The 7 Deadly Sins of Development

Orion Kopelman, one of America's leading experts on product development, talks about the reasons that most development teams so often come up short on projects. I've compiled the list that he provided for the 7 Deadly Sins of product development and some of his solutions. What are your thoughts?

1. Trying to do too much in one project and The NIH - Not Invented Here - syndrome
   Solution: Use incremental innovation. Do what it takes to get to meet basic requirements. Quickly add new features in regular releases. Emphasize and reward innovation not re-invention.
2. Not everybody buys-in to a common product vision
   Solution: Effectively negotiate tradeoffs between features, cost and schedule and get buy-in on a common product vision.
3. Functional organizations refuse to relinquish control to project teams
   Solution: Dedicate team members to projects for the entire length of the project.
   
4. A weak project team leader, or one who lacks authority
   Solution: Carefully select team leaders with credibility and give them full authority.
   
5. A poor product development process, or none at all
   Solution: Establish a company-wide set of procedural guidelines to standardize product development. Invest in review and continuous improvement to assure process supports quality, rapid product development.
   
6. No "Chicken Test" on a working prototype early in the schedule
   Solution: Schedule critical tests on a working prototype early in the project schedule to uncover any design flaws.
   
7. A disintegrating, endless end-game.
   Solution: MICRO-MANAGE THE LAST 10%-the whole team works together closely to handle details and get it out the door.