure they know when they're asking for something different than what's been agreed.
- When you can, call out and itemize work that has been performed outside of the agreed scope. Clients will either appreciate the work, or discuss a redirection, which is only better for everyone.
