Practices Based Process

...AgileModeling (AM) is a PracticesBasedProcess that describes how to be an effective modeler...

---

"Simple, clear purpose and principles give rise to complex, intelligent behavior. Complex rules and regulations give rise to simple, stupid behavior." --DeeHock, VISA System (requoted from AlistairCockburn's AgileSoftwareDevelopment)

---

The practices-based process I use for cleaning my room is:

 A place for each thing, each thing in its place
 Have what you use, use what you have (i.e. throw out or give away stuff)
 Worst mess first
 Do big cleanings with other people

When I compared this process to ExtremeProgramming and AgileModeling, I noticed several "types" of rules. Of course, these are not hard and fast catagories, there are more categories, and rules do not always fit nicely in one category...

• Rules defining "what is caught up"
• Rules defining "what is next"
• Rules that act like "tools in a tool box", and are used on an "as needed" basis

---

Examples

Rules defining "what is caught up"

 A place for each thing, each thing in its place
 Have what you use, use what you have
 OnceAndOnlyOnce
 All unit tests run

Rules defining "what is next"

 Worst mess first
 Worst thing first

Rules used as needed

 Do big cleanings with others
 Creating several models in parallel
 Updating models only when it hurts

---

Another workable rule is "all that is needed to impose order on a confusion is to stabilize one thing."

When addressing chaos, it doesn't matter which thing you fix first -- just fix one thing. Then you can fix the next thing. As you proceed, priorities can be established, but to get started, just do one thing.

If everything is moving, just get one thing to hold still. Then another.

This assumes that you're not keeping an existing order, but establishing one.

-- GarryHamilton

---

See LittleRulesAndPatterns