Patterns

Abstract: Although many organizations want to apply "best" practices, the results are not always what they expect. Sometimes "best practices" do more harm than good. What works for one organization may not work for another. Patterns, which are familiar to many software engineers as a way of describing design elements, can be used describe organizational practice and process solutions. By capturing the context in which a particular solution makes sense, and by articulating the consequences and risks associated with implementation, patterns help managers select practices that best fit their situation and avoid selecting practices that waste everyone's time.