Overview

"Wild West to Agile: The evolution and revolution of software development, drawn from personal experience, from the Apollo moon mission to digital transformations. In 2023, ""technology is your business--no matter what your business."" But how did we get here and how could a historical perspective prepare us for the future? Jim Highsmith tackles the evolution and revolution of software development, embellishes them with personal experiences, from the Apollo moon mission to modern digital transformations, and introduces the adventurous pioneers--from structured era developer Ken Orr to Agile methodologist Kent Beck--who strived to make the world a better place, by building better software. Jim's six-decade career has encompassed the Wild West (1966-1979), to Structured Methods and Monumental Methodologies (1980s), to the Roots of Agile (1990s), to the present Agile Era (2001-present). In each era, he explores the evolution of software development methods, methodologies, and mindsets. Whether you are from the 1970-1980's generation looking for an ""I was there too"" moment, a newer generation interested in the evolution of software development, the Agile generation interested in how Agile methodologies were born and evolved, or have a general interest in information technology, Wild West to Agile has something for you. ""Jim Highsmith is the Forrest Gump of software development. What made the 1994 movie so entertaining was how frequently Forrest found himself in the right spot as history was being made. Unlike Forrest, though, Jim's actions influenced that history."" --Mike Cohn, cofounder of the Agile Alliance, and the Scrum Alliance; author of Succeeding with Agile ""If you want to understand the shape of software development today, this is the book for you. If you want to understand how to navigate a turbulent career with grace & style, this is also the book for you. If you enjoy memoirs, ditto. Enjoy his story."" --Kent Beck, Chief Scientist, Mechanical Orchard; author, Extreme Programming Explained ""This entire journey--beginning with the Wild West era of software development through the Agile Era to today's Digital Transformation era--is entirely empowered by people. Thank you, Jim, for sharing these beautiful stories and honoring the people that were a part of this amazing journey."" --Heidi J. Musser, Vice President and CIO, USAA, retired ""I've always felt that understanding history is important, because it's hard to understand where we are unless you understand the path that we took to get here. Jim's memoir is an entertaining and astute odyssey through this history."" --Martin Fowler, Chief Scientist, Thoughtworks"

