Subject: Re: Vision 2000 /Sedoni/Dey
Date: Tue, 1 Jun 1999 11:32:33 -0600
From: ISO Standards Discussion

From: Pat Dey
Subject: RE: Vision 2000 /Sedoni/Dey

In a thought provoking article entitled "Managing Software Complexity - Whither Software Process Management" in the August edition of Application Development Strategies (http://www.cutter.com/ads/adssamp.htm), Jim Highsmith reports former CEO of Visa International Dee Hock:

"Simple, clear purpose and principles give rise to complex, intelligent behaviour. Complex rules and regulations give rise to simple, stupid behaviour."

Jim's work is inspired to some extent by the behaviour of "boids". See his article at http://www.ksinc.com/articles/CAS.html#note2 entitled "Messy, Exciting and Anxiety-Ridden: Adaptive Software Development"

"Biods" are virtual birds. Birds flock, yet nobirdy manages them into doing it. Each individual observes a few simple rules and the flock behave as a team. There's a simulation -- a beautiful site -- at http://hmt.com/cwr/boids.html .

I've too often seen complex processes lead to dumb behaviour and bad quality. Vision and principles can have a profound effect on quality. If people know the vision and the principles -- even better, if they contribute to defining vision and principles -- they need less process detail.

(Of course, "Vision 2000" might mean something specific, in which case I've answered the wrong question -- but I hope you find it interesting anyhow )