There is a classic military problem at the start of a new campaign. The goals and missions initially attempted are based upon the doctorine that worked in the previous campaign. This can have disastrous effects. During the first Gulf War this resulted in a convoy of tanks left inoperable at the side of the road. A key filter needed to be replaced to allow use in a desert.
I am shortly to start on a new project at a new client in a very different domain to any that I have worked in before. This will involve checking all of the assumptions that I am about to make.
The previous engagement had poorly defined goals. This is one point that can be corrected early on for the next project. What is the problem we are trying to solve? How do we measure progress towards this goal? What are the constraints here?
Developer Rants 