http://jrothman.com/blog/mpd/2005/04/schedule-game-1-schedule-chicken.html Management, especially good management, is hard to do. This blog is for people who want to think about how they manage people, projects, and risk. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:22:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 http://jrothman.com/blog/mpd/2005/04/schedule-game-1-schedule-chicken.html#comment-106 benson margulies Thu, 28 Apr 2005 07:08:58 +0000 http://jrothman.com/blog/mpd/?p=8166#comment-106 Measure progress or don't measure progress, if you have a deadline people will (try to) game it. We might call this the 'yacht race start' game. Everyone tacks back and forth across the line waiting for the gun. The damage here is not merely one of lack-of-knowledge of the state of the project. The bigger damage is that these dueling giant checkins generally result in far more broken code than an orderly process. So, not only are people less done than you think, the starting line process creates negative progress. Measure progress or don’t measure progress, if you have a deadline people will (try to) game it. We might call this the ‘yacht race start’ game. Everyone tacks back and forth across the line waiting for the gun.
The damage here is not merely one of lack-of-knowledge of the state of the project. The bigger damage is that these dueling giant checkins generally result in far more broken code than an orderly process. So, not only are people less done than you think, the starting line process creates negative progress.

]]> http://jrothman.com/blog/mpd/2005/04/schedule-game-1-schedule-chicken.html#comment-105 Glen B. Alleman Sun, 24 Apr 2005 03:26:12 +0000 http://jrothman.com/blog/mpd/?p=8166#comment-105 Johanna, Avoiding confusing dates with progress (maturing project) is the primary role of Integrated Master Plan / Integrated Master Schedule (IMP/IMS). Here's my resource link (a bit out of date) http://www.niwotridge.com/Resources/PM-SWEResources/IMPIMS.htm The primary outcome of IMP/IMS is the definition of "done" as described by the Significant Accomplishments and their Accomplishment Criteria. Tasks implement the criteria, but a secondary for assessing the maturing results of executing the project. That way "tell me whate done looks like" is the starting point of the meeting. Play Chicken with the dates and durations is then more difficult. Just remember - "You can con people into accepting a suicide schedule, but you can't con them into meeting it." Johanna,
Avoiding confusing dates with progress (maturing project) is the primary role of Integrated Master Plan / Integrated Master Schedule (IMP/IMS). Here’s my resource link (a bit out of date) http://www.niwotridge.com/Resources/PM-SWEResources/IMPIMS.htm
The primary outcome of IMP/IMS is the definition of “done” as described by the Significant Accomplishments and their Accomplishment Criteria. Tasks implement the criteria, but a secondary for assessing the maturing results of executing the project.
That way “tell me whate done looks like” is the starting point of the meeting. Play Chicken with the dates and durations is then more difficult.
Just remember - “You can con people into accepting a suicide schedule, but you can’t con them into meeting it.”

]]> http://jrothman.com/blog/mpd/2005/04/schedule-game-1-schedule-chicken.html#comment-104 Greg Howell Sat, 23 Apr 2005 18:02:08 +0000 http://jrothman.com/blog/mpd/?p=8166#comment-104 Great note. A version of this game, "Range Poker", was played - and may still be - at missile test facilities during the run up to launch Great note. A version of this game, “Range Poker”, was played - and may still be - at missile test facilities during the run up to launch

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