Showing posts with label project management. Show all posts
Showing posts with label project management. Show all posts

Handbook of Industrial and Systems Engineering (Industrial Innovation) Review

Handbook of Industrial and Systems Engineering (Industrial Innovation)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy Handbook of Industrial and Systems Engineering (Industrial Innovation)? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Handbook of Industrial and Systems Engineering (Industrial Innovation). Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Handbook of Industrial and Systems Engineering (Industrial Innovation) ReviewWhether you are an experienced Industrial Engineer or work in one of the 40+ areas in which handbook reviews you will find this reference invaluable. As with any handbook, there are some tradeoffs between comrpehensiveness and space, but the editor has done a great job at making these choices wisely. In particular, the organization of the book flows well through the issues, while the depth of the individual chapters provides sufficient detail to provide a good understanding (and in many cases application) of the issue without losing itself in the details. Excellent references provide a route ahead for those who want to learn more. I'd expect this book to be the standard in its class for some time.Handbook of Industrial and Systems Engineering (Industrial Innovation) OverviewResponding to the demand by researchers and practitioners for a comprehensive reference,Handbook of Industrial and Systems Engineering offers full and easy access to a wide range of industrial and systems engineering tools and techniques in a concise format. Providing state of the art coverage from more than 40 contributing authors, many of whom are "rising stars" in this area, this volume emphasizes systems engineering aspects and expands beyond the topics found in the existing references in this field.The handbook is a one-stop source for industrial and systems engineering. It introduces new technologies, offers a systems integration approach, and provides coverage of information engineering. Part I delivers a general introduction featuring references to the origin of industrial engineering and its ties to the Industrial Revolution. Parts II and III cover the fundamentals of industrial and systems engineering. Part IV contains chapters on manufacturing and production systems, while part V addresses new technologies. The book concludes with general applications of both industrial and systems engineering.

Want to learn more information about Handbook of Industrial and Systems Engineering (Industrial Innovation)?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

Project Requirements: A Guide to Best Practices Review

Project Requirements: A Guide to Best Practices
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy Project Requirements: A Guide to Best Practices? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Project Requirements: A Guide to Best Practices. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Project Requirements: A Guide to Best Practices ReviewA book search on "requirements" gets 10,000 hits; "project management" gets 3,000 more. So why this one? I used Young's previous requirements books - Effective Requirements Practices (what to do) and Requirements Engineering Handbook (how to do it) - to good effect earlier in my career as a software developer, so I was interested to see what he has to offer me now in my role as a Project Manager. I was pleased to find this book gives practical, actionable guidance across the spectrum of things a PM must worry about (mostly requirements related, but even a bit beyond) in a complete yet concise way. A key "take-away" from the book is steps to mitigate my two biggest requirements issues: having the REAL requirements identified early on, and maintaining control on requirements changes/additions during the life of my projects.
Compared against the Robertsons' popular "Requirements-Led Project Management," I found this book easier to read & to apply - with specific stuff you can use directly, things like a requirements-related project start-up checklist, requirements products to plan for, and a skills matrix to help you select (or grow) competent requirements manager/analysts for your project. This book manages to cover the waterfront while remaining concise (200 pp plus appendices). Wieger's "Software Requirements" is a classic reference, for example, but it's 500 pages that I don't have time to wade through; the best of Wieger's PM stuff is included here in an appendix. I particularly like the way key ideas are set off in boldface with distinctive dividers - you can get the jist of the book just by flipping pages and reading the callouts, and it helps when you go back to look for something, too.
Like Young's ERP & REH books, this one includes a couple of sections and many sidebars contributed by other luminaries, from both the US and the UK. Appendix A is Palmer's excellent paper on how to do Traceability; Appendix B is a humorous and compelling piece by Neal Whitten on "minimum requirements." Some of the best practices take a broad view of what is related to "requirements" -- the chapter on the PM's role in Quality by Dan Baker provides the best succinct description I've read of what "quality" should be on a project and how QA can make a real contribution; Stephen Waddell adds a terrific summation of Risk Management best practices in a chapter on Requirements and Risk.
The included Index isn't as comprehensive as I'd like, but the very thorough Table of Contents makes up for that somewhat -- and there's a very extensive list of references and links. In addition to the topics mentioned above, there are chapters on Key Requirements Success Factors, Partnering, Teamwork, Coaching, Communication, Process Discipline vs. Agility, Continuous Improvement, and Suggested Implementation Steps.
All in all, this is a very pithy, self-contained book to increase your effectiveness as PM and improve the management of your project. If you have the time (you must not be a PM :-), there are lots of other good, specific requirements books. If you're busy, spending just a little time with this one helps to ensure you're doing the things that are known to foster project success.Project Requirements: A Guide to Best Practices Overview"Project Requirements: A Guide to Best Practices" gives project managers tools they can assimilate and apply easily to improve project success rates, reduce development costs, reduce rework, and accelerate time to market. Based on experience and best practices, this valuable reference will help you: clarify real requirements before you initiate project work; improve management of project requirements; save time and effort; manage to your schedule; improve the quality of deliverables; and, increase customer satisfaction and drive repeat business.

Want to learn more information about Project Requirements: A Guide to Best Practices?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

The Effective CIO: How to Achieve Outstanding Success through Strategic Alignment, Financial Management, and IT Governance Review

The Effective CIO: How to Achieve Outstanding Success through Strategic Alignment, Financial Management, and IT Governance
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy The Effective CIO: How to Achieve Outstanding Success through Strategic Alignment, Financial Management, and IT Governance? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on The Effective CIO: How to Achieve Outstanding Success through Strategic Alignment, Financial Management, and IT Governance. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

The Effective CIO: How to Achieve Outstanding Success through Strategic Alignment, Financial Management, and IT Governance ReviewToo often, technical virtuosi believe their skill entitles them to a seat in the executive suite. But both companies and chief information officers (CIOs) benefit when CIOs have finance and project-management chops in addition to technical knowledge. Information technology experts Eric J. Brown and William A. Yarberry Jr. explain why IT "governance" is necessary and why IT systems must match corporate strategy. Their discussion of the contribution of IT due diligence to the success of mergers and acquisitions is particularly valuable, since the failure to do such research dooms many M&As. They offer good advice on how to choose which functions to outsource, how to select vendors and what to look for in consultants. Whether you are a current or aspiring CIO, getAbstract suggests that you use this terrific handbook to learn how you can make a strong business contribution through technology. One note: Although Brown and Yarberry's work is certainly accessible to a general business audience, their focus on IT with its accompanying jargon may make their guide somewhat tough going for those outside its target audience.The Effective CIO: How to Achieve Outstanding Success through Strategic Alignment, Financial Management, and IT Governance OverviewIn a business world of uncertain budgets, relentless technology changes, scarce management talent, and intense production demands, theory is good, but practice sells. The Effective CIO: How to Achieve Outstanding Success through Strategic Alignment, Financial Management, and IT Governanceis all about practice, successfully delivering the nuts-and-bolts for effective governance execution. It helps to dissolve the negative image many CIOs have as remote, purely rational decision machines, while demonstrating how to improve quality and throughput in your business.This authoritative text includes governance checklists, sample IT controls, merger and acquisition recommendations, and a detailed framework for IT policies. Authored by two highly regarded IT management experts, the book provides not only a survey of existing strategies, but also includes detailed problem-solving ideas, such as how to structure optimal IT and telecom contracts with suppliers, the implications of SOP-98, and accounting for software costs. The book seamlessly brings together two perspectives - that of a working CIO who must cope with day-to-day pressures for results, and that of an IT audit consultant with a special focus on governance and internal control. Unlike many other CIO-related books that merely discuss strategies, The Effective CIO includes easy-to-follow guidelines and governance principles that can be implemented immediately.

