
Winning with Software
An Executive Strategy
Watts S. Humphrey(Author)
Addison Wesley (Publisher)
Published on 9. January 2002
Book
Paperback/Softback
256 pages
978-0-201-77639-3 (ISBN)
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Description
"Every senior executive needs to read this book."
--Robert Musson Vice President, Business Strategy Cenus Technologies
"An informative book for any business person (not just technologists) who has ever been associated or involved with a software development effort and thought 'there must be a better way!' Watts has provided that better way-- the PSP/TSP, and a great book."
--Roy Kinkaid, Head of Continuous Improvement and Software Quality Assurance, EBS Dealing Resources
Watts Humphrey is the well-known author of methods and models widely used by organizations, teams, and individuals to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of software development. In Winning with Software, he shows corporate executives and senior managers why software is both a business problem and a business opportunity.
"This book is extremely well written and targets the right audience. I plan to buy a copy for each of my executives."
--Kevin J. Berk, Director, Process Improvement, Total Quality Systems
Humphrey, drawing on his own extensive executive and management experience, first demonstrates the critical importance of software to nearly every business, large and small. He then outlines seven steps needed to gain control of a software operation and transform it into a professional, businesslike engineering function. Failure to recognize the importance of software, and to take charge of its development process, runs the risk of damaging the entire business. By contrast, Humphrey relates the substantial benefits real organizations have obtained from such awareness and control, and he concludes with an analysis of the impressive financial returns the recommended transformations typically yield.
"This is a great book that will play a valuable role. It has excellent anecdotes that illustrate the points being made, as well as good examples depicting the problems faced by teams and managers. I look forward to sharing it with my colleagues."
--Steven Sliwa, President & CEO, Insitu Group Inc. and former President of Embry-Riddle University
"The logical approach, the high level explanations, and the application of real-life experiences make the book not only credible but easily understood. If a large number of CEOs don't at least try out the book's concepts, I will be greatly surprised."
--David Webb Software Engineering Project Manager, Hill Air Force Base
--Robert Musson Vice President, Business Strategy Cenus Technologies
"An informative book for any business person (not just technologists) who has ever been associated or involved with a software development effort and thought 'there must be a better way!' Watts has provided that better way-- the PSP/TSP, and a great book."
--Roy Kinkaid, Head of Continuous Improvement and Software Quality Assurance, EBS Dealing Resources
Watts Humphrey is the well-known author of methods and models widely used by organizations, teams, and individuals to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of software development. In Winning with Software, he shows corporate executives and senior managers why software is both a business problem and a business opportunity.
"This book is extremely well written and targets the right audience. I plan to buy a copy for each of my executives."
--Kevin J. Berk, Director, Process Improvement, Total Quality Systems
Humphrey, drawing on his own extensive executive and management experience, first demonstrates the critical importance of software to nearly every business, large and small. He then outlines seven steps needed to gain control of a software operation and transform it into a professional, businesslike engineering function. Failure to recognize the importance of software, and to take charge of its development process, runs the risk of damaging the entire business. By contrast, Humphrey relates the substantial benefits real organizations have obtained from such awareness and control, and he concludes with an analysis of the impressive financial returns the recommended transformations typically yield.
"This is a great book that will play a valuable role. It has excellent anecdotes that illustrate the points being made, as well as good examples depicting the problems faced by teams and managers. I look forward to sharing it with my colleagues."
--Steven Sliwa, President & CEO, Insitu Group Inc. and former President of Embry-Riddle University
"The logical approach, the high level explanations, and the application of real-life experiences make the book not only credible but easily understood. If a large number of CEOs don't at least try out the book's concepts, I will be greatly surprised."
--David Webb Software Engineering Project Manager, Hill Air Force Base
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Boston
United States
Publishing group
Pearson Education (US)
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 158 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
440 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-201-77639-3 (9780201776393)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions
Book
06/2025
2nd Edition
Addison Wesley
€29.70
Article is exhausted; no reprint
Additional editions

E-Book
12/2001
1st Edition
Addison Wesley
€18.73
Available for download
Person
Known as "the father of software quality," Watts S. Humphrey is the author of numerous influential books on the software-development process and software process improvement. Humphrey is a fellow of the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) at Carnegie Mellon University, where he founded the Software Process Program and provided the vision and early leadership for the original Capability Maturity Model (CMM). He also is the creator of the Personal Software Process (PSP) and Team Software Process (TSP). Recently, he was awarded the National Medal of Technology-the highest honor given by the president of the United States to America's leading innovators.
Content
Preface.
1. Every Business Is a Software Business.
2. Why Projects Fail.
3. Rational Management.
4. Why Quality Pays.
5. Leadership Goals.
6. Changing Engineering Behavior.
7. Building Motivated Teams.
8. The Benefits of Teamwork.
9. Next Steps.
Appendix A. The TSP Process.
Appendix B. Launching a TSP Project.
Appendix C. Reviewing a Project Plan.
Appendix D. The Quarterly Project Review.
Appendix E. The Standard-Stage Review.
Appendix F. Return on Investment
Index.
For Additional Information. 0201776391T09142001
1. Every Business Is a Software Business.
2. Why Projects Fail.
3. Rational Management.
4. Why Quality Pays.
5. Leadership Goals.
6. Changing Engineering Behavior.
7. Building Motivated Teams.
8. The Benefits of Teamwork.
9. Next Steps.
Appendix A. The TSP Process.
Appendix B. Launching a TSP Project.
Appendix C. Reviewing a Project Plan.
Appendix D. The Quarterly Project Review.
Appendix E. The Standard-Stage Review.
Appendix F. Return on Investment
Index.
For Additional Information. 0201776391T09142001