Effective Project Management for Software Development: Fine Tuning Software Project Management for Optimum Results

Software development presents a unique challenge to the project manager. Software Development is a discipline that is based more on art and craft rather than discrete engineering processes. However, it will be rare indeed for a management team to admit to this. It is nearly universally concluded that software development is an engineering discipline subject to the normal and well defined processes of project management. It is assumed that project managers can apply all of the standard techniques of resource loading, scheduling, teams, work breakdown structure, etc. as they do for non-software development projects. Unfortunately, even well trained project managers, working in a well defined development method will rarely be able to track a software development project accurately and, in turn, manage the project tasks, packages, streams, etc. to a successful completion. As is often the result, the project turns into a jumbled mess of sub-projects and sub teams where blame and accusation follow. It doesn't have to be this way. Let this report help you fine tune the process for success.

Jonathan Cook has multiple college degrees and completed a successful multi-decade career as an enterprise level software engineer. Cook's independent background in the industry gives him unique insight into the business of software development.