Patterns of Failure: Acquisition Archetypes
• Collection
Publisher
Software Engineering Institute
Topic or Tag
Abstract
The SEI is developing Acquisition Archetypes to help the software community identify, manage and prevent recurring patterns of counter-productive practices in software acquisition. This work is based on experiences with actual programs, and uses concepts from systems thinking to characterize and analyze dynamics. A set of briefs is being developed as an initial part of this effort to describe some of the most common patterns, and assist acquisition programs in handling and avoiding them.
Collection Items
Acquisition Archetypes: Firefighting
• SEI Report
By Software Engineering Institute
Explores how falling into a routine of constant firefighting is not the way to guide a project across the finish line and provides advice for fixing the system.
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Acquisition Archetypes: The Bow Wave Effect
• SEI Report
By Software Engineering Institute
From the Acquisition Support Program, one in a series of short papers on acquisition patterns of failure.
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Acquisition Archetypes: Feeding the Sacred Cow
• SEI Report
By Software Engineering Institute
Explores how “sacred cow” projects gain organizational protection and why that can make failing programs harder to correct.
Read
Acquisition Archetypes: PMO versus Contractor Hostility
• SEI Report
By Software Engineering Institute
Compares relationships between PMOs and contractors to a marriage, detailing common issues and outlining methods to stop the dynamic.
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Acquisition Archetypes: Staff Burnout and Turnover
• SEI Report
By Software Engineering Institute
Applying more pressure on staff can temporarily increase productivity, but burnout soon sets in.
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Acquisition Archetypes: Everything for Everybody
• SEI Report
By Software Engineering Institute
When projects attempt to please too many customers, complexity mounts, schedules slip, costs expand, and no one is happy.
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Acquisition Archetypes: Underbidding the Contract
• SEI Report
By Software Engineering Institute
From the Acquisition Support Program, one in a series of short papers on acquisition patterns of failure.
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Acquisition Archetypes: Longer Begets Bigger
• SEI Report
By Software Engineering Institute
Planning for a long development period doesn't always solve acquisition scheduling problems. Sometimes it makes them worse.
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Acquisition Archetypes: Robbing Peter to Pay Paul
• SEI Report
By Software Engineering Institute
Part a series on acquisition failures, this paper focuses on the problems of underspending, which can result in funds being shifted from one program to another.
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Acquisition Archetypes: Brooks' Law
• SEI Report
By Linda Levine, William E. Novak
This April 2009 whitepaper focuses on the problems of underspending, which can result in funds being shifted from one acquisition program to another.
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Acquisition Archetypes: Happy Path Testing
• SEI Report
By Linda Levine, William E. Novak
When time and budget are tight, it's tempting to follow the "happy path" in testing. But be careful: it may be a path that brings your program great unhappiness.
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Acquisition Archetype: Shooting the Messenger
• SEI Report
By Linda Levine, William E. Novak
Explores how open communication and collaboration help programs address problems, avoid blame, and maintain team morale.
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