Quote:
Originally Posted by nbvanyoos
...We were promptly told that none of the customer requirements would be worked on because the customers were not smart enough to know what they wanted...
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Maybe not what was meant, but arguably the user doesn't know what they want / need.
The theory behind this is the four stages of knowledge approach (not knowing what you don't know, knowing what you don't know, conscious ability, unconscious ability). According to this theory people who are really good at what they do are, by their nature, not necessarily able to tell you how they do what they do, and thus what would improve on that.
An example of this is driving. If you have been a driver for a long time, do you actually consciously think about changing gear, or does it just happen?
As I say, most likely not what was meant, as people in software development don't seem to get this, and actually think users don't know what they need because they are stupid (users), and that smart developers know better. Which, in my opinion, is how we end up with software that does neither what the user thinks they want, nor what they actually need.
Way off topic. Just had to get that off my chest.