LATE: The Inmates are Running the Asylum Ch 3 - 5

Reference Information:

Title: The Inmates are Running the Asylum
Author: Alan Cooper

Summary:
These chapters describe how software projects can cost companies big time. In chapter 3, the author discusses how trying to meet an unreasonable deadline can actually cost a company more money than if they just push the project back. He also discusses the costs of writing bad software. In chapter 4, the author talks about how most people are content with their software because they simply don't know that there is something better that could be made. Users assume that software is refined  because other people use it but that is generally not the case. The author then discusses how specific software such as e-mail or calendars fail. In chapter 5, the author discusses how customer loyalty is directly related to whats capable, viable, and desirable about a product. He gives an example of Novell losing customers the second alternative products showed up due to lack of customer loyalty.

Discussion:
I personally enjoyed chapter 4 the most in this reading because I can relate to it. There are several times where I have seen someone or I myself have been content with an inferior product simply because I didn't know there was a better alternative. The author once again backs up his lecture with great examples that make the read interesting.