Perfect Software And Other Illusions About Testing

by Gerald M. Weinberg

Common Mistakes 1. Failing to notice when people are fearful: Defense mechanisms are usually easy to spot if you're looking for them. 2. Creating a fearful environment: If you blame messengers for bringing news you don't want to hear, you'll be rewarded by not hearing the news you should hear. 3. Allowing your fears to override the facts when making decisions: To succeed in the software business, you need to be aware of your own rules and how they distort your intake of information. 4. Allowing your hopes to override facts when making decisions: It's all right to hope for anything, but hoping is not the same as expecting anything. [8] 5. Indulging in compulsive behavior: One person's compulsiveness frequently engenders fear and defensiveness in others. Your first priority should be to strive to be reasonable. 6. Assuming that any argument against your own point of view is part of a pathology: In the same way that a rationalization can sound like a good argument, a good argument can sound like a rationalization. Many people are uncomfortable making arguments. Many are untrained in the art of persuasion. Learn to listen sympathetically to objections and justifications. Try to find and honor what's worthwhile in an opposing viewpoint—there's almost always something there to value. For instance, the argument "It's too hard to fix that" might be the speaker's way of saying, "I don't know how to fix that quickly or cheaply, and I'm not convinced doing so would be a good way to u...