Want to learn more information about The Effective CIO: How to Achieve Outstanding Success through Strategic Alignment, Financial Management, and IT Governance?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

Software without Borders: A Step-By-Step Guide to Outsourcing Your Software Development Review

Software without Borders: A Step-By-Step Guide to Outsourcing Your Software Development
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy Software without Borders: A Step-By-Step Guide to Outsourcing Your Software Development? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Software without Borders: A Step-By-Step Guide to Outsourcing Your Software Development. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Software without Borders: A Step-By-Step Guide to Outsourcing Your Software Development ReviewAs someone who has managed hundreds of technology projects, I can say that I wish I had this resource years ago. This book clearly spells out everything you need to know about successfully outsourcing software development. This is a step-by-step guide that helps you navigate though the complexities of choosing the right vendor, staying on schedule and within budget, as well as protecting your intellectual property rights. This is a must read for CIOs, IT Managers, Product Development Professionals and Outsourcing Executives.Software without Borders: A Step-By-Step Guide to Outsourcing Your Software Development OverviewWhen everything goes right, you end up with high-quality software in half the time for a fraction of the cost. But over 50% of offshore outsourcing projects do not achieve their cost-saving goals or timelines . . . or just fail completely. The mistakes and missteps are costly and painful, but NOW you don't have to go there. This book shows you step-by-step how to make software development outsourcing work, from concept to completion.
You'll discover how to: * Choose the right vendor quickly and confidently * Stay in control of your outsourced software development projects * Achieve on-time, on-scope, and on-budget results * Fiercely protect your intellectual property * Decide when to create a subsidiary for even greater savings
SPECIAL BONUS: Take the FREE online Outsourcing Readiness Test (Plus many other free goodies, tools, and downloads on the book's website)
Join the thousands already outsourcing offshore. This book will help you every step of the way.
Table of Contents Introduction Chapter 1 : Deciding to Outsource Chapter 2 : Where to Outsource Chapter 3 : How to Select your Outsourcing Vendor Chapter 4 : Offshoring, or Creating your Own Offshore Subsidiary Chapter 5 : Describing your Software for Outsourcing Chapter 6 : Controlling your Outsourced Software Development Chapter 7 : Software Outsourcing Metrics Chapter 8 : Protecting your Intellectual Property Chapter 9 : Outsourcing your Quality Assurance Chapter 10 : Five Situations Right for Outsourcing Chapter 11 : The Future of Global Software Development Appendix A : The Outsourcing Strategy Decision Matrix Appendix B : The Outsourcing Readiness Test Appendix C : Avoiding the Seven Deadly Dangers of Outsourcing
Inside-flaps: Ready to Do It Right? Whether the drive to outsource comes from the top-down or bottom-up, it s up to you to make it work. So if it s your first time, or you just want to get it right this time, look no further. This book is packed with a fantastic wealth of insight, resources, and actionable know-how waiting to help you succeed, starting now. Ask yourself: Have I done what it takes to prepare for offshoring? If you re not sure, see Chapter 1. Am I ready to select a vendor? Before you do, check out Chapters 2 and 3, and then review 3 Steps to Selecting a Vendor. Is my software design ready for outsourcing? What, precisely, will your software do? Have you done the architecting required? What about schedules and a reliable roadmap for releases? Get it all together in Chapter 5. Am I in control of this process? Is the development process you re using capable and mature? Got tabs on your team and vendors? Is your code secure? See Chapter 6. Can I measure my results? Check out the metrics used by experts in Chapter 7. And the answers keep coming. Whether you re looking for technical guidelines, financial justification, or a development process that will stand up under pressure, Software without Borders will save you valuable time.

Want to learn more information about Software without Borders: A Step-By-Step Guide to Outsourcing Your Software Development?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

Rescue the Problem Project: A Complete Guide to Identifying, Preventing, and Recovering from Project Failure Review

Rescue the Problem Project: A Complete Guide to Identifying, Preventing, and Recovering from Project Failure
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy Rescue the Problem Project: A Complete Guide to Identifying, Preventing, and Recovering from Project Failure? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Rescue the Problem Project: A Complete Guide to Identifying, Preventing, and Recovering from Project Failure. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Rescue the Problem Project: A Complete Guide to Identifying, Preventing, and Recovering from Project Failure ReviewIt is almost certain that an experienced Project Manager has, at one time or another, run up against a project that is over-budget, running late, or otherwise out of control...a project that is "in the red." Rescue the Problem Project by Todd Williams presents methods for recovering red projects, reminds us that recovery is itself a project and provides insights into keeping projects out of the red in the first place.
The book presents suggestions and prescriptions based on the author's 25 year experience as a "Senior Audit and Recovery Specialist" and each chapter is peppered with very readable, brief case studies highlighting examples of his applying the techniques he describes. While there are a few examples that come off as a bit self-aggrandizing all are immensely helpful in understanding how and why the techniques work which provides a degree of credibility lacking in many business books.
A seasoned Project Manager will recognize their own experience as the author notes that poor scope definition, lack of executive leadership, and ineffective change management are barriers to project recovery (and most likely contributed to problems in the first place). And no PM should be surprised at the need to perform an audit and engage with stakeholders to collect data and understand the current and desired states. However the author follows his own prescriptions providing specificity in his examples of how each of these is often done wrong and how to do them right.
It may be unsettling to some PM's to read the suggestion that a specialized, external "Recovery Manager" rather than the Project Manager him or herself is the best person to perform the audit and analysis. The chief argument in favor of this approach is that "An objective view is critical to a proper audit and reducing any preconceptions of a solution." The book notes the potential for resistance to this notion but it seems a reasonable approach and calls to mind the frequently cited Einstein quote that "Problems cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them."

The audit is the second of the five steps in the recovery process with the first being the problem realized and the remaining three being analyze data, negotiate solutions, and execute the new plan. The "how to" of each step is well described and the book's companion website provides templates and spreadsheets to assist in rescuing your own projects should your organization decline to hire a recovery manager. Another of the recurring themes of the author's method is to start performing root-cause analysis early and to respond to the findings quickly, "This is a distinguishing feature of my approach; other approaches often omit root-cause analysis or leave it for the end of the process." The reason for this is straightforward...until the root causes are found and mitigated; they are still able to exert the same kind of pressure on the project that put it in the red in the first place.
Identifying and recovering from project failure are not the only goals of the book; prevention is an essential theme to which the last 40 pages are dedicated and again the author's experience proves valuable as he provides details for improvement in, and specific examples of the areas of leadership, team management, risk and handling change. Chapters 10 through 13 are not officially part of the section on prevention but clearly could be. These chapters provide some of the best primers on and comparisons of classical, agile and critical chain methodologies that I've read and I couldn't agree more that when it comes to methodology, "This philosophy--one size fits all--really fits no project." The idea is to treat methodologies as tools in the bag where the marrying of the right methodology to the particular project can go quite a long way toward avoiding problems.
While many of the 261 pages of Rescue the Problem Project present ideas with which an experienced Project Manager is likely familiar, there is much to gain in the detailed examples and the way in which the ideas are presented. New PM's (those who have some education or experience in the field) will certainly benefit as they learn from the author's advice and experience how to prevent projects from going into the red.
Rescue the Problem Project: A Complete Guide to Identifying, Preventing, and Recovering from Project Failure OverviewWhen budgets are dwindling, deadlines passing, and tempers flaring, the usual response is to browbeat the project team and point fingers of blame. Not helpful. For these situations, what is needed is an objective process for accurately assessing what is wrong and a clear plan of action for fixing the problem. "Rescue the Problem Project" provides project managers, executives, and customers with the answers they require. Turnaround specialist Todd Williams has worked with dozens of companies in multiple industries resuscitating failing projects. In this new book, he reveals an in-depth, start-to-finish process that includes: techniques for identifying the root causes of the trouble; steps for putting projects back on track audit the project, analyze the data, negotiate the solution, and execute the new plan; nearly 70 real-world examples of what works, what doesn't, and why; and, guidelines for avoiding problems in subsequent projects. Many books explain how to run a project, but only this one shows how to bring it back from the brink of disaster. And with 65 per cent of projects failing to meet goals and 25 per cent cancelled outright, that's essential information.

