Rewards of taking the path less traveled

In the software-engineering industry, it seems that hordes of professionals all follow one of a half-dozen or so well-trod "lemming paths". Each path corresponds to a "technology" whose proponents have made outrageous claims that its use will result in great increases in quality or productivity or whatever. Although the paths may lead to great results, nobody on the path really knows. In fact, not even the outspoken proponents know for sure. You have three choices: follow the lemmings, get an eagle-eye perspective, or take the path less traveled. The author suggests you take this last perspective. There is a plethora of rarely used, yet proven techniques that can be used at little or no cost, with little or no risk, to achieve small to moderate gains in quality and productivity. None of these are silver bullets, but all can help your project. None will result in incredibly large increases in quality or productivity, but then neither will fads associated with the lemmings!.<>