Often irreverent
and sometimes downright fishy
thoughts on Technology and Leadership
by Herb Bowie
and sometimes downright fishy
thoughts on Technology and Leadership
by Herb Bowie
Serviceable Things, But Not Great Things
The difference, [Fred] Brooks said, was that the languages and operating systems with fanatical fan clubs were “originally designed to satisfy a designer or a very small group of designers.” Whereas the successful products unable to inspire fan clubs, he noted, were “designed to satisfy a large set of requirements” — they were “done inside of product processes.” So, Brooks asked, “What does that tell us about product processes?” His answer: “They produce serviceable things, but not great things.”
From the Book Go To, New York: Basic Books, 2001, ISBN 0465042252
Copyright © 2001 by Steve Lohr
No. 143