Absolutely true, a client doesn't know what they want most of the time, until you have given them something, then they tell you whether it is right or wrong. Its all well and good to create giant functionality documents, but it's rather hard if the client doesn't really know what they want, and they just go along with whatever you tell them cozz they think it sounds good. Then it all changes anyway. They usually need to see something first. Sometimes your lucky and you can nail it all down before you start work, but I have generally found that creating a basic spec so you have a general idea, then knocking up a non functional layout (wireframe) to give the client an idea, and then use that to create a functionality document is much easier.
Russ -----Original Message----- From: Denny Valliant [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 14 September 2006 06:18 To: CF-Talk Subject: Re: SecretAgents recommendation? On 9/13/06, Brad Wood <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > Man, I wish I had requirements that good BEFORE the project started at > my job. Our motto here is "You get to work on it, we'll go find out > what they want." :) Preach on, brother! The ironic part is that we've been more successful at launching because we jump in, and have the users jump in, before we wait to figure out what it is we're doing. Just having something there, even if it's not in any shape way or form similar to what will be there in the end, seems to motivate. Self-motivate, even. To an extent of course, but still. If you wait for people to figure out what they want, you'll wait forever. If you start firing (tat tat tat tat), they at least usually get what they need. But it is a process. A living process. Don't get me wrong, a plan is essential, but the Art of War hit it on the head, A plan is just a plan, nothing in and of itself. Sorta. Flow like water, esse. Flow. Armies might be able to flow, but I think it would take a great general. Or maybe lots of great soldiers, now that I think about it. Yeah, that's probably essential-er. Freedom in conformity, or some other equally oxymoronic statement. Woot. Guess I should get back to work. -den ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Introducing the Fusion Authority Quarterly Update. 80 pages of hard-hitting, up-to-date ColdFusion information by your peers, delivered to your door four times a year. http://www.fusionauthority.com/quarterly Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Talk/message.cfm/messageid:253093 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Talk/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4
