Comments on: The FSOP Cycle (Flying by the Seat of Your Pants) http://www.techdarkside.com/the-fsop-cycle-flying-by-the-seat-of-your-pants Struggles of a Self-Taught Coder Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:06:21 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Get to the point | Drew Kime http://www.techdarkside.com/the-fsop-cycle-flying-by-the-seat-of-your-pants/comment-page-1#comment-16702 Get to the point | Drew Kime Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:21:41 +0000 http://www.techdarkside.com/?p=80#comment-16702 [...] Christiansen over at Information Technology Dark Side has a good graphic representing what he calls the FSOP Cycle (Flying by the Seat of Your Pants). [...] [...] Christiansen over at Information Technology Dark Side has a good graphic representing what he calls the FSOP Cycle (Flying by the Seat of Your Pants). [...]

]]> By: Peter Burkholder http://www.techdarkside.com/the-fsop-cycle-flying-by-the-seat-of-your-pants/comment-page-1#comment-16262 Peter Burkholder Thu, 06 Aug 2009 21:18:20 +0000 http://www.techdarkside.com/?p=80#comment-16262 My $WORK is launching a very poorly-implemented ITIL process, and I found this post relevant to how we'll likely reject the process (not because it's ITIL, but because it's HPServiceCenter) and start flying by the seat of our parts again. Not surprisingly, your site is blocked by our corporate content filters, flagged as 'malicious' in nature. Go figure. -Peter My $WORK is launching a very poorly-implemented ITIL process, and I found this post relevant to how we’ll likely reject the process (not because it’s ITIL, but because it’s HPServiceCenter) and start flying by the seat of our parts again.

Not surprisingly, your site is blocked by our corporate content filters, flagged as ‘malicious’ in nature.

Go figure.

-Peter

]]> By: David Christiansen http://www.techdarkside.com/the-fsop-cycle-flying-by-the-seat-of-your-pants/comment-page-1#comment-15735 David Christiansen Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:01:23 +0000 http://www.techdarkside.com/?p=80#comment-15735 I think it's important to remember that the FSOP cycle is an OBSERVATION, not a prescription. I'm not proposing it as a process that should be following, I'm proposing it as a model for how people normally behave. It may not be the "right" way per world views such as Pete's, but it's still the normal way, at least as I've observed it. I think it’s important to remember that the FSOP cycle is an OBSERVATION, not a prescription. I’m not proposing it as a process that should be following, I’m proposing it as a model for how people normally behave. It may not be the “right” way per world views such as Pete’s, but it’s still the normal way, at least as I’ve observed it.

]]> By: Pete Dignan http://www.techdarkside.com/the-fsop-cycle-flying-by-the-seat-of-your-pants/comment-page-1#comment-15734 Pete Dignan Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:50:14 +0000 http://www.techdarkside.com/?p=80#comment-15734 A couple thoughts. First, there's a tacit assumption behind this whole line of thinking - that we know what we mean by "smart people." Maybe we can agree it's everyone who is clever enough to read this blog. :-) Second, why to the Smart People need to Reject the Process? Couldn't they tweak the process to address what they know now that they didn't know then? Which might include simply taking some stuff out (e.g. vestigial structures) of a process that has become too heavyweight? A couple thoughts.

First, there’s a tacit assumption behind this whole line of thinking – that we know what we mean by “smart people.” Maybe we can agree it’s everyone who is clever enough to read this blog. :-)

Second, why to the Smart People need to Reject the Process? Couldn’t they tweak the process to address what they know now that they didn’t know then? Which might include simply taking some stuff out (e.g. vestigial structures) of a process that has become too heavyweight?

]]> By: Simon Godfrey http://www.techdarkside.com/the-fsop-cycle-flying-by-the-seat-of-your-pants/comment-page-1#comment-15732 Simon Godfrey Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:53:51 +0000 http://www.techdarkside.com/?p=80#comment-15732 Nice post Dave. It worries me that sometimes, when working on projects, the smart people flying by the seat of their pants happens at the expense of a process which enables a whole project team to work effectively. It reminds me of recently talk about process v procedure; one should enable smart people to work freely, and creatively, the other results in smart people feeling restricted, and feeling the pain. Nice post Dave.

It worries me that sometimes, when working on projects, the smart people flying by the seat of their pants happens at the expense of a process which enables a whole project team to work effectively.

It reminds me of recently talk about process v procedure; one should enable smart people to work freely, and creatively, the other results in smart people feeling restricted, and feeling the pain.

]]> By: Jonathan Kohl http://www.techdarkside.com/the-fsop-cycle-flying-by-the-seat-of-your-pants/comment-page-1#comment-15730 Jonathan Kohl Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:05:30 +0000 http://www.techdarkside.com/?p=80#comment-15730 Well put. Codifying an instance of that into a process often ends up as a meme - the parts that are easy to replicate and communicate are only part of what really went on. Memes are easier to sell though, particularly if they either appeal to the fears of management, or the egos of the techies. :-) Well put.

