Software Management

This Seventh Edition of Donald Reifer's popular, bestselling tutorial summarizes what software project managers need to know to be successful on the job.

The text provides pointers and approaches to deal with the issues, challenges, and experiences that shape their thoughts and performance. To accomplish its goals, the volume explores recent advances in dissimilar fields such as management theory, acquisition management, globalization, knowledge management, licensing, motivation theory, process improvement, organization dynamics, subcontract management, and technology transfer.

Software Management provides software managers at all levels of the organization with the information they need to know to develop their software engineering management strategies for now and the future. The book provides insight into management tools and techniques that work in practice. It also provides sufficient instructional materials to serve as a text for a course in software management.

This new edition achieves a balance between theory and practical experience. Reifer systematically addresses the skills, knowledge, and abilities that software managers, at any level of experience, need to have to practice their profession effectively.

This book contains original articles by leaders in the software management field written specifically for this tutorial, as well as a collection of applicable reprints. About forty percent of the material in this edition has been produced specifically for the tutorial.

"The challenges faced by software project managers are the gap between what the customers can envision and the reality on the ground and how to deal with the risks associated with this gap in delivering a product that meets requirements on time and schedule at the target costs. This tutorial hits the mark by providing project managers, practitioners, and educators with source materials on how project managers can effectively deal with this risk."
―Dr. Kenneth E. Nidiffer, Systems & Software Consortium, Inc.

"The volume has evolved into a solid set of foundation works for anyone trying to practice software management in a world that is increasingly dependent on software release quality, timeliness, and productivity."
―Walker Royce, Vice President, IBM Software Services-Rational

Donald J. Reifer is recognized as one of the leading figures in the fields of software engineering and management with over thirty-five years of progressive management experience in both industry and government. Mr. Reifer's pior experience includes: Director of the DoD Software Reuse Initiative and Chief of the Ada Joint Program Office for DoD Software Initiatives Office, Deputy Program Manager for TRW's Global Positioning Satellite efforts, managed all of the software efforts related to the Space Transportation System (Space Shuttle) for Aerospace Corporation. Currently, Mr Reifer is President of RCI, and advises executives in Fortune 500 firms worldwide in the areas of software investment and improvement strategies.  Known for his business and practical problem solving skills. He is currently a visiting associate at the University of Southern California. Mr. Reifer is a senior member of the IEEE, a member of the ACM and life member of ISPA.  Member IEEE Technical Committee on Software Engineering and chairs IEEE Computer Society Professional Practices Committee.  Awards include: Secretary of Defense’s Medal for Outstanding Public Service, NASA Exceptional Service Medal, AIAA Software Engineering Award, Frieman Award, DISA Service Award, Defense Mapping Agency Recognition Award, Who’s Who in the West, Hughes Aircraft Company Fellowship.