Chapter 4. Methodologies

The purpose of this chapter is to discuss and boil down the topic of methodologies until the rules of the methodology design game, and how to play that game, are clear.

"Methodology Concepts" covers the basic vocabulary and concepts needed to design and compare methodologies. These include the obvious concepts such as roles, techniques, and standards and also less-obvious concepts such as weight, ceremony, precision, stability, and tolerance. In terms of audience "levels," as described in "Three Levels of Listening" on page 14 of the introduction, this is largely Level 1 material. It is needed for the more advanced discussions that follow.

"Methodology Design Principles" discusses seven principles that can be used to guide the design of a methodology. The principles highlight the cost of moving to a heavier methodology as well as when to accept that cost. They also show how to use work-product stability in deciding how much concurrent development to employ.

"XP under Glass" applies the principles to analyze an existing, agile methodology. It also discusses how to use the principles to adjust XP for slightly different situations.

"Why Methodology at All?" revisits that key question in the light of the preceding discussion and presents the different uses for methodologies.

Methodologies

AN ECOSYSTEM THAT SHIPS SOFTWARE		149
METHODOLOGY CONCEPTS		149
	Structural Terms	150
	Scope	154
	Conceptual Terms	157
	Publishing a Methodology	169
METHODOLOGY DESIGN PRINCIPLES		175
	Common Design Errors	175
	Methodologically Successful Projects	179
	Author Sensitivity	180
	Seven Principles	182
XP UNDER GLASS		199
	XP in a Nutshell	199
	Dissecting XP	201
	Adjusting XP	202
WHY METHODOLOGY AT ALL?		204
	What a Methodology Addresses	204
	How to Evaluate a Methodology	205
WHAT SHOULD I DO TOMORROW?		206