Software War Stories

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 Summary of Key Points and Lessons Learned 99 References 100 Web Pointers 100 CHAPTER 7 INDUSTRIAL CASE: LAUNCHING SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS SALES ON THE INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA 102 Learning Objectives: How Do You Transition a Start-Up from R&D to Doing Business? 102 Setting the Stage: Capitalizing on the Opportunities 102 Options, Recommendations, and Reactions as You Get Ready for Your Product Launch 104 Outcomes and Lessons Learned as Your Product Hits the Street 111 Exercise: How Do You Satisfy Business and Customer Needs When Selling Software? 112 Summary of Key Points and Lessons Learned 114 References 115 Web Pointers 115 CHAPTER 8 GOVERNMENT CASE: MANAGING THE ACQUISITION OF A LARGE DEFENSE PROJECT 117 Learning Objectives: What to Do When a Contractor Is behind Schedule, over Budget, and Performing Badly 117 Setting the Stage: Who Do We Blame? 117 Options, Recommendations, and Reactions Resulting from an Independent Assessment 121 Outcomes and Lessons Learned When the Truth Is Exposed 126 Exercise: When Addressing Software Cost and Schedule Problems, How Do You Determine Their Root Causes? 127 Summary of Key Points and Lessons Learned 129 References 129 Web Pointers 130 CHAPTER 9 GOVERNMENT CASE: TOO MUCH GOVERNANCE/OVERSIGHT HINDERS PROGRESS IN HEALTH CARE 132 Learning Objectives: How to Handle Extreme Governance Requirements Under Pressure 132 Setting the Stage: Governance and the Competitive Environment 132 Options, Recommendations, and Reactions Aimed at Validating the Architecture of a New Pharmacy System 136 Outcomes and Lessons Learned When Dealing with Customer Demands for Change 139 Exercise: How Much Oversight Is Enough within a Constrained but Competitive Contractual Environment? 141 Summary of Key Points and Lessons Learned 143 References 144 Web Pointers 144 CHAPTER 10 GOVERNMENT CASE: NEW CONCEPTS FOR AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL 147 Learning Objectives: Making the Transition to Agile Methods 147 Setting the Stage: Change Management within Conservative Organizations 147 Options, Recommendations, and Reactions during the Transition to Agile Methods on a Large Project Being Developed Globally 149 Outcomes and Lessons Learned as You Scale Agile Methods for Use 154 Exercise: How Do You Mechanize the Agile Notion That Software Requirements Are a Learning Exercise Rather Than a Specification Process? 155 Summary of Key Points and Lessons Learned 158 References 159 Web Pointers 160 CHAPTER 11 GOVERNMENT CASE: ADDRESSING CYBER CRIME ON THE INTERNET 163 Learning Objectives: How to Get Help in Covering Unbudgeted Tasks 163 Setting the Stage: The Quick Update Cycle 163 Options, Recommendations, and Reactions to Approaches to Handle Frequent Requests to Refresh Network Defenses 165 Outcomes and Lessons Learned Related to Getting Budget Relief 170 Exercise: How Do You Quickly Change a Software Product and Keep Customers Happy at the Same Time? 171 Summary of Key Points and Lessons Learned 175 References 175 Web Pointers 176 CHAPTER 12 ACADEMIC CASE: HOW BEST TO EDUCATE THOSE ENTERING INDUSTRY 178 Learning Objectives: Getting New University Hires Up-to-Speed Quickly 178 Setting the Stage: What Does Industry Need from Universities? 178 Options, Recommendations, and Reactions When Recruiting at Universities 182 Outcomes and Lessons Learned Based on Recruiting Results 184 Exercise: What Education and Training Do You Provide for New Software Hires? 186 Summary of Key Points and Lessons Learned 189 References 190 Web Pointers 190 CHAPTER 13 ACADEMIC CASE: RESEARCH AGENDAS THAT MATTER TO INDUSTRY 191 Learning Objectives: Sponsored Research Agendas 191 Setting the Stage: Research versus Teaching: A Dilemma? 191 Fact-Finding 193 Options, Recommendations, and Reactions Based on Research Discussions 193 Organization 194 Project 194 Process 195 Product 196 Recommendations 196 Outcomes and Lessons Learned Based on University Performance 197 Exercise: How Do You Stimulate Pursuit of Software Research in Academia That Has a Near Rather Than Far-Term Impact? 199 Summary of Key Points and Lessons Learned 201 References 202 Web Pointers 202 CHAPTER 14 PULLING IT ALL TOGETHER 205 Software Management Secrets of Success 205 Gaining Insight and Advantage in Practice 206 Ten Management Techniques to Rely On 207 Ten Problems to Be Wary of When Pursuing Success 211 Things You Can and Cannot Do in General 212 If I Were King: My Six Wishes 213 Summary 214 References 214 Web Pointers 215 APPENDIX A ACRONYMS AND GLOSSARY OF KEY TERMS 217 Acronyms Used within the Book 217 Key Terms Used within the Book 221 APPENDIX B RECOMMENDED READINGS, REFERENCES, AND RESOURCES 227 Recommended Readings 227 References 228 Other Resources 229 APPENDIX C SAMPLE SOLUTIONS 231 Chapter 2: Industrial Case: Organizing for ERP within a Large Information Technology Shop 231 Chapter 3: Industrial Case: What Is a Reasonable Cost and Schedule for a Telecommunications Project Upgrade? 233 Chapter 4: Industrial Case: Getting a Project Back on Track within a Manufacturing Environment 236 Chapter 5: Industrial Case: Staff Turnover Having an Impact in Financial Firm 240 Chapter 6: Industrial Case: Acquiring Software for Pipeline Operations 243 Chapter 7: Industrial Case: Launching Software Applications Sales on the Internet and Social Media 245 Chapter 8: Government Case: Managing the Acquisition of a Large Defense Project 248 Chapter 9: Government Case: Too Much Governance/Oversight Hinders Progress in Health Care 251 Chapter 10: Government Case: New Concepts for Air Traffi c Control 253 Chapter 11: Government Case: Addressing Cyber Crime on the Internet 256 Chapter 12: Academic Case: How Best to Educate Those Entering Industry 258 Chapter 13: Academic Case: Research Agendas That Matter to Industry 260 INDEX 261