The Second System Effect

Scenario:

You design your first system. You estimate the work against a budget using some estimation technique. Now the implementation begins and,

1. Some unforeseen but essential elements are added.

2. Some unforeseen but important elements don’t get implemented due to time constraints.

3. Some planned design elements are trimmed as they were difficult to implement within the budget constraints.

What does this leave you with psychologically? A big pile of small things, a gap, a frustration of what you couldn’t implement.

The second system:

This is the time when you want to offload that mental pile and you start designing the world’s best system.

Had this been your third project, your experience would have guided you to identify the parts that are particular and not generalisable.

But this is your second system and this is going to be the most dangerous system you will ever design. The villain of this story will be, over design.

Question: How a designer can avoid the trap?

Answer: Being conscious of the second system effect. Getting the design reviewed by an experienced designer. Showing self-discipline by cutting on good to have stuff.

Question: How a project manager avoid the trap?

Answer: Have a senior designer in the team.