31. Realistic planning

• A very formal, out-of-touch presentation of a design is a very dangerous activity.

• There is a strong temptation to present an ideal system –

  • a system you wished you could build,

  • a system your high management wish they had.

• Could it possibly be produced in a reasonable time?

• When executives don't really understand or care about "the details", presentations can become lying competitions:

  • the team that presents the most grandiose system gets to keep its job, and

  • clear expression of ideas is often replaced by heavy jargon and acronyms.

• Distinguish wishful thinking from realistic planning!