I have found that development teams get so wrapped up trying to follow methodologies that they begin to serve two masters. One master is the customers requirements, the other master is the methodology. The methods are supposed to work for us but instead we actually work for the methodology.

For example in OO, it becomes a requirement that data and all methods that operate on the data shall be in a class.

In order to be effective tools, methodologies need to be well known and understood. Organizations would be well advised to seek out experienced help.

For organizations beginning their first x-Oriented project - my heart goes out to you as you begin this death march.

Those who survive the grueling road ahead will have learned the important, real-world techniques used to make the methodologies work.