Want to learn more information about Rescue the Problem Project: A Complete Guide to Identifying, Preventing, and Recovering from Project Failure?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

Next Generation Product Development : How to Increase Productivity, Cut Costs, and Reduce Cycle Times Review

Next Generation Product Development : How to Increase Productivity, Cut Costs, and Reduce Cycle Times
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy Next Generation Product Development : How to Increase Productivity, Cut Costs, and Reduce Cycle Times? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Next Generation Product Development : How to Increase Productivity, Cut Costs, and Reduce Cycle Times. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Next Generation Product Development : How to Increase Productivity, Cut Costs, and Reduce Cycle Times ReviewReview of:
"Next Generation Product Development" by Michael E. McGrath
The last paragraph of Michael E. McGrath's newest book "Next Generation Product Development" boldly states that "product development has never been for the faint of heart." And I suspect that most everyone who has ever been involved in such activities will quickly shake their head "yes" to this "truth" statement, and quietly wish there was a better way. Fortunately in his new book McGrath guides us to this better way--a way that offers "more opportunity and promise for getting better new products to market faster, WHILE DOING MORE WITH LESS." The claim is nothing short of a renaissance of product development capability.
I like this book a lot. I like the multi-faceted emphasis on integration. I like the productivity theme and the need for new management processes. And I like the idea that we are only beginning the renaissance of product development capability, especially given the growth of collaborative development.
I confess that I do not like the continued use of the DCM abbreviation (it stands for "development chain management.)" But I suppose I can learn to live with another "alphabet name" because it does get to the heart of the matter--how to manage a lot of INTERDEPENDENT projects, all of which are going on at the same time. Of particular importance are McGrath's thoughts involving a "networked team," new concepts which I think will be fundamental to tomorrow's successful product development.
To join this renaissance, exactly where does one begin? McGrath offers three entry points: changes in resource management, changes in project management, or changes in strategy management. I suppose someone will try all three at once, but frankly just one is probably a lot for an organization to swallow. For different entry points McGrath offers us guidance, with levels of maturity assessments and/or stages of implementation. But even still, there is a lot of material to assimilate and multiple readings of many book sections will be needed to fully comprehend his recommendations.
However I suggest that you don't spend an excessive amount of time studying. Organizations mainly learn by doing, and this book lays out the "learn by doing" path toward success. Past generations of development have emphasized invention, project management, or time-to-market. This next generation is a path toward productivity within the entire development enterprise. It is a path toward "better decision making, better investment in R&D, better return on that investment, more collaboration with external partners, and true empowerment of development activity."
I suggest that you buy the book and begin.
Nils L. Dailey
N.L. Dailey AssociatesNext Generation Product Development : How to Increase Productivity, Cut Costs, and Reduce Cycle Times Overview
A Hands-on manager's guide to making the most of today's product development breakthroughs

A quarter century after MRP first transformed the global manufacturing arena, Next Generation Product Development stands poised to similarly impact new product development. This movement-defining book gives R&D professionals an in-depth explanation of the ways in which companies are able to achieve substantially higher levels of development productivity, while better aligning product development with strategy through new practices and systems.

Processes explored in Next Generation Product Development, and enabled by cutting-edge new-enterprise software, promise to explode the possibilities of what product development professionals can accomplish. This hands-on practitioner's guidebook will:

Establish a common set of frameworks and concepts
Introduce new project portfolio and product strategy management practices
Help R&D professionals increase productivity by 30 to 50 percent


Want to learn more information about Next Generation Product Development : How to Increase Productivity, Cut Costs, and Reduce Cycle Times?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

Visualizing Project Management: Models and Frameworks for Mastering Complex Systems Review

Visualizing Project Management: Models and Frameworks for Mastering Complex Systems
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy Visualizing Project Management: Models and Frameworks for Mastering Complex Systems? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Visualizing Project Management: Models and Frameworks for Mastering Complex Systems. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Visualizing Project Management: Models and Frameworks for Mastering Complex Systems ReviewVisualizing Project Management, 3rd Edition is an excellent read! Throughout my career I have led or have been part of projects whereby risk management was defined as risk statusing. Real risk identification and their impacts to projects were ignored. In Visualizing Project Management 3rd Edition, the book focuses on the technical aspects of projects which is critical to project succcess and has a whole chapter dedicated to risk Management (chapter 13, Opportunities and their Risks). This was extremely valuable to me. Now that I have read this book, I am eager to tackle my next project.Visualizing Project Management: Models and Frameworks for Mastering Complex Systems OverviewTHE PROJECT MANAGEMENT CLASSIC-REVISED AND EXPANDED
Now Includes Downloadable Forms and Worksheets
Projects are becoming the heart of business. This comprehensive revision of the bestselling guide to project management explains the processes, practices, and management techniques you need to implement a successful project culture within your team and enterprise. Visualizing Project Management simplifies the challenge of managing complex projects with powerful, visual models that have been adopted by more than 100 leading government and private organizations.
In this new Third Edition, the authors-leading thinkers and practitioners in the field-keep you on the cutting edge with a sophisticated approach that integrates project management, systems engineering, and process improvement. This advanced content can help take your career and your organization well beyond the fundamentals.
New, downloadable forms, templates, and worksheets make it easy to implement powerful project techniques and tools.
Includes references to the Project Management Institute Body of Knowledge and the INCOSE Handbook to help you pass:
The Project Management Professional Certification Exam
The INCOSE Systems Engineer Certification Exam (CSEP)

"I recommend this book to all those who aspire to project management [and] those who must supervise it."—Norman R. Augustine, former chairman and CEO Lockheed Martin Corporation
"The importance of this excellent book, able to encompass these two key disciplines [systems engineering and project management], cannot be overemphasized."—Heinz Stoewer, President, INCOSE

Want to learn more information about Visualizing Project Management: Models and Frameworks for Mastering Complex Systems?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

Software Engineering: (Update) (8th Edition) Review

Software Engineering: (Update) (8th Edition)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy Software Engineering: (Update) (8th Edition)? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Software Engineering: (Update) (8th Edition). Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Software Engineering: (Update) (8th Edition) ReviewI used this book as the text in my software engineering class in the spring semester of 2008. When I was evaluating it for potential adoption, I did not read through it in detail, I looked over the chapter titles and subtitles, read the first few chapters and examined the exercises at the end of the first few chapters. As the semester progressed, I found myself wishing I had read further into the text.
As I moved through the chapters, I found myself mentally noting over and over again that topics are repeated. When the class was over, I asked the students their opinion of the book and they were unanimous, with no prompting from me, in saying that there is a great deal of repetition after the first chapters.
I have no complaint about the quality of exposition or the coverage of software engineering in this book. My reason for not continuing to use it in future classes is solely due to my belief that the size could have been reduced from the current 840 pages to around 600 pages with no real loss of content of flow.
Software Engineering: (Update) (8th Edition) OverviewTHE most current Software Engineering text in the market– quality trusted coverage, practical case studies, strong lecturer support.

