Don’t fool yourself with words!

Gunnar R. Fischer
Sep 1, 2018 · 2 min read

IT software development only works well with clear rules: How to process a file, how to calculate a figure, what to expect and what to deliver. Therefore, whenever the wording becomes vague, you can be sure that there is something wrong. Luckily, you can easily translate every cautious expression into the naked truth:

In any specification or rule set, “should” means “won’t”.

In any documentation, “to be done later” means “will never be done”.

(Ok, I know, usually three examples sound better. I should add another one here. To be done later.)

Why does this happen if IT people like precision? The first one is a signal that when designing and implementing a process, not every part is under control of the party responsible for it. Even worse, there is no SLA with those in control where deviations are transparent and measureable. So it comes down to “we cannot do it alone” in combination with “we also have no idea how to solve this (in time)” and/or “we are afraid to report this impediment and can only hope that this risk does not become reality” (lack of psychological safety).

The second one is a signal that the party responsible does not get time to complete something or does not have the power to decide what is important and what not (lack of autonomy). Any part reported missing, the usual suspects being exception handling and documentation, means that either the people responsible deem it important enough but do not get the time to do it or vice versa they do not want to do it but someone insists that it has to happen and they want to buy time to get approval or past a deadline with these comments. Otherwise, why would anyone write them in the first place?

How to heal this? Call out those who use these wordings and remind them what they really mean. But be modest and begin with yourself: How often have you fooled yourself or others into believing these words? Stop giving or taking wrong hope and confront the world as it is — only then you can make it better.

Gunnar R. Fischer

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