my coworker increases the time increment (minute becomes hour, hour day, etc) and doubles the value.

C++ classes do not intrinsically inherit from a base class unlike in Java where ALL classes intrinsically inherit from Object. In C++ you _could_ create this behavior but you need to explicitly inherit from some implementation of Object or whatever.

The requirement is to produce correct enough code in some time-frame. Who cares what tools are used to accomplish this as long as desired results are consistently achieved?

Yes. Also the ideas of "we can just fix it in software" and "what do you mean the software isn't ready? we got the hardware in today and we're on a really tight schedule!" don't help matters any. You are right, though, the biggest problem is a lack of useful requirements, specifications, and other assorted documentation.

No no, you've got it all wrong...anyone who even thought of looking upon their unholy masterpiece is guilty of incest.