- What The User Wanted Cartoon
- Tire Swing Software Development
- Tree Swing Cartoon Project Management
- Cartoon Software Development Tree Swing Video
- Cartoon Software Development Tree Swing
A small mistake in the beginning can lead to a big mistake in the end. I recall the first time I saw the cartoon “How Projects Really Work” 1-also known as the project management tree swing cartoon. I laughed, I cried, I even did a root cause analysis on it. The Project Management Tree Swing Cartoon, Past and Present - Taming Data blog makes data fun! I post an eclectic collection of images, articles, and data visualizations. As designed by the senior analyst. As produced by the programmers. As installed at the user's site. Project Cartoon Every now and again, a cartoon comparing building a swing on a tree with the life cycle of software projects resurfaces and we get to laugh a bit. Today I found someone actually made a site about it with some new pictures, merchandising and the ability to create new versions of it.
The tree swing analogy was first came in the 1970s and many variants came later on different subject, such as software and management. It depicts the difference of how each department interpret and implement a requirement in the development of a tree swing. The variation of the cartoon on perception gaps in software development projects was first came out in 2003. Then it became popular among the management to address issues when projects did not go the right way. Someone blames the pitfall in communication, such as not listening to the client, but it also reveals the problems in product development and reminds anyone involved what to do and what not to do.
Look at this cartoon (Version 1.5).
What The User Wanted Cartoon
- When a customer describes what s/he wants, it tends to be true that s/he always gives too much information and overstates it.
- The product owner gather the customer's requirement and summaries it.
- Engineers follow PO's summary and make it work. Well, to some extent...
- Then programmers will write it. However, when you test it, it is not workable.
- What testers get from the Dev team is just a rope with a loop at the end of it.
- Finally we have a product, so the sales can start their job by exaggerating its features.
- When you want to check the documents to, it is always no where to be found.
- What the operations build is very simple. Gosh, I don't know what to say.
- Customers are billed for extraordinary experiences.
- The way Helpdesk solve problems is just simple and 'radical'.
- Marketing strategy looks like high-end.
- Voila! It turns out what the customer truly wants is just a simple tire swing.
Communication: the big 'C'
Project is about a bunch of various people working together to meet the requirements. The role of a project manager is to monitor details through strategic, efficient and meaningful conversations on a project. 'About 90% of the time in a project is spent on communication by the project manager'[6]. As it is known, communication is a very important element of any well organised project. Therefore, project management is not just tools and processes.
The right tool
However, don't get it wrong. Choosing the right project management tool is what successful project teams must do. Through collaborating and using tools to keep each other on the same page, the gap caused by different interpretaion among departments can be minimized. Our open source project management software, ZenTao, can help you with:
Product management: story management, plan management, release management, product roadmap.
Project management: team and effort management, task management, Kanban, tree, list, group views, burndown chart.
Testing management: test case, test case library, test suit, test plan, test result, bug management.
Document management
Dashboard: todo, calendar, tasks assigned to me.
The main difference between ZenTao and other systems is that ZenTao divides the complex project management process into four major items: story, task, bug, and case, through which zentao supports the whole flow management. ZenTao Cloud is also available now.
Tire Swing Software Development
Tree Swing Cartoon Project Management
Ifyou would like to know more about ZenTao and the feature comparison of ZenTao and Jira, check this article
Cartoon Software Development Tree Swing Video
Reference
Cartoon Software Development Tree Swing
- http://www.tamingdata.com/2010/07/08/the-project-management-tree-swing-cartoon-past-and-present/
- https://www.businessballs.com/amusement-stress-relief/tree-swing-cartoons-new-versions-191/
- http://www.projectcartoon.com/cartoon/1111
- http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/tree-swing-cartoon-parodies
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_swing_cartoon
- https://www.pmi.org/learning/library/effective-communication-better-project-management-6480