Came up with a great analogy yesterday for how specific requirements help everyone:
I often do the grocery shopping.
My wife often lists things like “almonds”.
I arrive at the shop.
There are ground almonds, flaked almonds, blanched almonds, whole almonds. Some on the snack aisle, the baking aisle and in the produce.
There are various packet sizes.
The actual requirement is something like:
Short version: "Ground Almonds, 150g for baking cake”
…
...
The lesson: Think about what the other person needs to know to fulfil your requirement without needing further exchange of information.
Otherwise, further communication is needed, which slows you down. OR, the person makes their own assumptions ("here's a 50g packet of flaked almonds!”) and the whole process becomes blocked and rework is needed.
It takes longer to do the initial work, but you get your cake baked on time for the birthday party!!
