Dear IT, Projects are your Children

We love our Children and we want them to grow up right, with good manners and appropriate attitudes towards the difficulties life will throw at them.

When they are young we make rules that they don’t necessarily understand but have to obey. It is best if they obey because they “want to” or because they love us. They could also obey because of the consequences of diobedience, but this is less optimal.

As they grow up we hope that they will realise that these behaviours are important and will be best for them in the end.

Projects are the same. Testing is important. Good design is important. The long term view is important. We can enforce adherence to these principles through consequences, but the very best reason for adherence is because the projects understand that it is best for them in the long-run.

So here’s the motive check:

Do you love your Parents?

• Projects, Are you behaving in the best interests of IT?
• Are you looking out for the good of IT?
• Do you wish good things and success for IT?
• Projects, do you love IT?

Do you love your children?

• IT, are you encouraging projects to behave right?
• Are your motives for doing this out of concern for the long-term success and good of that project?
• Remember these projects will always be your children, you can’t disown them
• IT, do you love your Projects?

Some children grow up being delinquent, but for the most part end up being good citizens who love their parents.

The motive is important. It is evident to children and they grow up to become different sorts of people, depending on whether they are loved or not.

Projects, are you the sort of children who end up being good citizens who look after their parents in their old age?

IT, are you the sort of parents who genuinely care for the long-term good of your children?