“This connects to that and then I think it does something over here, or something else does something, but then there is another system that works here…”
If that’s the introduction to what you’re working on, get ready for two things to happen;
- Pad your estimates into next week because you will spend more time working with people to figure out what is going on rather than actually working on the problem.
- Change what you are fixing, unless you are going in there and doing File >> New Project, you are not going to be able to rewrite the world.
When there are seventeen failure points in what you are working on, that is seventeen unforeseen issues that you will have coming your way.
If you are in this position and trying to figure it out (either on your own or with people), the best thing you can do is get in a room and draw it out. Draw it out from beginning to end – have them explain everything – go through all the ups and downs, what does and doesn’t work.
You can see the problems, now you need others to get there as well before you start making drastic changes.
