Comments on: The importance of failing quickly and often http://www.embeddedinsights.com/channels/2010/12/03/the-importance-of-failing-quickly-and-often/ Shedding Light on the Hidden World of Embedded Systems Mon, 28 Jul 2014 16:18:37 -0400 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: A.F. @ LI http://www.embeddedinsights.com/channels/2010/12/03/the-importance-of-failing-quickly-and-often/#comment-4492 A.F. @ LI Sat, 11 Dec 2010 02:53:53 +0000 http://www.embeddedinsights.com/channels/?p=394#comment-4492 An interesting point raised in the article is the misuse of planning for the resolution of unstructured problems. A hidden assumption by those doing the planning is that they have "perfect knowledge" of the problem domain. In embedded software or any other software realm for that matter, such an assumption is misleading at best and delusional at worst. I've seen far too many well crafted "plans" go off the rails because of unanticipated problems. Unfortunately in today's corporate world, you won't get the go ahead for a project unless you have a plan, hence the use of hedging and hidden contingencies in the schedule. An interesting point raised in the article is the misuse of planning for the resolution of unstructured problems. A hidden assumption by those doing the planning is that they have “perfect knowledge” of the problem domain. In embedded software or any other software realm for that matter, such an assumption is misleading at best and delusional at worst. I’ve seen far too many well crafted “plans” go off the rails because of unanticipated problems. Unfortunately in today’s corporate world, you won’t get the go ahead for a project unless you have a plan, hence the use of hedging and hidden contingencies in the schedule.

]]> By: A.N. @ LI http://www.embeddedinsights.com/channels/2010/12/03/the-importance-of-failing-quickly-and-often/#comment-4491 A.N. @ LI Sat, 11 Dec 2010 02:53:09 +0000 http://www.embeddedinsights.com/channels/?p=394#comment-4491 Instead of "business school graduates", it would be interesting to see how Engineers perform - you've already hinted that Engineers are also more likely to adopt an interative, prototyping approach. It would also be interesting to compare how recent engineering graduates compare with experienced engineers. A very disappointingly large number of posts on internet forums are along the lines of. "I wrote this code and it doesn't work. What's wrong?" There is no attempt at analysing what, exactly, is "wrong" - it should be obvious that this is an essential precursor to fixing the problem, but simply doesn't seem to occur to the posters! The important thing is not that you fail, but that you can analyse the reasons for failure - and do better next time! Instead of “business school graduates”, it would be interesting to see how Engineers perform – you’ve already hinted that Engineers are also more likely to adopt an interative, prototyping approach.

It would also be interesting to compare how recent engineering graduates compare with experienced engineers.

A very disappointingly large number of posts on internet forums are along the lines of. “I wrote this code and it doesn’t work. What’s wrong?”
There is no attempt at analysing what, exactly, is “wrong” – it should be obvious that this is an essential precursor to fixing the problem, but simply doesn’t seem to occur to the posters!

The important thing is not that you fail, but that you can analyse the reasons for failure – and do better next time!

]]> By: I.B. @ LI http://www.embeddedinsights.com/channels/2010/12/03/the-importance-of-failing-quickly-and-often/#comment-4485 I.B. @ LI Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:10:17 +0000 http://www.embeddedinsights.com/channels/?p=394#comment-4485 Thanks for pointing on the Embedded Insights - it's the interesting resource. Thanks for pointing on the Embedded Insights – it’s the interesting resource.

]]> By: Jon Titus http://www.embeddedinsights.com/channels/2010/12/03/the-importance-of-failing-quickly-and-often/#comment-4411 Jon Titus Sat, 04 Dec 2010 17:01:06 +0000 http://www.embeddedinsights.com/channels/?p=394#comment-4411 Kids in kindergarten also feel less peer pressure that people with MBAs, to they're likely to try many things that might seem "dumb" to people with more education. Kids in kindergarten also feel less peer pressure that people with MBAs, to they’re likely to try many things that might seem “dumb” to people with more education.

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