The fourth part of this book moves on from a project-management perspective to a more personal one. Here I consider that software is developed by people, so it is important to understand what motivates them and demotivates them.
In Chapter 13, "Politics," I discuss the prickly problem of politics. Engineers, it turns out, generally detest this non-technical intrusion into "their" workplace. I've found that software engineers are particularly sensitive in this area.
In Chapter 14, "Negotiating," I get down to the very subject of how to talk with software people; there is a "hidden protocol" that can help grease the wheels here and prevent things from getting royally wrapped around the axle.
Ever since Tracy Kidder introduced the concept in his book, The Soul of a New Machine, "signing up" has been a staple of our industry. In Chapter 15, "Signing Up," I put a stake in the ground about the true meaning of commitment.
Finally, in Chapter 16, "Compensation," I broach the hairy subject of compensation. Most software people I know work for a living, and compensation is important to them. Many software managers feel stifled by the salary grades and various policies imposed on them by their human resources departments. I explore some more general and original ideas around the subject.
Once again, I endeavor to show in all these chapters what makes software people different and how to work with them effectively once you are cognizant of these differences.
