This little phrase has been popping up all over lately, attributed to multiple sources. Here’s why it has such a powerful effect on how we approach IT work.

The most intuitive way to avoid mistakes is to plan carefully. Thinking about the big picture, ideally, means that every step you take moves you one step closer to the goal. And having a shared, common vision means that everyone can work independently and produce results that move the team forward. Result: less rework and less communication overhead. If complete, accurate, detailed plans don’t get you where you want to go, then, presumably, they aren’t complete, accurate or detailed enough.

Thinking about the big picture is pretty important, as far as it goes. The problem is that...

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Okay, buckle your seatbelt for this one. It’s a simple idea that is essential for healthy design, innovation and producing high quality work, but it’s pretty counter-intuitive for most IT pros. Let’s start with the first part: “Start work as soon as possible,” or

How often have you heard, or maybe asked, this question, “When will the requirements be done and locked?” Or, “When will the research be finished?” Or, “When will spec be signed off?”

Most people like to ask these “When will the work be done” questions because we feel like the answer gives us a measure of progress. We know that when a certain category of work is complete, it adds to the road in our rear view mirror and less road remains ahead.

Too often, however, we find...

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