dsdm atern - achilles and the seven sins
DSDM® Atern - Achilles and the Seven Sins
Greek mythology claimed Achilles was only vulnerable at his heel due to his mother Thetis forgetting to dip Achilles a second time to ensure the heel she was holding was also protected as she dipped him in the river Styx to receive the magic of the waters. This vulnerability was later exposed by a vengeful Apollo. Projects all have an Achilles heel, often more than one that are exploited by Apollonian influences seeking to wreak havoc. The Apollonian drivers for these vulnerabilities can often be found in one or more of the seven sins. DSDM® Atern via its eight principles provides a project manager with the toolset to mitigate the sins and minimise the vulnerabilities.
- Wrath (distorting outcomes for personal justice) - focus on business need, collaborate, build incrementally from firm foundations, communicate continuously and clearly, demonstrate control
- Greed (acquiring more than needed) - focus on business need, deliver on time, demonstrate control
- Sloth (failing to realise talents and potential - deliver on time, never compromise on quality, build incrementally from firm foundations, develop iteratively, communicate continuously and clearly
- Pride (failing to recognise others) - focus on business need, deliver on time, collaborate, communicate continuously and clearly
- Lust (emotionally driven desires) - focus on business need, collaborate, communicate continuously and clearly, demonstrate control
- Envy (to have whilst depriving) - focus on business need, deliver on time, collaborate, never compromise on quality, build incrementally from firm foundations, develop iteratively, communicate continuously and clearly, demonstrate control
- Gluttony (over-indulging) - focus on business need, deliver on time, collaborate, build incrementally from firm foundations, develop iteratively, demonstrate control.
DSDM® Atern enables the project manager to avoid the sins that plague many projects, ensuring teams are working to clearly defined business outcomes, facilitated by a framework that encourages individuals to perform to the best of their capabilities and capacities, whilst avoiding those moments of self-distraction.