Want to learn more information about Software Engineering: (Update) (8th Edition)?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

Object-Oriented Project Management with UML Review

Object-Oriented Project Management with UML
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy Object-Oriented Project Management with UML? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Object-Oriented Project Management with UML. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Object-Oriented Project Management with UML ReviewThere is no doubt that this book is very good for somebody, who is going to start working in a software engineering environment. However, there are a couple of points which indicate that one should look around before deciding upon a purchase. (Even with the current price of 24 $)
Here are my points of concern:
- The chapter on object technology is really a half-hearted introduction and not very useful for getting started in this field.
- The book relies heavily on just a few references. Those references are recommended repeatedly. One of them is the doubtful 'Journey of a Software Professional' (Hint: Check out the mixed reviews.)
- The author can't resist recommending the 80-20 rule throughout the different project phases. This is hardly inventive and adds to a certain degree of repetitiveness.
- The case study is more entertaining than informative.
- The third part of the book (consisting of only one chapter) simply gives the impression that the book was rushed out for print.
I am not quite sure why this book merits a hardcover and on some occasions throughout the book, I could not help thinking that the layouters tried to increase the number of pages by adding a few commentary boxes ('Tips') here and there and enlarging diagrams to 'poster-size'.
Despite all those complaints, I have to say that the book helped me to gain an overview of the management process of a software product. But, after my first reading, it now gathers dust on the bookshelf ...Object-Oriented Project Management with UML OverviewAlmost all software projects are risky. The goal of every project manager is to somehow deal with the cost and schedule uncertainty while meeting your customer's needs. In Object-Oriented Project Management with UML, Murray Cantor describes an elegant, UML-based approach to managing object-oriented projects guaranteed to deliver high-quality software on time and within budget.Drawing on his experience managing major software projects at IBM and TASC, Cantor supplies you with:Proven ways to reap the benefits of using UML tools to tame most project demons and deliver optimal OO systemsTips on integrating object-based techniques with traditional methods for project planning, risk management, scheduling, time-phased budgeting, and moreExpert advice on how to handle all the important "people" issues that crop up during a development projectReal-life war stories that let you see firsthand what worked and what didn't on several major development projectsA full-length project example that walks you through every phase of a project told in terms of problems and solutionsVisit the companion Web site at www wiley.com/compbooks/cantor to find:Sample project schedules, budgets, database templates for managing use cases, and a work-breakdown structureA spreadsheet workbook for managing incremental developmentA development tracking diagramPrior to joining TASC, Dr.Cantor was a development manager at IBM, where he oversaw the development of high-end graphics and multimedia systems.

Want to learn more information about Object-Oriented Project Management with UML?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

The Black Book of Outsourcing: How to Manage the Changes, Challenges, and Opportunities (Wiley Desktop Editions) Review

The Black Book of Outsourcing: How to Manage the Changes, Challenges, and Opportunities (Wiley Desktop Editions)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy The Black Book of Outsourcing: How to Manage the Changes, Challenges, and Opportunities (Wiley Desktop Editions)? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on The Black Book of Outsourcing: How to Manage the Changes, Challenges, and Opportunities (Wiley Desktop Editions). Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

The Black Book of Outsourcing: How to Manage the Changes, Challenges, and Opportunities (Wiley Desktop Editions) ReviewAn excellent source for information and guidance. The book's three main parts cover: how to plan, lead and manage outsourcing initiatives; a guide to finding an outsourcing career; and a guide for outsourcing entrepreneurs. Some specific topics include: making decisions to outsource; what is needed to be known before starting; assessing cost, benefit, and risk; outsourcing options; selecting suppliers and vendors; and much more. Includes an annotated, extensive vendor directory. Offers a wealth of information and insights.The Black Book of Outsourcing: How to Manage the Changes, Challenges, and Opportunities (Wiley Desktop Editions) Overview

Want to learn more information about The Black Book of Outsourcing: How to Manage the Changes, Challenges, and Opportunities (Wiley Desktop Editions)?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

Offshore Software Development: Making It Work Review

Offshore Software Development: Making It Work
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy Offshore Software Development: Making It Work? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Offshore Software Development: Making It Work. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Offshore Software Development: Making It Work ReviewI bought a copy of this book and distributed it to many inside my firm. The general consensus was it is eminently readable, clear, concise, and helpful, and summarizes the learning of many experienced individuals who have actually lived and breathed Offshore program execution.
I'm honestly not sure if reviewer John H Kaplan actually read this book. For example, there is a great deal of emphasis on "formal communication" (read: methodology), and how important it is to making Offshore work. Awareness and management of risks, including network security and communcation, financial planning, and even internal communications, are identified and discussed in a pragmatic and accessible fashion.
I take strong exception to this kind of emotional lambasting masquerading as objective feedback. This is not the forum to discuss and decide whether Offshore works. Clearly, if Mr. Kaplan is doing Offshore at all, he is doing it unwillingly. But my firm has had great success with Offshore, both financial as well as in quality of delivery, as many have.
Don't let what is clearly an emotional rant against Offshore Outsourcing deter you from reading and learning from this helpful, focused, and relevant book. Personally, I found the book more useful than Freidman's "The Earth is Flat" as it is written by an actual practitioner -- for practioners.Offshore Software Development: Making It Work OverviewIn Offshore Software Development: Making It Work, hands-on managers of Offshore solutions help you answer these questions:
What is Offshore and why is it an IT imperative?
What do you need to do to successfully evaluate an Offshore solution?
How do you avoid common pitfalls?
How do you confront security and geopolitical risk?
How do you handle issues related to displaced workers? The author applies her considerable experience in the analysis of such Offshore issues as the financial growth of the Offshore industry, keys to success in initiating a program, choosing and managing vendors, risk mitigation, and employee impacts. A detailed program checklist outlines the steps for successful Offshore execution, providing real-world exposure and guidance to a movement that has become a fixture in the IT realm. About the AuthorTandy Gold is a 20-year veteran of the technology industry who is focused on entrepreneurial consulting and innovation. As part of her responsibilities in implementing the first Offshore initiative for a large financial institution, she created a monthly Offshore interest group. Comprised of Offshore program managers from Fortune 100 firms, together they represent more than 40 years of experience in Offshore.

Want to learn more information about Offshore Software Development: Making It Work?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

Building Software: A Practitioner's Guide (Applied Software Engineering Series) Review

Building Software: A Practitioner's Guide (Applied Software Engineering Series)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy Building Software: A Practitioner's Guide (Applied Software Engineering Series)? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Building Software: A Practitioner's Guide (Applied Software Engineering Series). Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Building Software: A Practitioner's Guide (Applied Software Engineering Series) ReviewSaran & Krishnamurthy have managed to accomplish in this work a singularly new and valuable insight: that of bringing to the "art" of designing robust and valid software systems perspectives from the larger body of work and thought around the areas of general (not software specific) systems design, media ecology, even philosophy - that have long existed but (for reasons unknown) never till now been leveraged to add value to the software system's architect/ manager's arsenal of tools and knowledge. Particularly interesting are their inclusion of Ashby's Law of Requisite Variety and quotes from McLuhan's seminal work "Understanding Media" and their contextualization of these to the building of software systems.
In addition, another thing I greatly appreciate in this volume is the candid documentation of learning and thoughts from what is the authors' clearly hands-on experience in architecting and managing engineering lifecycles of complex software systems. They rightly point out that while failures and execution challenges have long been shared across and analyzed in industries other than software and consequently mitigated, that has not been the case for the area of software systems design. They attempt to fill this gap.
It is apparent that the authors clearly understand the challenges faced by techno management and business stakeholders that have long hampered efficiency and execution. They candidly and rightly acknowledge that "the map is not the territory". Rather than offer another complex and elaborate lifecycle management framework, they take the approach of offering a simple "SEE" model that is general enough to be implemented under business constraints. The comments are straightforward and made in context of the environment and business challenges, dynamics of the software industry today (especially applications development) - for instance there is a fairly comprehensive discussion of "insourcing" vs. "outsourcing" as strategic choices and outsourcing business models.
All in all, I recommend this volume, especially since it takes the practical approach of not offering a canned solution to building better software touted as a silver bullet - because none exists - and places emphasis instead on fostering thought and reflection through a number of insights, learning from hard experience, nuggets of wisdom and a general thought and planning model. After 15 years of building and managing the development of complex software systems, it's not often now that I come across a whole lot really "new" or "valuable" (to me) in works of such nature... But because of the observations I made above- I was pleased to discover that this book was a worthwhile exception!
Building Software: A Practitioner's Guide (Applied Software Engineering Series) OverviewNovel in its approach to software design, development, and management, Building Software: A Practitioner's Guide shows you how to successfully build and manage a system. The approach the authors recommend is a simple, effective framework known as Solution Engineering Execution (SEE). Through SEE, you create a successful solution by following a highly organized, well-planned process. This process makes you view the solution from a holistic, systematic perspective. Developing a successful system requires that you are able to address technology matters related to architecture, design, selection, integration, and security. Building Software: A Practitioner's Guide offers insight into how to make software reliable and how to ensure it meets customer and organizational needs. Using the above approach you are able to:Find a good solution to the problem at handFocus on engineering the solution wellAddress all aspects of delivery associated with the solution The book provides insightful examples of cross-domain and legacy solutions that allow you to overcome common software concerns such as requirement issues, change control, quality and schedule management, and internal and external communication problems.

