Acquisition Archetype: Shooting the Messenger
• SEI Report
Publisher
Software Engineering Institute
Topic or Tag
Abstract
From the Acquisition Support Program, one in a series of short papers on acquisition patterns of failure.
Acquisition Archetype: Shooting the Messenger
When problems are detected in programs, it's time for everyone to listen and work toward a solution. Shooting the messenger only delays the process, and hurts program morale.
Part of a Collection
Patterns of Failure: Acquisition Archetypes
Cite This SEI Report
Levine, L., & Novak, W. (2010, January 20). Acquisition Archetype: Shooting the Messenger. Retrieved October 3, 2026, from https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/acquisition-archetype-shooting-the-messenger/.
@techreport{levine_2010,
author={Levine, Linda and Novak, William},
title={Acquisition Archetype: Shooting the Messenger},
month={Jan},
year={2010},
institution={Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University},
url={https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/acquisition-archetype-shooting-the-messenger/},
note={Accessed: 2026-Oct-3}
}
Levine, Linda, and William Novak. "Acquisition Archetype: Shooting the Messenger." Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, January 20, 2010. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/acquisition-archetype-shooting-the-messenger/.
L. Levine, and W. Novak, "Acquisition Archetype: Shooting the Messenger," Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, 20-Jan-2010 [Online]. Available: https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/acquisition-archetype-shooting-the-messenger/. [Accessed: 3-Oct-2026].
Levine, Linda, and William Novak. "Acquisition Archetype: Shooting the Messenger." Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute, 20 Jan. 2010. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/acquisition-archetype-shooting-the-messenger/. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.
Levine, Linda; & Novak, William. Acquisition Archetype: Shooting the Messenger. Software Engineering Institute. 2010. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/acquisition-archetype-shooting-the-messenger/