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9780137961009

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Jim Highsmith is the Forrest Gump of software development. What made the 1994 movie so entertaining was how frequently Forrest found himself in the right spot as history was being made. Unlike Forrest, though, Jim's actions influenced that history. Jim tells us stories from his early-career involvement in the Gemini and Apollo space projects and then working as a leader to bring about the shift to structured methods. From there he outlines how approaches such as Rapid Application Development planted the seeds that became agile software development. Throughout, Jim played a part in bringing about the changes that moved software development out of its Wild West beginnings and into its Agile present. The stories Jim tells in this book are entertaining and educational, and will be important to remember as we move into whatever the future holds for software development. --Mike Cohn, Co-founder of the Agile Alliance and the Scrum Alliance; author of Succeeding with Agile Jim provides a unique perspective not just from the sidelines, but from out on the playing field. If you want to understand the shape of software development today, this is the book for you. If you want to understand how to navigate a turbulent career with grace and style, this is also the book for you. If you enjoy memoirs, ditto. Since I first encountered him in the 1990s, Jim has been my model of a steady, thoughtful leader. Enjoy his story. --Kent Beck, Chief Scientist, Mechanical Orchard; author, Extreme Programming Explained: Embrace Change A magnum opus from master storyteller, adventurer, nonconformist, and adaptable agile maven Jim Highsmith. With this braided narrative, Jim defines what it means to be truly agile, both personally and organizationally. A must-read for a fascinating first-person perspective and invaluable insights into the past, present, and future of agility. I haven't enjoyed a book as much in a very long, long time. --Sanjiv Augustine, Founder and CEO, LitheSpeed The phrase 'been there, done that' has rarely been as true as it is for Jim Highsmith and his long and varied career in software. Jim is a great storyteller, and this book tells great stories about many of the leaders of our industry. Enjoy the ride! --Rebecca Parsons, Chief Technology Officer, Thoughtworks The evolution of the software industry from its humble beginnings is captured in way that only Jim Highsmith can. His coupling of the historical evolution of the software industry with his own personal experiences helps to bring greater insight to the reader as he explains the driving business factors that led to the creation and evolution of the agile software movement. This is not just a walk down memory lane. As an industry leader, Jim clearly demonstrates the next evolution for business and how the software industry is leading the change. Well done, Jim! --Ken Delcol, Former Director, Product Development, Sciex; Advanced Program Manager, MDA Wild West to Agile is an exhilarating ride through the landscape of IT history. Accompanied by personal stories and humorous anecdotes, Jim Highsmith shares his reflections on the good, the bad, and the ugly of agile software development. By knowing the heroes of days gone by, and understanding what came before, you can prepare yourself for a better future in the technology business. --Jurgen Appelo, Creator of unFIX; author of Management 3.0 and Managing for Happiness More than 70% of agile transformations fail, and many more fall short of expectations. In his book, Jim reflects on decades of learnings on technology innovation and encourages business leaders to embark in the ultimate transformation journey: the company-wide adoption of an agile mindset to achieve sustainable business success. --Marcelo De Santis, Chief Digital Officer, Thoughtworks What happened over the last six decades in the software field? How did our methods, methodologies, and mindsets evolve? Who played a key role along the way, and where are we headed today? Only a veteran practitioner, industry legend, master storyteller, and agile pioneer like Jim Highsmith could tell this tale with such detail and depth. --Joshua Kerievsky, CEO, Industrial Logic; author, Joy of Agility It is not often you get to read a front-lines view of the explosive software industry, running from 1966 to 2023--nearly 60 years of being an eyewitness to history! Not just witnessing history, but also driving it. This is an eminently readable narrative by a figure in our history. --Alistair Cockburn, Co-author, the Agile Manifesto More people every day join the digital workforce to enjoy the agile paradise, but they have not experienced a single real day of being inside a waterfall project or experiencing hardcore command-and-control management delivered in inhuman facilities in dark basements. What they enjoy today is the result of courageous battles against powerful executives fought by thought leaders like Jim, who believed that a better status quo was possible. Jim's braided approach in Chapters 1 to 6 sheds light on this past and will help the newcomers more meaningfully value the status quo they enjoy today. The last chapters of the book contain valuable keys for unlocking future challenges for both digital practitioners and analog C-executives who are willing to unlearn so that they can have a seat at the table in the future. --Ricard Vila, Chief Digital Officer, Latam Airlines (Chile) An entertaining and insightful book full of nostalgia and advice from a true leader in this space. This book has first-hand experiences and stories of the real struggles of becoming an adaptive organization. Coverage of topics such as the implementation of EDGE is a valuable addition. --Linda Luu, Enterprise Strategy, IBM; co-author, EDGE: Value-Driven Digital Transformation Since I just retired from the company I founded 15 years ago, Jim's memoir comes a day late for me. Wild West to Agile would have been the perfect vehicle to help this 'courageous executive' address the biggest challenge that I was facing at the time of my departure: the need to evangelize the agile mindset to the next generation of employees, whose focus is primarily on the pedantic pursuit of agile methods. Jim has been there and done that, and in Wild West to Agile he gives us an educational and entertaining ring-side seat to his historical travels and his many contributions to the software development industry. I'm honored to have played a small part in Jim's matriculation as an agilist and grateful for the mentoring he provided as I was transitioning out of the laboratory and into this century's most exciting business opportunity--creating valuable software for humanity. --Sam Bayer, Founder and former CEO, Corevist This is a valuable retrospective on a journey from Apollo to SpaceX, through the evolution of technologies from vacuum tubes to billions of transistors on a chip, from the perspective of a leader in software methodologies and a signatory of the Agile Manifesto. Jim Highsmith's work with other experts on adaptive approaches to business and technology has turned agile software development from a great idea into an essential tool for business survival in the modern world for all successful technology companies. --Jeff Sutherland, Inventor and Co-creator of Scrum and Scale; Signatory of the Agile Manifesto I began working with Jim when we both joined Exxon in the early 1970s. He and I were in the same systems group. I was a business guy by education; Jim was an engineer who was already moving forward in the software development world. I eventually became a manager in the accounting department and Jim a key player in implementing a new, quite complex financial system, which was an arduous task in those early days. Jim spent many days and nights as the driving force during implementation. A brilliant software developer, he had the dedication and work ethic to 'get the job done,' and was highly effective at working with all involved, from the accounting folks to the division executive. --John Fahlberg, executive leadership coach; previous CFO, COO, and CEO of early-stage growth companies Jim Highsmith is truly a pioneer who inspired and led the evolution of software development through the past six decades. Wild West to Agile is an enlightening and entertaining trip down memory lane, built on the stories and the people who were lucky enough to collaborate with Jim on that journey. --Gary Walker, Former Manager, Software Development, MDS Sciex I thoroughly enjoyed Wild West to Agile, which chronicles Jim Highsmith's fascinating career. When I met Jim in the late 1990s, I felt I had finally met someone who was talking about software management in a way that made sense. His stories of success and failure are engaging and show how he constantly evolved to better ways. Highly recommended. --Todd Little, Chairman, Kanban University Do you like listening to family elders tell their history? If you're a member of the software development community, here is your opportunity to hear its wild and wonderful history from a leader who's spent six decades affecting it. --Gil Broza, author, The Agile Mindset Jim Highsmith was literally in the middle of the maelstrom that was the birth and evolution of agile software development. His perspective and stories are fascinating and telling. This book is a must-read for those who prefer to learn from history, rather than repeat it. --David Robinson, Digital Transformation Partner, Thoughtworks; co-author EDGE: Value-Driven Digital Transformation I have hoped for a book like this, an accurate historical accounting of the software development world, for quite some time. And Jim has certainly delivered. Any serious agilist, or serious software professional, needs to breathe in Jim's words. You won't be disappointed. --Scott Ambler, author

Author Information

Jim Highsmith is a well-known agilist and author, whose career spanned six decades of rapid technology and business change. Jim has been at the forefront of software technologies' response to that change, from working on 1970s COBOL business applications, to recent engagements for digital transformation. With decades of business, management, and software development experience, he is uniquely qualified to explore the history of software development to help us prepare for the ever more chaotic future. Jim is the author of EDGE: Value-Driven Digital Transformation (Addison-Wesley, 2020); Adaptive Leadership: Accelerating Enterprise Agility (Addison-Wesley, 2014); Agile Project Management: Creating Innovative Products (Addison-Wesley, 2009); Agile Software Development Ecosystems (Addison-Wesley, 2002); and Adaptive Software Development: A Collaborative Approach to Managing Complex Systems (Dorset House, 2000), winner of the prestigious Jolt Award and of the 2005 international Stevens Award for outstanding contributions to software development. Jim is a coauthor of the Agile Manifesto, a founding member of Agile Alliance, coauthor of the Declaration of Interdependence for project leaders, and cofounder and first president of the Agile Leadership Network. Jim has consulted with IT, product development organizations, and software companies in the US, Europe, Canada, South Africa, Australia, Brazil, China, Japan, India, and New Zealand.

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