Justin Bingham is one of those guys that never disappoints with his insight into development. In a series of posts on his new blog he clearly outlines the advantages and pitfalls of hybrid development practices. What I really like about the detailed descriptions he offers is that he combines both the technical and the psychological aspects of managing and delivering a successful project. It’s easy to follow a step by step methodology. On the other hand being empathetic to client and team needs while still being alert to bullshit gives you serious advantage over just following process alone. This except hits at the core of Justin’s point…

Respect your Bullsh*t Meter. Some people will say just about anything to get your money.  You can ask all the right questions, and still get fleeced if you don’t listen carefully to the answers.  Look for any elements of inconsistency.  If someone tells you that they adhere to agile development practices, ask them later on in the conversation how long they usually spend putting together their technical specification document before they start coding.  This is a lot like being at a party and having someone tell you how much they love the movie that you were just talking about, and then later dropping an obvious reference and watching it sail over their head.  Steer clear of these people, and steer clear of these firms.  They’ll say anything to get you to like them.  Don’t be afraid to tune your meter if you’re having trouble identifying them.