Adaptable solution over customer collaboration
Over-interacting with the client can generate headaches. Sometimes the client doesn’t even know what they need. It’s better to parameterize everything and leave the choice to them, than to delegate the responsibility to yourself and take the blame later. You’ve been warned. Don’t complain later if they ask to change a button color infinitely many times.
The crystal ball
There’s a saying that goes: for those without a destination, any path serves. If the intent of collaborating with the client is to build a system that meets their needs, prepare to acquire a crystal ball, because you’ll never please everyone. Besides, what was good yesterday may no longer be good tomorrow.
The real problem
Often the client doesn’t even know what they need. In these occasions, it’s necessary to discover the real problem before fitting the solution. A system that easily adapts to any client’s needs requires less collaboration — that is, fewer hours lost in meetings.
The power of parameterization
Instead of hearing “but I wanted the button blue, not green”, build a system where the client can choose the button color themselves. Parameters, configs, flags — everything that avoids that endless meeting where someone says “but that’s not what I had in mind”.