Why Requirements are Difficult
Having problems dealing with requirements from your customers? It could be worse … imagine if the placement of a single comma cost you $2.13 million!
The Globe and Mail has an article about a dispute between a customer and a supplier that hinged on exactly that. Two Canadian firms (Aliant and Rogers Communications) had a contract to string cable lines across utility poles. The dispute arose where …
Page 7 of the contract states: The agreement “shall continue in force for a period of five years from the date it is made, and thereafter for successive five year terms, unless and until terminated by one year prior notice in writing by either party.
Because of the second comma, the contract could be canceled after 1 year instead of after 5 or 10. Aliant did so, and raised rates by 200%. Had that comma not been there, the move would have violated the contract.
This story is a great reminder why creating, maintaing, and following requirements is so difficult in technology projects. Make sure you know EXACTLY what you are agreeing to, especially when dealing with Service Level Agreements.
