The Accidental Project Manager: Surviving the Transition from Techie to Manager - Softcover

Ensworth, Patricia

Softcover

ISBN 10: 047141011X ISBN 13: 9780471410119

Publisher: John Wiley &Sons, 2001

Synopsis

Why do so many software projects fail? The reality is that many of these projects are led by programmers or developers thrown into the role of project manager without the necessary skills or training to see a project through successfully. Patricia Ensworth has written a hands-on survival guide designed to rescue the "accidental project manager" and help them to quickly ramp up on all key areas involved in software project management. This book provides a no-nonsense, jargon-free approach to getting the job done. With the help of useful templates, checklists, and sample forms, as well as pointers to essential resources, Ensworth gives concise, easy-to-understand advice on everything needed to hit the ground running--including phases of project development, role assignment in the development team, the tools of the trade, and criteria for success.

About this title

About the Author

PATRICIA ENSWORTH is a vice president of Systems Development and manager of Software Quality Assurance at Moody's Investors Services. Over the course of her 20-year career in software development, she has worked as a project manager, systems analyst, system administrator, product manager, developer, tester, technical writer, and trainer, and has participated in development projects for products ranging from mainframe applications to Internet e-commerce systems.

From the Back Cover

"I found much to admire in The Accidental Project Manager, Ensworth's book of useful and always gentle advice for the novice manager."
—Tom DeMarco, Author of Slack: Getting Past Burnout, Busywork, and the Myth of Total Efficiency

"In an engaging style, Ensworth poses hundreds of thought-provoking questions that will help both new and seasoned project managers get a solid grip on the myriad aspects of a complex software project."
—Karl Wiegers, Process Impact

You've just been asked to manage a software development project. Where do you begin? In The Accidental Project Manager, seasoned guide Patricia Ensworth calmly walks you through every aspect and challenge of this new and exciting experience. This "cheat sheet" provides you with practical advice and critical information you need to manage successful software projects.

To help you successfully manage your projects, Ensworth provides you with all of the forms you'll encounter during your project, when you'll need them, and how to use them.

With minimum jargon and maximum common sense, you'll learn about:

• The various associates who become members of your team, upon whose skills and efforts you will depend
• The four major phases of a software development project and the project manager's role within each phase
• Ways in which different organizations vary with regard to the responsibilities of the software quality assurance group
• All the necessary steps for planning and budgeting your software project
• Advice on how to evaluate the software project managers who may report to you and how you can help them do a better job

The companion Web site at www.wiley.com/compbooks/ensworth includes:

• Downloadable Microsoft Word templates for all the forms discussed in the book
• Additional forms and templates that can be adapted for use in your software project
• Links to valuable resources

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Visit the companion Web site at www.wiley.com/compbooks/ensworth

Edition details

• Publisher: John Wiley &Sons
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 047141011X
• ISBN 13: 9780471410119
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 272