Buy Build Avoid

People typically argue about Buy vs Build.

I bring you a third path: Avoid. The ultimate Lean Development practice for Custom Software. Just Say No to new software!

sing along: "there's no coding, like no coding, like no coding I know..."

In many cases of complex application development, either (a) the process should have been simplified until it could be performed manually, or (b) it should have been eliminated completely, because the inherent complexity would result in a development/maintenance cost which would never deliver an ROI.

Many DotCom companies spent lots of money on a CMS when they probably could have (a) dropped half the features they built which nobody used, then (b) fulfilled the other half of the requirements through a series of manual hacks.

Lots of hacks built by individuals employees, even "departmental techies", don't survive employee Turn Over.