> One VP argued – pedantically but accurately – that Fred Brooks only said this about projects that are running late; though in my experience, every software project is already late on day one.
One of the kindest things anyone ever did for me as a student (in the 1990s) was introduce me to Fred Brooks after having "encouraged" (maybe a bit coercively) me to read his book. When I had the chance to talk to him for a few seconds, I asked a poorly phrased version of "aren't they all running late?" and got back an amused response that I understood to mean that of course they are.
One of the kindest things anyone ever did for me as a student (in the 1990s) was introduce me to Fred Brooks after having "encouraged" (maybe a bit coercively) me to read his book. When I had the chance to talk to him for a few seconds, I asked a poorly phrased version of "aren't they all running late?" and got back an amused response that I understood to mean that of course they are.