Rethinking V&V: Validation & Verification
Simon Sinek says, “Simple ideas are easier to understand. Ideas that are easier to understand are repeated. Ideas that are repeated change the world.”
Today, to reiterate a simple theme and principle presented in my last article, Barry Boehm’s view of validation — doing the right thing — and verification — doing the thing right.
I propose that we place most of our emphasis on the more difficult thing, the right thing, ahead of the easier thing, the thing right.
Let’s start by calling it Validation & Verification, reorienting our thinking doing a “180” on validation and verification; the new V&V is Va&Ve. (My experience working with Swiss and German medical device engineers has led me to validate acronyms containing Upper and lower case. Does it work?)
The concept is simple, whenever we’re ensuring we’re doing the thing right, verification, it should always be with doing the right thing, validation, in mind. But, the traditional way of thinking, verification and validation, would often lead to the conclusion that validation is a step that occurs after verification is complete. That may have been acceptable in the pre-digital-transformation era, but now it’s inadequate.
When solutions become digital and implicitly malleable, it’s much easier to change course, pivot, and go in a new direction. How do we know the direction is right? Validation.
In The Lean Startup , Eric Ries exposes validated learning; “Validated learning is not after-the-fact rationalization… It is a rigorous method for demonstrating progress…”. He advocates validating with frequency such as with the conclusion of every sprint.
I it’s a good time for a quick pause and to ask ourselves, “Are we still doing the right thing?” Is it, the thing, as it’s defined, still valid? The best time to ask is today, not next week, not next month, or not next year.
To conclude, if you’re doing the right thing, and you’re committed, it makes doing the thing right easier. But, how do we remember this?
Do the right thing, and the thing right follows: [Right {Thing] Right}.
Facing an (in)validator’s dilemma? Write to me at gregory@in-validator.com.
Until next time, Be Valid! Be an In-Validator!
