Analysis Paralysis

This project anti-pattern is related to over analyzing the project to achieve perfection and completeness. Upon execution, many new changes encountered usually discards these analysis, turning them into a waste. Sometimes, the over analysis can make the whole team cease from executing the work.

Symptoms and Consequences

• Multiple project restarts and much model rework due to personnel changes or changes in project direction.
• Design and implementation issues are continually reintroduced in the analysis phase.
• Cost of analysis exceeded expectation without a predictable end point.
• Analysis no longer involves user interaction. Many of the analysis performed is speculative.
• Increased complexity until it is impossible to build.

Causes

• Management assumes waterfall progression of phases.
• Management has more confidence in analysis results instead of actual implementation / prototype data.
• Management insists on completing all analysis before implementation begins.
• Management not wanted to take risks.
• Management fears of failure.

Refactor Recipes

• Convince the management they are introducing resources wastage by:
  • Gather possible changes that can rapture the existing analysis.
  • Use time as currency, then multiply with monetary.
• Build / facilitate management some forms of dashboard to reduce their interaction from the implementation team. Don't worry, getting into such situation is likely:
  • management spending too much time with the team, to the point of micromanagement.