Methodologies vs. Winging It: What You Should Expect From Processes

A recent online discussion that I have been following about maturity models has sparked a number of thoughts on the subject. Some of the major themes coming up on the negative side of the fence – too much bureaucracy, too many restrictions, too rigid and inflexible – illustrate many of the common issues with poor, or poorly implemented, methodologies. Methodologies are often viewed as strict and hidebound processes, where every "i" must be dotted and every "t" crossed.

In reality, some organizations require this degree of rigidity. Sometimes the restrictions are in the name of consistency and quality assurance: Think software systems for the space shuttle, as an example, where an uncaught bug can have catastrophic and irreversible consequences.