The Software Project Manager's Handbook: Principles That Work at...

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 504 pages
• Published by: Wiley-IEEE Computer Society Pr July 1, 2004
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0471674206
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0471674207
• Book Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Weighs: 1.6 pounds

Reader Reviews
This review is from: The Software Project Manager's Handbook: Principles that Work at Work (Paperback) This book covers Software Project Management broadly with a lot of good information for both the new project manager as well as the old hand. The material is presented as a comprehensive overview rather than a detailed instruction. By itself the book does not go deeply enough into any of the areas to provide a novice with enough useful information so it's a good book to use in conjunction with books providing more detail. Despite its lack of detail, the book presents many important points - the importance of the human equation, analysis/organization tools such as Tony Buzan's MindMap, having a Management Information Center, and using standards without having a programmer's revolt. There is only passing mention of key issues such as scope creep, the tendency of management to try to throw more personnel at a project in trouble, needing to build testing into the initial design process, and the pro's and con's of the various development methods (waterfall, spiral, etc.). A number of references are quoted, including many IEEE documents (IEEE is the publisher) plus books by Gerald Weinberg, Capers Jones, Tom Demarco, and other recognized gurus - which make good adjuncts to this handbook. Phillips perpetuates one of my pet peeves, the issue of including the top ten risks in the risk assessment document. What if there are only 7 risks which seem to be significant? What if there are 12? Granted, it would be unwieldy to track & evaluate dozens of risks routinely, but it doesn't make sense to suggest that exactly ten be tracked. The discussions of Configuration Management are quite lengthy and in a bit more detail than other topics covered. Although the book is fairly short at 500 pages and is easy reading, there is a substantial amount of information covered. The 5 star rating is for the breadth of information covered, with the caveat that other references would be needed by those unfamiliar with the concepts presented. Comment | | (Report this)