Natural Software Development
Embracing growth via Manage by Means (MBM)
This is a thought I jot down one day after reading “Profit beyond Measure”. I naturally wondered how the concepts explained in the book manifest in software development. Around the same time I was reading the book “Presence” from Peter M. Senge, co-author in the first book.
Growth in nature, is always defined in an environment that defines its constraints. It’s something known which we forget when we enter the reality of software.
The immaterial nature of software leads many people to believe growth in software, doesn’t obey similar rules.
It’s easy and tempting to focus on achieving amazing results by focusing on far, distant and motivating goals.
But nature doesn’t set numerical targets to grow the push to evolution, innovation and guarantee survivability. It’s an unnatural way to grow.
Evolution occurs by ensuring the obstacles to growth are solved or removed.
If we were to look for a natural process for software development, it would be one where the ability for the software to adapt improves constantly over time,
Natural improvements leave the door open to many different possibilities without focusing on achieving arbitrary results that will force the system to apply changes that only help achieve those goals, damaging instead the long term capability to grow.
What drives a natural development process?
Autonomy
Identify and Enhance Connections
Improve Clarity and Deep Understanding
Reduce and Remove Waste
To follow up: figure out the rest.