Overview
“There are many books available on software risks and software failures. There are very few books that provide step-by-step information on getting troubled software projects back on track. This book provides detailed guidelines for software project recovery. Some of the steps the author recommends may be unpleasant, but all are important.” —Capers Jones, chief scientist emeritus at Software Productivity Research LLC “This is a well-conceived, well-written, interesting book about an important topic. The author is right in saying that no one else has covered this particular facet of project failure.” —Robert L. Glass, publisher of the Software Practitioner A 10-STEP PROCESS TO IDENTIFY SEVERELY TROUBLED PROJECTS AND AVOID COSTLY FAILURE It’s a software development nightmare: a project that’s rapidly spiraling out of control...or already a disaster. Conventional project management techniques won’t save these projects: there are no standard rescue processes to follow. You need something radically different: Catastrophe Disentanglement. Drawing on in-depth data from hundreds of development organizations, E.M. Bennatan presents a proven, 10-step program for rescuing any project that’s worth saving. You’ll find specific guidance for addressing massive budget overruns, schedule slippage, poor quality—or all three at once. Using practical examples drawn from decades of hands-on experience as a software development leader and consultant, Bennatan shows how to Evaluate where your project really stands Align your project’s developers, managers, and customers Defi ne the minimum acceptable project goals that are achievable Replan your project to successfully deliver the new minimum goals Identify risks in your revised project and create effective contingency plans Install an “early warning system” to keep your rescued project from slipping back toward catastrophe Catastrophe Disentanglement is an effective, comprehensive approach to software project rescue. Whenever projects are in trouble—whether you are a senior manager, project manager, team member, or software customer—this book could save your career. Preface xi Chapter 1 An Introduction to Catastrophe Disentanglement 1 Chapter 2 When Is a Project a Catastrophe? 15 Chapter 3 Step 1–Stop 43 Chapter 4 Step 2–Assign an Evaluator 57 Chapter 5 Step 3–Evaluate the Project 73 Chapter 6 Step 4–Evaluate the Team 95 Chapter 7 Step 5–Define Minimum Goals 113 Chapter 8 Step 6–Can Minimum Goals Be Achieved? 133 Chapter 9 Step 7–Rebuild the Team 147 Chapter 10 Step 8–Risk Analysis 169 Chapter 11 Step 9–Revise the Plan 189 Chapter 12 Step 10–Create an Early Warning System 209 Chapter 13 Epilogue: Putting the Final Pieces in Place 233 References 245 Glossary 255 About the Author 257 Index 259 © Copyright Pearson Education. All rights reserved.
Full Product Details
Author: E. M. Bennatan
Publisher: Pearson Education (US)
Imprint: Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers Inc
Dimensions:
Width: 16.10cm
, Height: 1.50cm
, Length: 23.60cm
Weight: 0.374kg
ISBN: 9780321336620
ISBN 10: 0321336623
Pages: 288
Publication Date: 20 April 2006
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Tertiary & Higher Education
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Out of Print
Availability: Out of stock
Author Information
E. M. Bennatan’s extensive hands-on management experience stems from many years as senior director at Motorola, Inc., developing large software systems and leading multinational design centers. He has also been vice president of engineering at Midway Corporation, where he managed several hundred software and hardware engineers. A frequent lecturer and speaker on software project management, he is author of On Time Within Budget: Software Project Management, Practices and Techniques, Third Edition (Wiley, 2000). Mr. Bennatan is currently president of Advanced Project Solutions, Inc. (www.AdvancedPS.com) and senior consultant for the Boston Cutter Consortium.
