Prepare for Change

When we create something new, we tend to focus on getting the job done as quickly and efficient as possible. It’s not so obvious that we also take future changes into account. Nevertheless, reality shows that, as we deliver what we have created, soon after someone will want to change something about it.

So you better think about changes at an early stage. Already at the start of your project you need to think about what you can do to make it easy to change things at some point in the future.

Of course, this depends on your situation, but perhaps this suggestion can help you:

People love to ask for difficult, never been done before, stuff but as soon as they notice that it takes much more time and money they will not be so happy. It’s your job, not to do everything they ask without questions. They expect to be advised by you. You know things that they don’t.

If you have to do all kinds of new and complicated stuff, you know that it’s almost impossible to tell them how much time and money it will take. So you can suggest making adjustments that make it simpler, cheaper and much better to predict.

And, what’s more, when you keep it simple, future changes can also be easier applied. Re-use parts, techniques, models et cetera that you created before. Don’t invent something new if you don’t have to.

And when, at some point in the future, someone asks to change something, you will be able to, because you prepared.

Thanks so much for being here.

See you on the next one!