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The second half

Paul's Posts — 11 November 2011

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The second half

Our chief engineer, Bob Stadtherr, always likes to remind us that every project has two phases: the first 90% and the second 90%.  It always brings a smile.

But he has a point, one you can probably relate to in your own life.  You get through the first 90% of your task and then all that’s left is the last 10% – the finishing touches – but those tend to take as long as the first task and are routinely underestimated; certainly by me.

It never ceases to amaze me how easy the second 90% is to under estimate when we are mapping out a new product launch – and just how important that phase of any project is.

The second 90% is where all the user interface is created once the hardware and software are finished.  This is the part customers get to interface with and judge the final product on.  It has equal importance to the first 90% of the work.

The problem for me has always been the difficulty in mapping out this second half of the work.  The first half is pretty straightforward.

When it comes to learning new skills, the ability to accurately map and schedule the second 90% has to be right on top of any designer’s list.

Certainly is on mine.

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About Author

Paul McGowan

Paul McGowan is the CEO and co-founder of PS Audio Inc. a Boulder Colorado design and manufacturing company of high-end audio products and services. McGowan has been designing and building high-end products for nearly 40 years. Hobbies include skiing, music, hiking, artisan bread baking, kick boxing and cooking. He lives in Boulder Colorado with his wife Terri and his 4 sons.

(3) Readers Comments

  1. Frank LaFond

    November 11, 2011 at 10:10 am

    When a thing is not done, continuing to work is the strength; but when it is done, the strength lies in stopping.
    — Eric Maisel

    Paul, in your younger days the user interface was something like 2 RCA jacks, 2 binding posts, a power switch, a fuse holder and an LED. I would imagine “done” was easier then. With all the flexibility of firmware interfaces, how do you decide when you’re done now? I work in the software industry, where there is no illusion of “doneness”. While hardware products do get firmware updates (my car got one a few months ago!), the general expectation is that hardware is delivered “done”. How do you manage “done” so your second 90% gets you a killer product, but doesn’t turn into 900% and over-complicate the interface?

  2. tpa

    November 24, 2011 at 7:26 am

    It’s caled the 80-20 rule, the first 80% of the work is done in 20% of the time and the last 20% in … 80%

    • November 24, 2011 at 8:46 am

      Yeah, except our projects always seem to take twice as long so it’s still the 90/90 rule. :)

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