TeleSynthesis

Know Thyself

Sun Tzu said,

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.  If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.  If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

Symptoms

One, or all, of the following symptoms describe the typical outcome of your IT development projects.

1: The capabilities delivered are more and less than expected.  You received “more” because the team delivered extra bells, whistles and frills.  You received “less” because the team was unable to deliver some of the expected capabilities within the allotted time and within the allocated budget.

2: The capabilities delivered cost more than expected.

3: The capabilities delivered function poorly.  The end user community and production support report the capabilities have decreased their efficiency.

4: The capabilities delivered behind schedule.

Diagnosis

The symptoms are a result of the following conditions.

• The business case is weak.  The problem the project solves is not well defined.  The business requirements are incomplete and ambiguous.  The budget and schedule are baseless because you do not understand the problem and subsequently the solution requirements.
• The solution design is incomplete.  The functional architecture and functional requirements,
• The project plans are incomplete.
• The solution specifications are incomplete and ambiguous.
• The Solution Architect has a casual attitude toward the project.  The Solution Architect allows the team to begin development before the completion of the business case, solution design, plans and specifications.
• The Solution Architect relinquishes control of the project to the team.  The Solution Architect gives the team the authority to make decisions about the business case, solution design, plans and specifications.

Treatment

The prescribed treatment to remedy the conditions noted above is twofold. 

First, ensure the Solution Architect is qualified.

• The Solution Architect must be a strategist and not a tactician.
• The Solution Architect must have a deliberate-aggressive personality.
• The Solution Architect must be capable of imposing discipline on the team.
• The Solution Architect must value planning, structure and complete preparation.

Second, ensure you have the ability to hold the Solution Architect accountable for delivering the solution defined in the original business case.  The solution architect must suffer the consequences of poor project performance.

”The consummate leader cultivates the moral law, and strictly adheres to method and discipline; thus it is in his power to control success.”

 David P. Taylor said,

”The Solution Architect controls success.”