Want to learn more information about Building Software: A Practitioner's Guide (Applied Software Engineering Series)?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

Applied Software Product Line Engineering Review

Applied Software Product Line Engineering
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy Applied Software Product Line Engineering? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Applied Software Product Line Engineering. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Applied Software Product Line Engineering ReviewThe authors of this book represent an all-star lineup of the best of the best in the Software Product Line Engineering (SPLE) field. They do a great job of providing a snapshot of the current SPLE best practices in the industry today.
Each chapter is written by a different author, or team of authors. This leads to some different perspectives on SPLE. This works for this type of book, but it does provide a conflict in the points of view taken in certain chapters. If you have experience with SPLE this shouldn't be an issue because you will already understand what those different views are, but for someone with little or no experience this could cause confusion. I found none of the points of view wrong, just different. Different domains require, and provide for, different approaches.
I recommend this book to those that are experienced as a guide to the evolution of the topics covered, and to the beginner I would use it as a road map of topics you should learn more about in order to get the full understanding behind each chapter. Each chapter provides an excellent reference section.
I would suggest also reading the following books. They provide more information about the material covered in some of the chapters.
"Software Product Lines: Practices and Patterns" is mentioned several places in the book. It is key to getting a more in-depth look at the 29 practice areas and the patterns that help to apply them.
"Designing Software Product Lines with UML: From Use Cases to Pattern-Based Software Architectures" goes in-depth into the use of Product Line UML based Software engineering (PLUS). UML and PLUS are mentioned several places in the book. PLUS is what I use when I build a software product line. I have created a UML stereotype in SPARX EA which you can download. Just google "UML STATIC MODELING IN PRODUCT LINE ENGINEERING (PLE) with SPARX EA".
The table of contents is below.
ORGANIZATIONAL AND MANAGERIAL ISSUES
Software Product Line Engineering: Overview and Future Directions
A Roadmap for Software Product Line Adoption
New Methods behind a New Generation of Software Product Line Successes
Evaluating Product Family Development Using the Balanced Scorecard Approach
Product Management for Software Product Lines: An Overview
METHODOLOGIES AND PROCESSES
A Systems Product Line Approach
Adoption of Software Product Lines to Develop Autonomic Pervasive Systems
Development of a Software Product Line for Validation
Environments
Building a Family of Compilers
Formal Verification and Software Product Lines
TECHNICAL ISSUES
Multiple-View Requirements Models for Software Product Line Engineering
Managing Flexibility and Variability: A Road to Competitive Advantage
Feature Oriented Analysis and Design for Dynamically
Reconfigurable Product Lines
Separating Application and Security Concerns in Modeling
Software Product Lines
Architecture as Language
INDUSTRY EXPERIENCES AND CASE STUDIES
Management and Financial Controls of a Software Product Line Adoption
Efficient Scoping with CaVE: A Case Study
Model-Driven, Aspect-Oriented Product Line Engineering: An Industrial Case Study
Evaluation of Design Options in Embedded Automotive Product Lines
Product Line in the Business Process Management Domain
I found the material covered to all be of great value. There are a lot of great case studies through out the book beyond the section of chapters that cover case studies. They help to take the practices covered from theory to reality.
My biggest pain point with this book is the index. It is just down right sad. I am not going to ding the book for something technical the editors missed. I have been very tempted to grab an electronic version to make up for its weakness', although I have not seen one for sale.
All in all if you are involved with Software Product Line Engineering at all, this is a mandatory read. Software Product Line Engineering is an evolving field and this book brings us up to date on the evolution of the field.
Applied Software Product Line Engineering OverviewOver the last decade, software product line engineering (SPLE) has emerged as one of the most promising software development paradigms for increasing productivity in IT-related industries. Detailing the various aspects of SPLE implementation in different domains, Applied Software Product Line Engineering documents best practices with regard to system development. Expert contributors from academia and industry come together and focus on core asset development, product development, and management, addressing the process, technical, and organizational issues needed to meet the growing demand for information. They detail the adoption and diffusion of SPLE as a primary software development paradigm and also address technical and managerial issues in software product line engineering. Providing an authoritative perspective of the latest research and practice in SLPE, the text:Presents in-depth discussions and many industry / case studies Covers applications in various domains including automotive, business process management, and defenseOrganized according to the organizational, process, and technical aspects of software product lines within an organizationProvides the expertise of a distinguished panel of global contributorsEver-increasing global competition coupled with a fragile world economy means that the pressure is on for software engineers and software process improvement professionals to find ways to meet the needs of expanding markets-with greater efficiency and effectiveness. This book arms readers with the insight needed to harness the power of SPLE to increase productivity, reduce time to market, and to handle the growing diversity in the quickly evolving global marketplace.

Want to learn more information about Applied Software Product Line Engineering?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

The Business Value of Agile Software Methods: Maximizing Roi With Just-in-time Processes and Documentation Review

The Business Value of Agile Software Methods: Maximizing Roi With Just-in-time Processes and Documentation
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy The Business Value of Agile Software Methods: Maximizing Roi With Just-in-time Processes and Documentation? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on The Business Value of Agile Software Methods: Maximizing Roi With Just-in-time Processes and Documentation. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

