There's a lot to be learned from Hollywood for the production of software. Making software isn't (or shouldn't be) all that different from making films. Since the early 1900's, Hollywood has been pumping out film after film. Technologies have of course changed over the years but the end product of a motion picture remains. Software is similar. Hollywood's "simple" process of pre-production, production, and post-production is a powerful tool. And its simple roles of Scriptwriter, Producer, Director, Actors, and Post-Product workers are powerful if applied to software projects.
PRE-PRODUCTION ROLES:
Scriptwriters
In film, these are the story tellers.
In software, these are also the storytellers. Their titles, however, are Business Analyst, Product Manager, Requirements Engineer, or Process Engineer.
Producers
In film, these are the guys that get the money and form the team.
In software, these are the Project and Program Managers (or above) who get the money (from investors or internal sponsors) and form the team.
PRODUCTION ROLES:
Director
In film, the director is responsible for the creative work and directing the actors.
In software, the IT Project or Program Manager does the same thing. The actors in software are the designers and developers who are creating the end product for the customer.
PHASES:
Pre-Production
In film, this is creating and refining the script, getting the actors, having a plan, and budget.
In software, this is creating and defining the software, getting the developers, having a plan and budget.
Production
In film, this is "shooting" the film and having the actors act according to the (sometimes changing) plan.
In software, this is "coding" the software and having the developers code according to the (sometimes changing) plan.
Post-Production
In film, this is the work involved in creating the final product of sufficient quality.
In software, this is QA work and is generally iterative where things are returned to developers to fix.
Iteration
In film, iteration is common. Many "takes" happen.
In software, iteration is common. Much "rework" happens.
So in total, I hope you can see that a patter and relationship emerges between film and software. They're the same. They're both productive processes generating a product for an audience. Applying more of our knowledge of the film industry and how it works to software would improve development lifecycles, decrease budgets, and improve user-satisfaction.
PRE-PRODUCTION ROLES:
Scriptwriters
In film, these are the story tellers.
In software, these are also the storytellers. Their titles, however, are Business Analyst, Product Manager, Requirements Engineer, or Process Engineer.
Producers
In film, these are the guys that get the money and form the team.
In software, these are the Project and Program Managers (or above) who get the money (from investors or internal sponsors) and form the team.
PRODUCTION ROLES:
Director
In film, the director is responsible for the creative work and directing the actors.
In software, the IT Project or Program Manager does the same thing. The actors in software are the designers and developers who are creating the end product for the customer.
PHASES:
Pre-Production
In film, this is creating and refining the script, getting the actors, having a plan, and budget.
In software, this is creating and defining the software, getting the developers, having a plan and budget.
Production
In film, this is "shooting" the film and having the actors act according to the (sometimes changing) plan.
In software, this is "coding" the software and having the developers code according to the (sometimes changing) plan.
Post-Production
In film, this is the work involved in creating the final product of sufficient quality.
In software, this is QA work and is generally iterative where things are returned to developers to fix.
Iteration
In film, iteration is common. Many "takes" happen.
In software, iteration is common. Much "rework" happens.
So in total, I hope you can see that a patter and relationship emerges between film and software. They're the same. They're both productive processes generating a product for an audience. Applying more of our knowledge of the film industry and how it works to software would improve development lifecycles, decrease budgets, and improve user-satisfaction.