Codifying an instance of that into a process often ends up as a meme – the parts that are easy to replicate and communicate are only part of what really went on. Memes are easier to sell though, particularly if they either appeal to the fears of management, or the egos of the techies. :-)

]]> By: dave http://www.techdarkside.com/the-fsop-cycle-flying-by-the-seat-of-your-pants/comment-page-1#comment-5553 dave Tue, 03 Apr 2007 01:07:14 +0000 http://www.techdarkside.com/?p=80#comment-5553 Process certainly can be a foundation for a team, but it doesn't have to be. There are plenty of alternative foundations, like a common goal such as building software that works, that can serve equally well as a foundation. Some people mistake process for planning - I believe in planning. I also agree that successful groups tend to develop successful patterns. That's one of the things the FSOP cycle illustrates. What I don't believe is that the bottom half of the FSOP cycle adds much value, as a general rule. Process certainly can be a foundation for a team, but it doesn’t have to be. There are plenty of alternative foundations, like a common goal such as building software that works, that can serve equally well as a foundation. Some people mistake process for planning – I believe in planning. I also agree that successful groups tend to develop successful patterns. That’s one of the things the FSOP cycle illustrates. What I don’t believe is that the bottom half of the FSOP cycle adds much value, as a general rule.

]]> By: Mike http://www.techdarkside.com/the-fsop-cycle-flying-by-the-seat-of-your-pants/comment-page-1#comment-5535 Mike Mon, 02 Apr 2007 23:44:56 +0000 http://www.techdarkside.com/?p=80#comment-5535 Developers working on a commercial software product are often able to reach a consensus about which process to implement and are quite successful. The advantage here is a repetitive cycle of adding feature to an existing product where most of the variables are known. New product development can also benefit from a formalized process, especially when the team members have worked together for some period of time and have had a chance to exercise their product development methodology of choice. Consulting bring a whole different set of challenges as more often than not, people are coming together who have not worked together before and may come from different schools of thought. The greater the number of people involved the more import a formalized development process becomes. While I agree that strict adherence to a process does not guarantee success, it does provide the foundation for the team, so everyone knows what to expect. I also agree that the process should not become a religious debate but that everyone on the team should have a say in defining the process. When everyone reaches a consensus on the chosen methodology, adherence to the process will not be an issue. As far as Lewis and Clark goes, that was a military operation with strict rules and discipline. Those who chose to leave the group, where never heard from again. Developers working on a commercial software product are often able to reach a consensus about which process to implement and are quite successful. The advantage here is a repetitive cycle of adding feature to an existing product where most of the variables are known.

New product development can also benefit from a formalized process, especially when the team members have worked together for some period of time and have had a chance to exercise their product development methodology of choice.

Consulting bring a whole different set of challenges as more often than not, people are coming together who have not worked together before and may come from different schools of thought. The greater the number of people involved the more import a formalized development process becomes.

While I agree that strict adherence to a process does not guarantee success, it does provide the foundation for the team, so everyone knows what to expect. I also agree that the process should not become a religious debate but that everyone on the team should have a say in defining the process. When everyone reaches a consensus on the chosen methodology, adherence to the process will not be an issue.

As far as Lewis and Clark goes, that was a military operation with strict rules and discipline. Those who chose to leave the group, where never heard from again.

]]> By: My IT News Blog » Blog Archive » Posted on TechDarkSide.com - The FSOP Cycle (Flying by the Seat of Your Pants) http://www.techdarkside.com/the-fsop-cycle-flying-by-the-seat-of-your-pants/comment-page-1#comment-2583 My IT News Blog » Blog Archive » Posted on TechDarkSide.com - The FSOP Cycle (Flying by the Seat of Your Pants) Fri, 09 Feb 2007 21:18:17 +0000 http://www.techdarkside.com/?p=80#comment-2583 [...] Here’s a cycle I’ve observed many times in my career. Frankly, I’ve gone round and round this thing many times as I try to apply successful patterns/approaches to broader problems than they were initially used. Incidentally, there are no arrows on this cycle because Apple’s KeyNotes software can’t draw curved arrows. Aargh. I’m going to have […] Read more… [...] [...] Here’s a cycle I’ve observed many times in my career. Frankly, I’ve gone round and round this thing many times as I try to apply successful patterns/approaches to broader problems than they were initially used. Incidentally, there are no arrows on this cycle because Apple’s KeyNotes software can’t draw curved arrows. Aargh. I’m going to have […] Read more… [...]

]]> By: dave http://www.techdarkside.com/the-fsop-cycle-flying-by-the-seat-of-your-pants/comment-page-1#comment-2514 dave Wed, 07 Feb 2007 22:50:04 +0000 http://www.techdarkside.com/?p=80#comment-2514 Thanks Drew. You make a great point that processes become inadequate due to misapplication - I am going to incorporate it into my picture. One other way process gets in the way is when really, really creative people are involved. Sometimes they just get bored with doing things the same way over and over, and then become disengaged. I'm glad you mentioned Agile - I am finding ideas in Lean Software Development very helpful. Thanks Drew. You make a great point that processes become inadequate due to misapplication – I am going to incorporate it into my picture. One other way process gets in the way is when really, really creative people are involved. Sometimes they just get bored with doing things the same way over and over, and then become disengaged.

I’m glad you mentioned Agile – I am finding ideas in Lean Software Development very helpful.

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