The Business Value of Agile Software Methods: Maximizing Roi With Just-in-time Processes and Documentation Review
"The business value of agile software methods" is an important book. It takes existing research in the return of agile methods and tries to quantify them into different financial measures. However, I personally was not a big fan of the book as it all felt a little too good to be true. Next to that, the book contained some parts that, in my opinion, are clear misunderstandings about Agile methods. I'll mention some of these at the end of this review.
The book is only about 200 pages and contains 24 short chapters. The initial chapters provide an overview of agile methods, different types, their history and some of the different practices. Chapter 11 does an ... rather interesting... comparison of different agile methods. Chapter 12 discusses what kind of metrics would be applicable for measuring agile methods and why they are different from traditional methods.
Most of the research work starts in chapter 13. This chapter summarizes the results of different agile development surveys that were done. Then chapter 14 introduces cost/benefits of Agile methods (on which the further calculations are based). These are done for five groups "pair programming", "test-driven development," "Extreme Programming," "Scrum," and "Agile Methods (in general)". Chapter 15 discusses the different metrics that will be calculated in Chapter 17-22 which are Cost, Benefit, ROI, NPV, and Real Options Analysis. All chapters show an enormous ROI for implementing agile methods. Chapter 22 summarizes the earlier chapters, 23 does a comparison with traditional methods (CMM) and 24 is a closing chapter that speculates about the future of Agile methods.
When reading this book, I had a couple of annoyances, a couple wrong things, and a couple metrics that seem unbelievable to me.
I'll start with some annoyances. The book is extremely repetitive--it could probably have written in 20% of the current text. The most annoying repetition was the sentence "Agile methods use right-sized, just-enough, and just-in-time x to maximize business value." This sentence is repeated over and over again. I'm not a fan of this kind of popular language, but the repetition made it much worst. Other annoyances were minor. For example the author keeps repeating that a Scrum cycle is 30 days, but then in the Scrum explanation says 2-4 weeks (which is more common nowadays).
Then some misinformed sentences. The description of test-driven development was shallow and missed the design aspect of TDD. For example, the authors state (p38) "test-driven development is a form of dynamic analysis, quality assurance, and verification and validation"... completely missing the -driven part. Similarly, the practice of simple design is not explained well (p51). The authors state that simple design relates to having the fewest number of methods and classes whereas, in my experience, simple design often lead to more methods and classes... just a lot smaller ones. More serious, on p79, the authors propose methods related to working software... but not of the proposed metrics relate to... working software. Instead they suggest metrics such as iteration size, iteration frequency, operational/validated iterations (no clue what that means).
Then to the disbelieve. My first observation was that all the ROI metrics were very positive. For example the ROI of pair programming is 1500% !! I pair program often, enjoy it, and think it has a positive ROI... but 1500% sounds a little high to me. I don't have the facts to challenge this number, its the only number I've seen... it just seems too good to be true. Which does brings me to the subject... it was a little unclear to me what data this was based on.
Even with the above critique, this was not a bad book. Considering that the goal of the book was *not* to describe agile methods but to describe the research of the authors related to the ROI of Agile methods. In fact, this is an important job and will definitively help people who are not interested in knowing the details but need to make decisions on whether to try-out agile development or not. For that reason, I'll go for 3 stars. If you do not have the need to convince anyone with these numbers, then I would not recommend reading this book. If you do need to convince someone, then perhaps the ROI calculations in this book will help.
The Business Value of Agile Software Methods: Maximizing Roi With Just-in-time Processes and Documentation OverviewThe Business Value of Agile Software Methods offers a comprehensive methodologyfor quantifying the costs and benefits of using agile methods to create innovative software products and shows a complete business value comparison between traditional and agile methods. It provides a roadmap for linking agile methods tomajor industry standards such as the project management, systems, and software engineering bodies of knowledge and identifies a set of critical factors for succeedingwith agile methods every time.Key Features:--Identifies the major types and kinds of agile methods, along with the major forms of best practices, as a pretext for mixing and matching them to create super-hybrids--Introduces a complete family of metrics, models, and measurements for estimating the costs, benefits, return on investment, and net present value of agile methods, and includes numerous how to examples--Provides the first comprehensive compilation of cost and benefits data on agile methods from an analysis of hundreds of research studies, and introduces and illustrates the industrys first top-down parametric models for estimating agilemethods costs and benefits--WAV offers numerous free downloadable training and consulting briefings, cost and benefit spreadsheets, release planning templates, metrics for agilemethods, and an ROI/business value calculator available from the WebAdded Value Download Resource Center at jrosspub.com

Want to learn more information about The Business Value of Agile Software Methods: Maximizing Roi With Just-in-time Processes and Documentation?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

The Project Management Scorecard: Measuring the Success of Project Management Solutions (Improving Human Performance) Review

The Project Management Scorecard: Measuring the Success of Project Management Solutions (Improving Human Performance)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy The Project Management Scorecard: Measuring the Success of Project Management Solutions (Improving Human Performance)? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on The Project Management Scorecard: Measuring the Success of Project Management Solutions (Improving Human Performance). Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

The Project Management Scorecard: Measuring the Success of Project Management Solutions (Improving Human Performance) ReviewThis book is ROI-focused and integrates the people and process elements of project management with a balanced scorecard approach. One of the authors, Jack J. Phillips, has extensive experience and a large published body of knowledge in the domains of HR, ROI and scorecard development. This book has his touch, and covers the essentials of a mature project organization, what to measure and how to measure it.
The approach is as follows:
1. Measure:
* reaction and satisfaction
* skill and knowledge churn during the project
* implementation and progress metrics throughout the project
2. From the metrics capture:
* business impact data
* ROI
3. Identify both tangible and intangible benefits and apply them to an aggregate 'true cost'.
The book also shows how to translate business metrics to dollar values, build a business case, and communicate status, based on the scorecard, to clients and stakeholders. This is essential for anyone who is setting up or managing a program management office or who wants to improve internal project managment processes. It also provides one of the best methods for communicating status to clients and upper management.The Project Management Scorecard: Measuring the Success of Project Management Solutions (Improving Human Performance) OverviewReturn on Investment (ROI) remains one of the most challenging and intriguing issues facing human resource development and performance improvement professionals.Drawing on their expertise in developing and implementing ROI programs in human performance and training, Jack J. Phillips, Ph.D., Timothy W. Bothell and G. Lynn Snead demonstrate how you can effectively apply ROI to project management.Today, almost every industry requires employees to manage multiple projects with competing priorities, critical deadlines, and unexpected interruptions-rendering everyone a project manager in some respect. Most employees feel the pressure of juggling any number of key projects simultaneously. Organizations have responded by investing large amounts of both time and money to improve project management, and most strive to justify the efforts and resources dedicated to improving this goal. 'The Project Management Scorecard' is a welcome relief for anyone managing a project or multiple projects, as well as the trainers, human resource development staff, or supervisors charged with measuring, evaluating, and managing project managers.Project Management is one of the hottest topics in business management today, affecting nearly every individual in any organization across the globe. Let three HRD experts show you how to apply the hugely popular ROI process to the key organizational issue of successful project management including:* Project management issues and challenges* Measuring reaction and satisfaction* How to calculate and interpret ROI* Capturing business impact data* Measuring skill and knowledge changes during the project* Monitoring the true costs of the project solution* Converting business measure to monetary values* Forecasting ROIThe authors' step-by-step approach allows you to begin the ROI process immediately. Start measuring the success of your project management results today.Three HRD experts show how to apply the hugely popular ROI process to the key organizational issue of successful project management.Project Management is one of the hottest topics in business management today, affecting nearly every individual in any organization across the globe.

Want to learn more information about The Project Management Scorecard: Measuring the Success of Project Management Solutions (Improving Human Performance)?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

Knowledge Emergence: Social, Technical, and Evolutionary Dimensions of Knowledge Creation Review

Knowledge Emergence: Social, Technical, and Evolutionary Dimensions of Knowledge Creation
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy Knowledge Emergence: Social, Technical, and Evolutionary Dimensions of Knowledge Creation? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Knowledge Emergence: Social, Technical, and Evolutionary Dimensions of Knowledge Creation. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Knowledge Emergence: Social, Technical, and Evolutionary Dimensions of Knowledge Creation ReviewThis book provides a collection of diverse perspectives on knowledge activities ranging from creativity and technology infrastructure to cross-border knowledge creation and sectoral strategies in Asia.
The material is academic and well-researched; it covers 15 chapters from 19 contributors, most of them professors from US and Japanese universities. The book is the outcome of a KM conference sponsored by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation.
Ikujiro Nonaka is the author of "The Knowledge-Creating Company" and "Enabling Knowledge Creation." Toshihiro Nishiguchi is the author of "Strategic Industrial Sourcing" and "Managing Product Development."
A fundamental thread uniting these essays is the idea that knowledge must be "nurtured" rather than "managed," according to the editors.
The Japanese term ba refers to a space-time nexus, the physical and/or mental space shared by co-workers, whose nature defines the scale and scope of knowledge creation through its various phases like socialization (originating ba), externalization (dialoguing ba), combination (systematizing ba) and internalization (exercising ba).
Care is an important requisite for building trust for knowledge-sharing in an organization. There are four modes of knowledge creation, depending on whether there is low care (individuals are left to their own; employees therefore exchange explicit knowledge) or high care (individuals are supported by a strong social network; tacit knowledge is shared) and whether there is creation of individual or organizational knowledge.
Such humanistic models of knowledge emergence encompass "wandering inside and outside" the organization, and accommodate emotional facets like freedom, interest, commitment, charisma and safety. Notable examples include the Seven-Eleven chain in Japan (through practices like the use of field counselors to encourage dialogue and idea sharing) and Maekawa Seisakusho (through knowledge vision for building and energizing ba).

