- Phase 1: Unbridled Enthusiasm
- Phase 2: False Sense of Security
- Phase 3: Rude Awakening
- Final Thoughts
Phase 2: False Sense of Security
The initial upbeat phase is followed by a period of relative calm, which I call the period of a false sense of security. During this phase, development proceeds apace. The product manager may be uninvolved, or may attend milestone reviews in which models, documents, and project plans are reviewed and inspected. Toward the end of this period, which typically lasts from 612 months, the software is declared to be 90% complete, and launch plans are put into place. Customers are notified that the release is pending, and external and internal commitments are solidified.