This would have to be the first time I've read a novel that includes communication with the dead and demons summoned via pentagram as a "documentary on industry best practices."
I thought such events only happened at Apple, and chiefly around leakers.
I know what you're trying to say, but if we are talking about software development, I have very little evidence that "communication with the dead and demons summoned via pentagram" are practices that are any less effective than techniques in widespread use such as attempting to specify the entire program in advance of development, attempting to remove defects during a "bug fix" phase at the end, or attempting to make up for schedule slips with forced overtime and canceling holidays.
You've obviously never been in the room when someone wants to "call in the consultants to wave a dead chicken over the database" on a floundering ERP project.
