o quote some techniques that I have used:
&gt;   1. develop use case scenarios
&gt;   2. develop and focus on key abstractions; to be followed by 
&gt; a reification
&gt; later
&gt;   3. brainstorm + gradual crystalization of consensus.

MW: Quite. We can proceed in an orderly fashion, rather than along a random
and multiple idiosyncratic walk.

&gt; 
&gt; 4. At this time I would argue for (a) more concern about 
&gt; engineering issues,
&gt; (b) 
&gt; less focus on the concrete and more on the key abstract