Managing Software for Growth: Without Fear, Control, and the Manufacturing Mindset

Getting Stuck

The whole software development industry, whether it's companies devoted to making software or internal IT organizations, is stuck. That's because you and I are stuck. Remember that we do things that “work,” that get us a payoff. We stay stuck because it keeps us employed, and it makes us feel more comfortable because we think we're in control. Trying to change things means conflict, probably ridicule, and maybe unemployment. In human terms, the pain of breaking addictive behavior is psychological, emotional, and physical disruption. We resist that. If somebody likes hitting himself in the head with a hammer, you should question his sanity.

Regardless of where you sit in the pecking order of your organization, you've probably made ...