In a surprise move yesterday, bungling software analysts changed their minds about a document that they had written.

The document describes itself as a "Detailed Requirements Specification". The introduction also describes the document as "finalized", and states that it is "intended to be used as the basis for a detailed project plan, and as a core spec from which programmers and technical leads alike can create this new project."

But on closer examination the specification was found to be little more than a rudimentary summary of the customer's new pipedream.

When questioned, one of the analysts said: "Well, yeah, it was never really intended to be a proper requirements spec. That was never the intention, you know?" The document's co-author (also an analyst) added: "Actually, we haven't even spoken to the customer yet. This document just represents some guesswork." He laughed nervously and added: "It's just a start, you know?"

He then paused, giggled nervously at the uncomfortable silence, and quickly added: "Well it's not even that. In fact it's just a joke, know what I mean? No one was ever supposed to read this! Err, give me that back! No, soz I didn't mean it, err hohoho. Well, I'm glad you appreciate a good chuckle, it really is important to have a sense of humour these days. Anyway, I don't suppose I can have that document back? I'm, err, updating it. Don't want any out-of-date specs floating around, do we now? Give it here!!"

William Webster, Web Designer, Wembley:
"Comes as no surprise you know. I read a document similar to that one, and I swear it was all guesswork. The silly sods."

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