Hal Popplewell wrote
>Communication is NOT *inherently* good. Hitler, as an extreme example,
>was an excellent communicator.
In this case the response to Hitler was inherently bad. That is strong
response in the years 1930-1935 could have prevented a major disaster.
If any of you make a trip to Berlin I suggest a museum at the site of the
Gestapo. On the register the day we were there was an inscription, 'Look
out, it is happening again.'
>In fact, IMHO, tho only reason the number is arguable is that larger
>teams with a SHARED VISION *can* produce viable software systems
> - precisely *because* they can spend *less* time communicating.
The size of software teams is discussed by Frederick Brooks in his
'Mythical man Month' (still in print). The size is probably applicable
to any intellectual work. The most effective size is about 4 people.
IMHO and experience this number is very close to the ideal, if I had
a choice of two smaller or one larger team, I'd choose smaller.
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It's better at sea ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
bhobler@cpcug.org Still a Submariner
William J. Hobler, Jr. Preferrably Bill
Real art is simple. Real artists make it look easy.
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