brought to you by:jeremy miller

brought to you by:jeremy miller

What it’s What it’s NOT:NOT: It’s NOT an imaginary man month in It’s NOT an imaginary man month in

which thewhich the

What it What it ISIS:: It IS a software engineering scheduling It IS a software engineering scheduling

monstermonster It IS a commonly used practice of project It IS a commonly used practice of project

managementmanagement It IS useless in It IS useless in

most softwaremost software

engineering engineering

environments.environments.

The ‘Man-Month’ is a calculation:The ‘Man-Month’ is a calculation:

1 Man = 1 Month1 Man = 1 Month

i.e. A job that would take 1 man 5 i.e. A job that would take 1 man 5 months to complete will take 5 men 1 months to complete will take 5 men 1 month to complete. month to complete.

The ‘Man-Month’ will not work for a The ‘Man-Month’ will not work for a software engineering projectsoftware engineering project Software Engineering is governed by Software Engineering is governed by

sequential constraints and is linear.sequential constraints and is linear.

The ‘Man-Month’ will not work for a The ‘Man-Month’ will not work for a software engineering projectsoftware engineering project Each new worker would require time to Each new worker would require time to

bring them ‘up to speed’bring them ‘up to speed’ Extends the amount of time required to Extends the amount of time required to

complete the project.complete the project.

System Testing – does not benefit System Testing – does not benefit from additional resources.from additional resources. Systems Testing is the biggest pit-fall in Systems Testing is the biggest pit-fall in

project planningproject planning Systems Testing should be allowed at least Systems Testing should be allowed at least

½ the total time allotted for project ½ the total time allotted for project completion.completion.

More time allotted for testing instead of More time allotted for testing instead of more personnel.more personnel.

Be liberal with project completion Be liberal with project completion estimates.estimates. Too often an estimate of completion is Too often an estimate of completion is

based on what the boss or client based on what the boss or client want want to to hear.hear.

A more realistic time estimate or A more realistic time estimate or

padding of time estimate (set yourself padding of time estimate (set yourself

up for success, give yourself a chance up for success, give yourself a chance

to be a hero)to be a hero)

System Testing – does not benefit System Testing – does not benefit from additional resources.from additional resources. Systems Testing is the biggest pit-fall in Systems Testing is the biggest pit-fall in

project planningproject planning Systems Testing should be allowed at least Systems Testing should be allowed at least

½ the total time allotted for project ½ the total time allotted for project completion.completion.

More time allotted for testing instead of More time allotted for testing instead of more personnel.more personnel.

Failing to meet un-aquireable goals.Failing to meet un-aquireable goals. A snowball effect happens when A snowball effect happens when

inadequate time is allotted and incorrect inadequate time is allotted and incorrect steps are taken to correct the issue.steps are taken to correct the issue.

Makes you look incompetentMakes you look incompetent Wastes money/time/resourcesWastes money/time/resources

When more manpower works for When more manpower works for Software EngineeringSoftware Engineering More manpower should be directly related More manpower should be directly related

to the number of independent subtasksto the number of independent subtasks ““Adding manpower to a late software Adding manpower to a late software

project makes it later” Brooks Lawproject makes it later” Brooks Law

““More software projects have gone awry for More software projects have gone awry for lack of calendar time than for all other lack of calendar time than for all other causes combined.”causes combined.”

PProper roper PProject roject PPlanning lanning PPrevents revents PPreposterouslyreposterously

PPathetic athetic PProblematic roblematic PProjectsrojects