"Certain types of knowledge can be created and communicated only through sharing time and space together," according to the authors.
New IT platforms and tools along with human-oriented approaches can help greatly in knowledge sharing processes: CAD/CAM/CAE (which improve the efficiency of product developers' inductive, deductive and abductive reasoning processes), simulation (to encourage experimentation), and prototyping (to refine solution models).
The authors call for a blend of human-oriented as well as systematic-rationality-oriented approaches to KM. For instance, companies like Boeing resort to advanced computer networks as well as co-location of project members.
In industries like software ("the quintessential knowledge industry"), the knowledge component in the end-products is nearly total. Companies like Microsoft use a "synch-and-stabilise" strategy (in contrast to a sequential "waterfall" model) where teams work in parallel, synchronise their activities, and periodically stabilize the multiple releases.
Cross-border knowledge creation within multinational companies involves IT platforms, identification of centers of excellence, customer/partner alliances, links with expert organization/universities/thinktanks, and a mix of short-, medium- and long-term movements of people across borders.
Dispersed innovation centers in countries around the globe are leading to joint knowledge creation at local and global levels in MNCs, which thus function as knowledge-creating networks. Nonaka identifies this cross-border synergistic process as "global knowledge creation" and sees it as the key process of globalisation.
Challenges can arise here in enabling knowledge transfers between cultures with differing levels of egalitarian work cultures, and in appointment of managers in foreign branches depending on variations in management style. According to research by Ronnie Lessem and Franz-Friedrich Neubauer, the Anglo-Saxon orientation to knowledge creation can be categorized as pragmatic, the French-Nordic as rational, Japanese as holistic, and Latin as humanistic.
Symbiotic co-evolution of organizations can also create knowledge, as evinced in the Japanese aircraft and electronics industries and the South Korean chip company Samsung.
Cooperation across entire industrial sectors occurs with varying levels of intensity and collective benefits in different countries of the world. For instance, it may be the case that US companies are better at learning from and with competitors than Japanese companies.
Samsung leveraged a variety of techniques like "knowledge catch-up" mode (prevalent in many emerging economies), knowledge pioneering, knowledge exposure, co-opetition, absorptive capacity, migratory knowledge (from the Korean diaspora), M&As, and pro-actively creating internal crises to intensify the work pace and accelerate the process of knowledge conversion, according to Linsu Kim, author of "Imitation to Innovation: The Dynamics of Korea's Technological Learning."
Other cultural factors - such as the extremely hard-working habits of the people of South Korea, its cramped and cold environment, memories of Japanese occupation, and a determination to out-compete Japan - cannot be duplicated in other countries, according to Kim.
In sum, this is an informative and wide-ranging book, and opens the door to many more research questions, working hypotheses, and KM methodologies. It forms an effective bridge between other books that focus either on the organizational or sectoral/national aspects of innovation, knowledge and competitiveness.Knowledge Emergence: Social, Technical, and Evolutionary Dimensions of Knowledge Creation OverviewThis book brings together the research of a number of scholars in the field of knowledge creation and imparts a sense of order to the field.The chapters share three characteristics: they are all grounded in extensive qualitative and/or quantitative research; they all go beyond the mere description of the knowledge-creation process and offer both theoretical and strategic implications; they share a view of knowledge creation and knowledge transfer as delicate processes, necessitating particular forms of support from managers.

Want to learn more information about Knowledge Emergence: Social, Technical, and Evolutionary Dimensions of Knowledge Creation?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

Discovering Real Business Requirements for Software Project Success (Computing Library S.) Review

Discovering Real Business Requirements for Software Project Success (Computing Library S.)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy Discovering Real Business Requirements for Software Project Success (Computing Library S.)? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Discovering Real Business Requirements for Software Project Success (Computing Library S.). Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Discovering Real Business Requirements for Software Project Success (Computing Library S.) ReviewIf you ever wanted to know if your requirements were accurate and complete, this book will help. As Robin says on p. 13, "...we're going to intermix discovery methods with techniques for testing the adequacy of requirements." Using his problem pyramid - which includes a way to measure the problem and the solution - Robin discusses several techniques to elicit and define requirements.
Robin defines 64 techniques to test requirements - throughout a project. For example, test method #17, "identify assumptions" is common sense that too few people remember. Test method #53 is "Defining acceptance criteria," a technique useful for any project if you want to know you've built what the customer wanted.
Between the problem pyramid emphasis on measurement and the various tests, the book can help you meet its promise of preventing too much requirements change throughout a project.Discovering Real Business Requirements for Software Project Success (Computing Library S.) OverviewBook InformationFinding customer requirements is an essential activity for software developers. While a number of books on the market deal with software requirements, this is the first resource to offer a methodology for discovering and testing the real business requirements that software products must meet in order to provide value. The book provides practical techniques that help ensure successful software development and greater satisfaction among the organizations that put these software systems to use. The powerful techniques and methods presented in this hands-on reference are applied to a real business case from a company recognized for world-class excellence. From an examination of key methods for gathering and understanding information about requirements, to seven guidelines for documenting and communicating requirements, this book is a comprehensive, single source for uncovering the real business requirements that lead to software project success.Content HighlightsValue of Testing Up-Front. The Regular Way. Are They Requirements? Evaluating Requirements' Form. Discovering Real Requirements. Problem Pyramid. Applying the Techniques. Data Gathering. Formats for Analyzing Requirements. Key to Completeness. Formats for Documenting Requirements. Finding Overlooked Requirements.

Want to learn more information about Discovering Real Business Requirements for Software Project Success (Computing Library S.)?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

Practical Software Project Estimation: A Toolkit for Estimating Software Development Effort & Duration Review

Practical Software Project Estimation: A Toolkit for Estimating Software Development Effort and Duration
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy Practical Software Project Estimation: A Toolkit for Estimating Software Development Effort & Duration? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Practical Software Project Estimation: A Toolkit for Estimating Software Development Effort & Duration. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Practical Software Project Estimation: A Toolkit for Estimating Software Development Effort & Duration ReviewI just finished reading the book and I was really impressed with the practical value that is given. Of course I know that the main reason that software projects fail is because of the fact that they are estimated in an optimistic way, usually relying on nothing more than an 'experts' opinion. This book will help any project manager or other project stakeholder to estimate a project in a realistic way, therefore reducing the risk of failure enormously.
The book explains the art of macro software estimation, based on sound theoretical models combined with the incredible power of the repositories of real data submitted by best-in-class companies from all over the globe. The book explains how to use these models and how to use the data. A large number of software estimation equations are given, just like that. Usually cost engineers and parametric analysts would have to study the data for a long time before deriving the equations. The appendices give some great insight into the cost drivers of software projects, listing for instance productivity figures (and distribution!!) per programming language, development platform, industry type, application type, team size, architecture, etc.
Therefore I consider this book to be a great value-for-money. In my opinion anyone who is involved in the estimation of projects should have a copy of this book.
Some of the topics addressed:
- The main factors that influence productivity
- Accuracy of Software estimation methods
- Identifying the completeness of the requirements
- Estimating using equations
- Estimating using comparison
- Estimating using analogy
- Estimating agile projects
- How to use the ISBSG repository data
- Benchmarking the projects
- The impact of team size on productivity
- The impact of duration on productivity
- etc !!Practical Software Project Estimation: A Toolkit for Estimating Software Development Effort & Duration Overview
Product verifiable, defensible, and achievable software estimates
Based on data collected by the International Software Benchmarking Standards Group (ISBSG), Practical Software Project Estimation explains how to accurately forecast the size, cost, and schedule of software projects. Get expert advice on generating accurate estimates, minimizing risks, and planning and managing projects. Valuable appendixes provide estimation equations, delivery rate tables, and the ISBSG Repository demographics.
Verify project objectives and requirements
Determine, validate, and refine software functional size
Produce indicative estimates using regression equations
Predict effect and duration through comparison and analogy
Build estimation frameworks
Perform benchmarks using the ISBSG Repository
Compare IFPUG, COSMIC, and FiSMA sizing methods

Peter Hill is the chief executive officer and a director of the ISBSG. He has been in the information services industry for more than 40 years and has compiled and edited five books for the ISBSG.

