Software War Stories - Case Studies in Software Management

A comprehensive, practical book on software management that dispels real-world issues through relevant case studies
 
Software managers inevitably will meet obstacles while trying to deliver quality products and provide value to customers, often with tight time restrictions. The result: Software War Stories.
 
This book provides readers with practical advice on how to handle the many issues that can arise as a software project unfolds. It utilizes case studies that focus on what can be done to establish and meet reasonable expectations as they occur in government, industrial, and academic settings. The book also offers important discussions on both traditional and agile methods as well as lean development concepts.
 
Software War Stories:
* Covers the basics of management as applied to situations ranging from agile projects to large IT projects with infrastructure problems
* Includes coverage of topics ranging from planning, estimating, and organizing to risk and opportunity management
* Uses twelve case studies to communicate lessons learned by the author in practice
* Offers end-of-chapter exercises, sample solutions, and a blog for providing updates and answers to readers' questions
 
Software War Stories: Case Studies in Software Management mentors practitioners, software engineers, students and more, providing relevant situational examples encountered when managing software projects and organizations.

List of contents

FOREWORD by Roger S. Pressman xiii
 
PREFACE xv
 
CHAPTER 1 GETTING STARTED 1
 
Goals and Scope 1
 
Understanding the Enterprise 2
 
Review of Software Management Fundamentals 3
 
Theory versus Practice: Which Is It? 6
 
Emphasizing Practitioner Roles 7
 
Setting Realistic Expectations 8
 
How Do You Know Whether You Will Be Successful? 13
 
Recognizing Bad Smells and Trusting Your Blink 13
 
Separating the Controllables from the Noncontrollables 14
 
Surveying the Tools of the Trade 15
 
Line Management Tools and Techniques 16
 
Project Management Tools and Techniques 17
 
Digging Deep to Find the Root Cause 18
 
Questions to Be Answered 18
 
Summary of Key Points 19
 
References 20
 
Web Pointers 20
 
CHAPTER 2 INDUSTRIAL CASE: ORGANIZING FOR ERP WITHIN A LARGE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SHOP 23
 
Learning Objectives: Putting Project Management to Work 23
 
Setting the Stage: The Three-Headed Dragon 23
 
Options, Recommendation, and Reactions during the Transition to ERP 26
 
Outcomes and Lessons Learned When Introducing Matrix Management 32
 
Exercise: If You Were King, What Organizational Changes Would You Make to Breakdown the Silos? 33
 
Summary of Key Points and Lessons Learned 35
 
References 35
 
Web Pointers 36
 
CHAPTER 3 INDUSTRIAL CASE: WHAT IS A REASONABLE COST AND SCHEDULE FOR A TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROJECT UPGRADE? 37
 
Learning Objectives: Establishing Realistic Cost and Schedule Goals 37
 
Setting the Stage: Can We Do It for the Target Cost? 37
 
Options, Recommendations, and Reactions While Striving to Satisfy Key Clients 41
 
Outcomes and Lessons Learned Using Incremental Development 49
 
Exercise: How Do You Get Your Bosses to Believe Your Estimates? 50
 
Summary of Key Points and Lessons Learned 51
 
References 52
 
Web Pointers 52
 
CHAPTER 4 INDUSTRIAL CASE: GETTING BACK ON TRACK WITHIN A MANUFACTURING ENVIRONMENT 55
 
Learning Objectives: Getting Back on Track 55
 
Setting the Stage: Recognizing and Addressing the Trouble Signs 55
 
Options, Recommendations, and Reactions While Attempting to Restore Order 57
 
Outcomes and Lessons Learned Associated with Your Get-Well Plan 63
 
Exercise: When Trying to Get a Software Project Back on Track, What Do You Focus On? 64
 
Summary of Key Points and Lessons Learned 69
 
References 69
 
Web Pointers 70
 
CHAPTER 5 INDUSTRIAL CASE: STAFF TURNOVER HAVING AN IMPACT IN FINANCIAL FIRM 73
 
Learning Objectives: Addressing Staffi ng Issues 73
 
Setting the Stage: Understanding the Learning Curve 73
 
Options, Recommendations, and Reactions While Building a
 
Modern Test Organization 76
 
Outcomes and Lessons Learned While Addressing Test Issues 81
 
Exercise: What Nonfinancial Incentives Would You Use to
 
Reduce Staff Turnover? 82
 
Summary of Key Points and Lessons Learned 83
 
References 84
 
Web Pointers 85
 
CHAPTER 6 INDUSTRIAL CASE: ACQUIRING SOFTWARE FOR PIPELINE OPERATIONS 87
 
Learning Objectives: Developing Requirements Using Multidisciplinary Teams 87
 
Setting the Stage: How to Avoid Gold Plating and Other Common Maladies 87
 
Options, Recommendations, and Reactions When Specifying
 
Requirements 89
 
Outcomes and Lessons Learned Relative to the Use of Feature-Based Specifications 97
 
Exercise: When Managing Requirements, What Are the Traps to Watch Out For? 97
 

About the author

DONALD J. REIFER is one of the thought leaders in the field of software engineering and management with over forty years of progressive experience in industry, government, and academia. He has founded software companies, operated as a senior executive official in the government, and was a visiting associate at a collaborative research center at USC. The author of ten books and over 200 publications, Mr. Reifer is the recipient of such industry and government awards as the AIAA Aerospace Software Engineering Award, the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service, and the Friedman Award, among others.

Summary

A comprehensive, practical book on software management that dispels real-world issues through relevant case studies Software managers inevitably will meet obstacles while trying to deliver quality products and provide value to customers, often with tight time restrictions. The result: Software War Stories.

Product details

• Authors: Reifer, Donald J Reifer, Donald J. Reifer
• Publisher: Wiley, John and Sons Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 20.12.2013
• EAN: 9781118650721
• ISBN: 978-1-118-65072-1
• No. of pages: 288
• Dimensions: 165 mm x 245 mm x 18 mm
• Subject: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > IT, data processing > IT