Re: Comment on section 3.3.4, Messaging Service Spec v0-1

[Gordon van Huizen <gvanhuiz@progress.com>]

I'm in total agreement with this approach. I'm particularly encouraged
by the focus on use cases and requirements mapping before diving into
the implementation of each phase.

-gvh-


dick@8760.com wrote:
> 
> > Much of our precious discussion time and mental bandwidth is being taken up
> > due to imprecise and varying requirements, as well as some imprecision in
> > the written words. My $0.02 worth...
> 
> I agree with Jim, it's beginning to feel like the floor of the New York Stock
> Exchange. We need a compass to guide us and focus energies on what needs to be
> delivered in an orderly fashion. During the San Jose meeting a few people talked
> about a solution to help the team stay focused. We discussed a multi-phase PLAN
> that would clearly show the TR&P deliverables in 3 phases.
> 
> Phase 1 - Deliver the minimal functions people need for a significant number of
> B2B scenarios
> 
> Phase 2 - Deliver additional functions for people with more advanced B2B needs
> 
> Phase 3 - Deliver full functionality meeting all the requirements listed in our
> Requirements & Overview Spec
> 
> Set a target completion date for each phase!
> 
> Separate requirements from the R&O spec into each phase, the TR&P team agrees on
> the distribution of requirements/phases - NO CHANGES after we've agreed, unless
> its a technical show stopper. This results in a matrix that we use at every
> meeting to focus discussions on the deliverables.
> 
> Define a set of use cases for each phase so that people have a mental picture of
> what we are delivering in each phase.
> 
> Associate each requirement (from each phase) with one of the following
> categories:
> - Core; pertains to requirements of the base functionality of the Messaging
> Service
> - Security; pertains to requirements such as encryption, digital signatures,
> access controls etc.
> - Reliability; pertains to requirements related to reliable delivery of messages
> - TPA; pertains to requirements associated with Trading Partner Agreements and
> discovery
> - Miscellaneous; the inevitable catchall category for anything that doesn't fit
> above
> 
> Assign team leaders to each category.
> 
> Team members "sign-up" to whichever team they have the time/talent/willingness
> to help on.
> 
> The team leaders, along with their team members, set priorities, prepare a
> plan/schedule with milestones and are responsible for delivering their
> respective specs on time.
> 
> GROUND RULES GOING FORWARD:
> 
> We ONLY work on one phase at a time!
> We ONLY work on one phase at a time!
> We ONLY work on one phase at a time!
> 
> If, at any time, someone comes up with a NEW requirement or function they think
> is important, it gets assigned to a phase/category within the matrix and the
> team leader of the category fits it in under his/her delivery plan.
> 
> I believe we need an organized approach to help us stay focused on the
> deliverables and timelines of TR&P. I don't believe the above proposal is a
> silver bullet solution, but it is a starting point, please add your
> thoughts/suggestions - or shoot it down - whichever you feel is appropriate. If
> you DON'T believe such a structured approach would work then shoot it down and
> move on to something else, BUT I believe we need something to keep us on track -
> whatever it may be.
> 
> Dick Brooks
> http://www.8760.com/
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