Want to learn more information about Practical Software Project Estimation: A Toolkit for Estimating Software Development Effort & Duration?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...

Tools for Project Management, Workshops and Consulting: A Must-Have Compendium of Essential Tools and Techniques Review

Tools for Project Management, Workshops and Consulting: A Must-Have Compendium of Essential Tools and Techniques
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Are you looking to buy Tools for Project Management, Workshops and Consulting: A Must-Have Compendium of Essential Tools and Techniques? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Tools for Project Management, Workshops and Consulting: A Must-Have Compendium of Essential Tools and Techniques. Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Tools for Project Management, Workshops and Consulting: A Must-Have Compendium of Essential Tools and Techniques ReviewI am the author and I am posting some review I have received.
Prof. Dr. Tom Sommerlatte - Management Consulting expert
"This book is of the kind you always wanted but didn't think would or could ever exist: the universal field theory of problem solving. "
Read Preface by Tom Sommerlatte
www.Themanagement.de
'Again a book on tools', was the first thought that crossed my mind, when I was asked to review this book. Andler's book presents tools and techniques for consulting, workshops and project management. It would seem that there many books already on this topic on the market. Well, the book is actually a pleasant and positive surprise, and there are three reasons for that:
- All tools are catalogued at the start and assigned to a consulting/problem solving process. The author used his own consulting practice experience and only selected tools and techniques that he considered valuable and useful for the various situations and problems.
- Before the reader enters the sections with the detailed explanation of each tool, a problem solving process and framework is introduced. Again, the author's professional experience shows.
- One can clearly see the origin and foundation of this book: it is from the practice for the practitioner'.
The book is not a scientific, theoretical paper on the backgrounds and theories on models and methods, but rather the opposite. Each tool is explained in a cook-book style logic following the steps: Intention (Why and when do I use it), Purpose (What does it do), Instruction (How do I do it), Hints and tricks, examples, templates, cross-reference to other tools in the book, sources. Based on the approach and focus of a very pragmatic and practical book, Andler sees the typical user of this book as being professional consultants, employees of an internal consulting/advisory department, managers, who want to know more about problem solving. Andler also offers two bonus sections in the book: Check questions for quality assurance of your work and work scenarios. Andler calls it a shopping list of tools for various scenarios like e.g. feasibility studies, strategy workshop, project definition phase, etc.
www.Consulting-insider.com
The first challenge in your first consulting job is project management. One of the most importance things that is expected from a consultant or young business professional is to be competent in executing project tasks under pressure and delivering excellent results. Various standard methods exist which can be studied and acquired with different levels of efforts and ease-of-use and can then be applied to the many problem- and project scenarios. The biggest problem for graduates and less experienced consultants is the insufficient experience for the selection of the right approach and right choice of tools in order to be successful. Whilst many projects don't fail because of a lack of solutions or technology, but rather because of the inter-personal dissonance; however the right selection of tools and techniques in order to work effectively and efficiently is also a vital part of a success project management. Nicolai Andler 'tools for project management, workshops and consulting' how to select the right tool. Amongst the 100 tools and techniques, you will find some of the more familiar models and frameworks like the SWOT analyses as well as many less known and still practical tools.
Text translated from the German source).
www.Projektmagazin.de
The All-In-One-toolbox for management methods.
The author's goal was to provide a practical and simple although comprehensive collection of tools and techniques, which are easy and applicable immediately without having to go through wads of theory. Well, he did excellent. Don't expect solutions - however plenty of tools that will help to find solutions to your problems.
The biggest value add is the systematic structure, which enables you to quickly find the tools you are looking for. The tools are categorised and labelled by application area, purpose, effectiveness, ease of use and applicable problem solving process step.
The illustration and explanation for each tool is concise, easy to understand and supported by instructions, examples, templates and tips.
Overall, a very practical compilation that surely will not remain unused.
Content: 4 out of 5
Practical orientation: 5 out of 5
Understandability: 5 out of 5
Entertainment value: 1 out of 5
(Text translated from the German source).
www.Business-wissen.de
The book is a useful toolbox to resolve problems and to lead projects to success. The reader will learn which tools is best used in which phase of a project- or problem solving phase and how to be go about it step by step.
Anybody who wants to expand or improve his problem solving techniques will find this book useful. The format layout is especially helpful with the direct implementation and application. The classification of the tools within a superior (problem solving-)framework makes it particularly easy to find the appropriate tool for the job.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Prof. Dr. Schelle - German Association for Project Management
Andler's book stands out of the unmanageable amount of project management literature as he does not address for the 175th time the same topics and does not repeat what can be read in every other project management book. The author presents tools in the broadest sense and consolidates all types of available tools in a concise and comprehensive way. To help the reader, the author created categories and assigned the tools to those categories, based on their purpose and applicability.
The project management section does not provide anything new for an expert in this field, that was not to be expected. However, an interested reader can find plenty of other simple but useful tools in the many other sections, which he would have had to collect cumbersome from many different books. And, many of the about 100 tools can be applied in a project management context as well. The whole toolbox is well arranged and laid out and supported by many examples.
Conclusion: a very useful and pragmatic book that will save you a lot of time.
Prof. Dr Haberfellner - University Graz (Austria)
Getting to grips with Andler's encyclopaedia is easy and quick, as it explains well how to best use the book. There is an outstanding overview of the problem solving steps and the methods that are relevant in each of the four problem solving steps (which are diagnosis, goal setting, analysis and decision making'). Selecting the right tool is easy as the book supports this well.
It is almost impossible to have an absolute complete list of all tools and methods as this area is in constant change and development. Nevertheless, I would have wanted to have some specific tools mentioned, such as the critical path method.
Some of the mentioned tools (e.g. hypothesis, helicoptering, 3P statements, span of control) I consider not really tools but rather guidelines or support techniques for other tools and methods. I would have also wanted an index to find the a tool based on the various synonyms that exist for the same tool. The author considers consultancies, consultants and the related professions as the key target user and not the novices. Well, I think that particularly the beginners like university graduates or new joiners without little competence in methods and tools will benefit tremendously from this book as it provides an overview over the numerous methods and many excellent instructions and examples for the application of the tools.Tools for Project Management, Workshops and Consulting: A Must-Have Compendium of Essential Tools and Techniques OverviewTypically today's management tasks include project management, running workshops and working with consultancies - all complex activities, which require a multitude of skills and competencies. This book gives you a reference or cookbook-style access to the most important skills in a user-friendly format.Nicolai Andler presents in his book about 100 of such tools arranged according to task complexes. To make personal use of the tools as easy as possible, they are grouped into task-specific categories entitled Define Situation, Gather Information, Creativity, Goal Setting, Organisational Analysis, Technical Analysis, Strategic Analysis, Decision Making, Project Management, Checklists and Questions as well as Scenarios.Elements of information this books covers:- Relevant and appropriate for your needs- Up to date and as timely as possible- Comprehensive and sufficiently wide in scope, combined with a practical level of detail without being too academic- Reliable information from numerous tested sources and real implemented cases- Accessible and easy-to-use due to many different search options and self-help guidesThis book is a unique reference work and guide for those wanting to learn about or who are active in the fields of consulting, project management and problem solving in general. It presents cookbook-style access to most important skills, including a rating of each tool in terms of applicability, ease of use and effectiveness.

Want to learn more information about Tools for Project Management, Workshops and Consulting: A Must-Have Compendium of Essential Tools and Techniques?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now
Read More...