(2003-08-01) Bullock Software Variability

Great James Bullock message on challenges of software Project Management. There is an incredible variability among artifacts called "software" and projects called "software development." We wouldn't call designing a new formula-1 racer or designing the next year's model of a Camry, or designing a platform for multiple GM brands for the next 10 years the same thing, even though they all have to do with "designing cars." Yet we use the word "software" for many things just as dissimilar as these, then think the payoffs, processes and projects ought to be "the same." So, I think "tuning" methodologies doesn't go far enough.

The Message is a Seed that Grew . . . --2003/11/05 04:02 GMT

The message that Bill quotes above grew with the help of some volunteer reviewers from the same New Grange list into an [article](http://www.pmforum.org/library/papers/Top 10 Ways Software Projects R Different.html) published in PM-World today: "The Top 10 Ways Software Projects Are Different." (The downloadable .pdf version has some better edits.)