![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Specifically, feature creep and goldplating. These are the same thing from two different sides: extra features (not wild swing changes, but new tweaks and features ranging from minor to major) added at the last minute. 'Feature creep' is generic, 'goldplating' is when the developer decides to do it because they think it should have that, most especially if it turns out to be something the user doesn't need. Both can happen at any stage of the situation.
So, for example, gold-plating is when your developer pulls his car off at the rest stop and puts racing stripes on. Or, if you're lucky, he gets to the airport (where you wanted him) and then puts the racing stripes on. As long as he can get them on before the person he's picking up arrives, you haven't lost a lot, but you haven't gained anything either. More often, there are 26 other tasks he could be doing, and you really do lose something into the bargain.
As for client-driven feature creep, that's when the person at the airport gets out to the car (user testing, maybe? I'm stretching the analogy slightly thin here) and demands that it must have a cup holder, and air conditioning (despite the fact that it's only 65 degrees out, and you can't imagine wanting A/C at that temperature - they can.) It can predate arrival at the car, of course; some are nice enough to phone ahead halfway through the process, as soon as they realize they forgot to demand those two items,and tell you then.
It still throws schedules off a bit. :)
So, for example, gold-plating is when your developer pulls his car off at the rest stop and puts racing stripes on. Or, if you're lucky, he gets to the airport (where you wanted him) and then puts the racing stripes on. As long as he can get them on before the person he's picking up arrives, you haven't lost a lot, but you haven't gained anything either. More often, there are 26 other tasks he could be doing, and you really do lose something into the bargain.
As for client-driven feature creep, that's when the person at the airport gets out to the car (user testing, maybe? I'm stretching the analogy slightly thin here) and demands that it must have a cup holder, and air conditioning (despite the fact that it's only 65 degrees out, and you can't imagine wanting A/C at that temperature - they can.) It can predate arrival at the car, of course; some are nice enough to phone ahead halfway through the process, as soon as they realize they forgot to demand those two items,and tell you then.
It still throws schedules off a bit. :)
