Software War Stories
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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
