Amount of Time to Spend on Upstream Prerequisites
The amount of time to spend on problem definition, requirements, and software architecture varies according to the needs of your project. Generally, a well-run project devotes about 10 to 20 percent of its effort and about 20 to 30 percent of its schedule to requirements, architecture, and up-front planning (McConnell 1998, Kruchten 2000). These figures don't include time for detailed design—that's part of construction.
Cross-Reference
The amount of time you spend on prerequisites will depend on your project type. For details on adapting prerequisites to your specific project, see Determine the Kind of Software You're Working On, earlier in this chapter.
If requirements are unstable and you're working ...
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