Never ASSUME

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{notes to pictures ~ from top row, left to right}
Pic 1: How the user representative explained it
Pic 2: How the project leader understood it
Pic 3: How the analyst designed it
Pic 4: How the programmer wrote it
Pic 5: How the consultant described it
Pic 6: How the project was documented
Pic 7: What operations installed
Pic 8: How the customer was billed
Pic 9: How it was supported
Pic 10: What the Users actually need!

Confer with Everyone Early - get everyone's comments early including decision-makers. And never ever forget the ultimate users of the solutions... get their inputs and buy-in. It is OK to show working drafts!!

Ask Many Questions - there are no stupid questions..... anyway, it is better "to be stupid" for 5 minutes and avoid 5 weeks of rework.

Restate & Confirm - Regularly restate and reconfirm... what you think I think may be not what I think you should think.... !!??

Don't Assume - because it'll make an ASS out of U and ME =8p