"This set of articles captures decades of 'in-the-trenches' experience across a broad spectrum of software topics. Joe Marasco has the scars and the smarts to articulate patterns of success that can satisfy a broad audience. He uses mathematics, physics, common sense, and storytelling along with a no-candy-coating style to provide unique perspectives on significant problems in delivering software results as a business. Whether you are a computer science theoretician, a frustrated software project manager, a successful businessman, or a skeptical programmer, you will learn a lot from this compilation." Walker Royce, author of Software Project Management: A Unified Framework (Addison-Wesley), and Vice President, IBM Software Services-Rational "Joe Marasco's readable essays on managing successful projects shows that software development managersno different from all managersmust embrace the fundamentals of management if they are to succeed: working through people and process to be decisive, dealing with politics, keeping on schedule, and, yes, shipping a well-developed product. Marasco uses plain English to explain many integrated skills, ranging from estimating the time it will take to really do things, to negotiating effectively, even to eloquently describing three distinct phases of our personal development. He frequently uses a "can we talk?" conversation with a fictional colleague, Roscoe Leroy, in a Socratic dialogue to illustrate the two sides to a point in many areas (reminiscent of Galileo's writings to explain his then-heretical views); in this case, Marasco's advice will help technology professionals escape the clutches of pervasive Dilbertian incompetence, and enable readers to be more effective in our ever-changing world." Carl Selinger, author of Stuff You Don't Learn in Engineering School: Skills for Success in the Real World (Wiley-IEEE Press), and Contributing Editor, IEEE Spectrum magazine. "This is a book loaded with practical experience distilled into insights useful for every software manager, and for thoughtful software engineers. Joe brings his keen observations on engineering, physics, software, and management to bear on managing software projects, and the real-world practices and problem-solving techniques required to be successful." John Lovitt, Senior VP, Rational Software (retired) "You don't have to be in the software business to benefit from this book. This is a book that any manager at any level can pick up at any point and enjoy at any time. Highly recommended reading." R. Max Wideman, Fellow, Project Management Institute, AEW Services, Vancouver, Canada "Marasco's book makes for fascinating reading for anyone concerned with management problems in general. The reader is introduced to simple quantitative models, based on the author's experience, that help in assessing performance and choosing a roadmap to successful completion of a complex project. In addition, the author's use of anecdotes and his writing style make for both an entertaining and informative read." Professor Martin Lesser, Department of Mechanics, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm "Individually, each chapter is articulate, engaging, thought- provoking, informative, and well informed. Collectively, much as a compilation of short stories from a skilled, mature author, these chapters invite and help train the reader to see into and to understand what is often only observed in passing or scarcely noticed. Seeing the big picture in little things and identifying critical components of the large landscape, Marasco's analytic and synthetic skills both impress and enlighten." Stephen D. Franklin, University of California, Irvine "Practical advice on project management expressed in an erudite and entertaining style. The insights are an impressive synthesis of management principles and practical experience that should contribute to improved project management in any organizational activity." Steven Globerman, Kaiser Professor of International Business, Western Washington University "Joe is an emotionally intelligent leader, and an insightful holistic systems thinker. Both qualities come alive in his writing." Yosi Amram, CEO Coach, and former Founder and CEO, Individual Inc. and Valicert Inc. "Joe Marasco has assembled a smorgasbord of thought-provoking material that will appeal to anyone who deals with software projects and software developers. Dip into the book at any place and savor new ideas about the nature of software, how to motivate professionals, or one of many other topics that will make you stop and think about your current notions. You may not agree with everything Joe says, but you will respect his position and probably change many of your ideas. Many of the chapters will be required reading for my software engineering students." Gary Pollice, Professor of Practice, Computer Science, Worcester Polytechnic Institute "A unique and passionate philosophical work, with wisdom distilled from both academic and business careers…. A down-to-earth, subversive, and witty guide for managing the software of machines and of the human soul. Joe shows how the foremost ingredient for success and happiness, in business and in life, is integrity." Kate Jones, President, Kadon Enterprises, Inc. (www.gamepuzzles.com) "Joe Marasco's new book is not only a solid introduction in project management discipline, but is also entertaining reading. Using very simple, easy-to-understand-and-relate-to examples, he manages to uncover and describe the most fundamental issues of successful team building and people and project management. His book is a must-read for everyone who wants to get a deeper insight and understanding of this discipline." Boris Lublinsky, Enterprise Architect, CNA Insurance "There isn't a manager worth his salt who is going to look for salvation in a 'how to' book. What he is going to look for, however, is a nugget or two that will help him out of a specific dilemma or, given time for reflection, provide him with reinforcement that he is on the right track, or trigger thought processes about new ways to solve stubborn, recurrent problems. Well, Marasco provides a mother lode of nuggets for a manager to mine." Bill Irwin, Retired Executive, High Technology Industry |
