use Perl

• Correct (Score:1)

  by n1vux (1492) on 2005.09.27 14:14 (#43514) Homepage Journal

  jplindstrom is correct in his reply -- Brooks Law is usually quoted out of conext.
  
  In justifying his law, Brooks specifically cited the increasing number of interpersonal interfaces (n**2) and the ramp-up time of the new staff (and the concomittant investment required by the existing staff in the new staff's ramp-up. If Rent on a pickup is less than on a bulldozer, or if there's a premium for early completion advantage; or if Supervisors get paid double rate ...)
  
  Splitting non-core tasks off and out-sourcing them is out of scope for Brooks law, always was. Brooks recognized that while 9 Women can not make a baby in one month, those same 9 women CAN clear as many acres in a month as one woman could in 9 months (if they *each* get a bulldozer and map, fuel, ...).
  
  (There *are* many hidden IFs regarding logistics - one working alone must do all his/her own logistics, whereas one of the 9 will be a logistics / supervisor with a pickup , so now you have 9 workers and get 8 person-months worth of work done with 9 person-months expended in 1 month, as compared to about the same 8 months worth of work done by one person in 9 months if she does her own supplies & logistics. Economies of scale may help, if the team meetings and Reporting doesn't eat the savings. The Bonus for Early Completion _should_ overwhelm the savings or overhead. Should.)
  
  Brooks, Mythical Man Month, http://isbn.nu/0201835959 [isbn.nu]

  --
  Bill
  # I had a sig when sigs were cool
  use Sig;

  Reply to This

  • Re:Correct (Score:1)

    by cog (4665)

    jplindstrom is correct
    
    Yes, he is :-)
    
    And I'm adding that book to my list of books to buy :-)