The management question, therefore, is not whether to…
““The management question, therefore, is not whether to build a pilot system and throw it away. You will do that. The only question is whether to plan in advance to build a throwaway, or to promise to deliver the throwaway to customers.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The core issue is deciding between deliberately creating a disposable prototype and promising customers a temporary solution.
In simple terms: Choose between a planned throwaway or delivering a temporary product.
Key Takeaway
Plan for disposability or avoid overpromising.
Themes
software development
project management
risk
prototype
Mood
cautious
pragmatic
Type
advisory
strategic
When to use this quote
- product design
- customer expectations
- budget constraints
- timeline planning
Key Concepts
agile
lean
technical debt
Questions to Reflect On
- Should you build a throwaway to test ideas?
- How to set realistic expectations with customers?
A Different Perspective
A throwaway may waste resources if not managed properly.