So, are there any good alternatives to the outmoded,
risky Waterfall model for software development? A number
of ideas have been advanced. One of the better-known ones
is Extreme Programming. (These days it's often called XP to
escape the ridiculous name.) There are others. Not all
will be directly applicable to every PeopleSoft customization
or setup project. But many will be a much better fit
than Waterfall, taking
advantage of modern capabilities such as modular
development and prototyping—capabilities
that are fundamental to PeopleSoft.
These alternatives may differ in their details, but many
share the set of principles under the umbrella known as
Agile Software Development. The time, resources and budget
available to any project are not infinite. Choices must
be made, and the ultimate objective (a useful, working system)
must be kept in mind. Under these constraints, Agile
methodologies emphasize:
Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
Each of these points resonates with
me. Each matches my experiences over the past few years.
As developers, we should be part of an integrated team.
Software development should be a collaborative effort, not
a battle. We must produce a good product that lives in the
real world. The plans, the documentation, the processes and
tools are just ways to help us get there.