Copacetic

Conor directed me to an “oldie but goodie” article by Joel (of Joel on Software fame) about pricing for software. In it he debunks price segmentation and focus groups amongst others as mechanisms for determining price.

Required reading for anybody selling software for a living.

I found this page tonight with a bunch of old saws, but good ones all the same. I particularily like this one by Deming which predates agile programming, but could have been written for it….

Deming’s 14 points

1. Create constancy of purpose.
2. Adopt the new philosophy.
3. Cease dependence on mass inspection to achieve quality.
4. Minimize total cost, not initial price of supplies.
5. Improve constantly the system of production and service.
6. Institute training on the job.
7. Institute leadership.
8. Drive out fear.
9. Break down barriers between departments.
10. Eliminate slogans, exhortations, and numerical targets.
11. Eliminate work standards (quotas) and management by objective.
12. Remove barriers that rob workers, engineers, and managers of their right to pride of workmanship.
13. Institute a vigorous program of education and self-improvement.
14. Put everyone in the company to work to accomplish the transformation.