Better Software Project Management: A Primer for Success

A complete guide to piloting a software project to success–on time and within budget

This book provides novice software project managers, software developers, and anyone delivering reusable software with strategies for mastering the basics of directing a software project. Well-known management consultant Marsha Lewin uses a "been there, done that" approach designed to solve on-the-job problems quickly and efficiently.

Learn how to get a project in motion immediately in the first chapter’s "quick start" tutorial. This comprehensive overview outlines the ins and outs of software project management, including the expectations for a project manager, defining the project, satisfying critical needs, and leading and monitoring your team. These aspects of managing small- to medium-sized project types are detailed in the same lively, colloquial style that demystifies the complexities of the discipline. The author equips you with the tools to concurrently satisfy the triple constraints of schedule, budget, and quality within the context of risk management, and highlights potential pitfalls and their solutions to assure repeated success.

To help you get under way and stay ahead, supplemental, ready-to-use forms, formats, and checklists are included, along with information on:

• Use of resources, including people and budget, the quality of software developed, and the costs and risks

• Political and technical issues affecting project success

• Risk management methodology

• Shaping yourself as a leader

• Software development methodologies, from traditional life cycle to prototyping, and how they relate to software project management

• Testing and its role in project management

Dozens of real-world examples and diagrams, together with a comprehensive bibliography and glossary, render Better Software Project Management a crucial resource for anyone responsible for keeping software projects within budget and on schedule.

Table of Contents

PREFACE.

Who This Book Is For.

Approaching Software Project Management.

Useful Features of This Book.

How This Book Is Organized.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

Chapter 1: Getting Moving.

Project Management Quick Start.

Whats a Project Manager to Do?

Materials Review.

Chapter 2: Mastering the Process.

Theory of Constraints: The Dimensions.

Satisfying the Quadruple Constraint.

Taking Corrective Steps.

Adjusting to Project Outcomes.

Defining Project Types.

Applying Methodologies to the Madness.

Getting the Lay of the Land: Kick-off.

Compiling the Project Bible.

Choosing Projects with the Best Chance of Success.

Negotiating for Success.

Handling the Pressure.

The Importance of Project Definition.

Chapter 3: Planning the Project.

Getting There from Here.

Risky Business.

Defining the Project Work Plan in Detail.

Setting Standards.

Scheduling.

Cost Planning.

Practicing the Art of Estimating.

Choosing a Project Cost System.

Building in Contingency.

Risk Planning.

Chapter 4: Lewin on Leadership.

Organizing the Project Team.

Knowing Who to Organize.

Leadership Guidelines.

Talent Searching.

Organize a Virtual Team.

Additional Notes on Talent.

Back to the Drawing Board.

Chapter 5: Monitoring.

Getting and Staying in Control.

Financially Speaking.

Dealing with Creepy Crawly Changes.

Communicating and Publicizing.

Chapter 6: Completing.

Knowing Youre at the Finish Line.

The Joy of Reviewing.

Life after Completion.

In Conclusion.

Appendix I.

Appendix II.

Appendix III.

Glossary.

Bibliography.

Index.

PREFACE.

Who This Book Is For.

Approaching Software Project Management.

Useful Features of This Book.

How This Book Is Organized.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

Chapter 1: Getting Moving.

Project Management Quick Start.

Whats a Project Manager to Do?

Materials Review.

Chapter 2: Mastering the Process.

Theory of Constraints: The Dimensions.

Satisfying the Quadruple Constraint.

Taking Corrective Steps.

Adjusting to Project Outcomes.

Defining Project Types.

Applying Methodologies to the Madness.

Getting the Lay of the Land: Kick-off.

Compiling the Project Bible.

Choosing Projects with the Best Chance of Success.

Negotiating for Success.

Handling the Pressure.

The Importance of Project Definition.

Chapter 3: Planning the Project.

Getting There from Here.

Risky Business.

Defining the Project Work Plan in Detail.

Setting Standards.

Scheduling.

Cost Planning.

Practicing the Art of Estimating.

Choosing a Project Cost System.

Building in Contingency.

Risk Planning.

Chapter 4: Lewin on Leadership.

Organizing the Project Team.

Knowing Who to Organize.

Leadership Guidelines.

Talent Searching.

Organize a Virtual Team.

Additional Notes on Talent.

Back to the Drawing Board.

成功地引導軟體專案，準時且在預算內的完整指南

本書提供給初學者的軟體專案經理、軟體開發人員以及任何提供可重複使用軟體的人，策略來掌握軟體專案管理的基礎。知名管理顧問Marsha Lewin使用一種「曾經在那裡，做過那個」的方法，旨在快速高效地解決工作中的問題。

在第一章的「快速入門」教程中，學習如何立即啟動專案。這個全面的概述介紹了軟體專案管理的方方面面，包括對專案經理的期望、定義專案、滿足關鍵需求以及領導和監控團隊。這些管理小型到中型專案類型的方面以同樣生動、口語的風格詳細說明，使這個學科的複雜性變得容易理解。作者提供了工具，同時滿足進度、預算和品質這三個限制條件，並強調風險管理的內容，並突出潛在的陷阱及其解決方案，以確保重複成功。

為了幫助您開始並保持領先地位，書中還包含了補充的、隨時可用的表格、格式和檢查清單，以及有關以下信息：

• 資源的使用，包括人力和預算，開發的軟體品質，以及成本和風險

• 影響專案成功的政治和技術問題

• 風險管理方法論

• 塑造自己成為領導者

• 軟體開發方法論，從傳統的生命週期到原型開發，以及它們與軟體專案管理的關係

• 測試及其在專案管理中的角色

數十個實際案例和圖表，以及全面的參考書目和詞彙表，使《更好的軟體專案管理》成為任何負責控制軟體專案預算和進度的人的重要資源。

目錄

前言

本書適合對象

軟體專案管理的方法

本書的有用特點

本書的組織方式

致謝

第一章：開始動工

專案管理快速入門

專案經理該怎麼做？

材料審查

第二章：掌握流程

限制理論：維度

滿足四重限制

採取糾正措施

適應專案結果

定義專案類型

將方法論應用於混亂中

瞭解情況：啟動

編寫專案手冊

選擇最有成功機會的專案

談判成功

應對壓力

專案定義的重要性

第三章：計劃專案

從這裡到那裡

風險業務

詳細定義專案工作計劃

設定標準

排程

成本計劃

估算藝術

選擇專案成本系統

建立備用計劃

風險計劃

第四章：Lewin談領導力

組織專案團隊

知道該組織誰

領導準則

尋找人才

組織虛擬團隊

有關人才的其他注意事項

回到起點

第五章：監控

掌握並保持控制

財務方面

處理變更

溝通和宣傳

第六章：完成

知道你已經到達終點線

回顧的喜悅

完成後的生活

結論

附錄I

附錄II

附錄III

詞彙表

參考書目