Do you find it as interesting as I do that innovation is so many things to so many people? Today, I noticed this article by Miguel Carrasco arguing that innovation is the reason that version 1.0 software products are so hard to build. Now there are many things that innovation is, but an excuse for late delivery is not one that I have ever thought of.
Software innovation and development is an area I happen to know a lot about. I’ve been in the business of designing complex software systems for over thirty years. With the exception of the first five years when I was cutting my teeth on mundane accounting and telecommunications software, I have had the pleasure of working on software that either pushed or redefined the envelope.
So, what’s my point?
Yes, innovation can be hard. Creating a vision that no one has had before is both exciting and challenging.
Yes, innovation can take you down unforeseen paths. As your vision unfolds and you explore how to build a tangible expression of the idea, you learn more about the problems you set out to solve and refine your vision accordingly.
But, I don’t agree with the assertion that there is no way to give a ship date on version 1.0 software. Over the years, I have had to forecast the delivery of many software systems with precision, and I am happy to say that my teams have an exceptional record of delivering software—including 1.0 versions—on time and on budget. This has not been a happy accident, but it is the result of good disciplines and a no excuses attitude.
I don’t say this to boast. I say it only to point out that innovation can be predictable, even in the world of software.
Of course the rewards of such innovation are great, and nothing beats hearing a client saying, “Wow! I didn’t even know I could ask for that!”
Comments