Rapid Development: Taming Wild Software Schedules

Theory-W Management's Interactions with Other Practices

Theory-W project management is particularly well-suited for use with the Spiral Lifecycle Model (Spiral, Spiral, and Chapter 35). You can identify stakeholders' win conditions for each iteration of the spiral at the beginning of the iteration. Stakeholders can then modify their win conditions during each iteration, which will support high levels of satisfaction throughout the project.

Theory-W is useful during schedule negotiations (Beating Schedule Pressure). Rather than focusing on the traditional three-months-no-six-I-say-four-no-five-OK-four-and-a-half style of negotiating, you can make it clear that, unless both parties stand to win by doing the project, the party that stands to lose ...