Many books on managing software development focus on small subsets of the management process. For example, many books on agile fill bookstores; others propose a well-studied answer to a particular problem; still others provide anecdotes and inspiration to often-overtaxed managers.
This book fits into none of those categories. Instead, it seeks to provide a comprehensive treatment on how to manage software development by managing individuals instead of processes. This modern approach fits more in line with agile development principles instead of traditional waterfall models. In so doing, it fills a need for a thoroughly thought-through guide to managing software development.
This educational book teaches core principles of modern management of software development. It talks about how to manage teams of diverse, unique people. It aims to get the most out of those people to produce value for the company – the ultimate goal. It describes managers’ roles as that of servant leaders and enablers giving power to their employees. Managers establish a culture of productive teamwork, embodied by employees.
This book does not contain mere theory. Authors Mickey Mantle and Ron Lichty combine to provide eighty years of hard-wrought experience producing software. They compiled a central section to provide short pearls of wisdom in the form of quotations. These quotations often come from practitioners in industry, not “ivory tower” academics. A software developer myself, I found their section on motivating programmers particularly interesting. The psychology of how to motivate programmers is a complex topic that seems poorly understood, and this treatment provided more insights.
Anyone involved in the development of software can benefit from this book – whether executives, CTOs, programming managers, product managers, or developers themselves. Reading about the people around you benefits everyone because you can talk their language better and work with them more expeditiously. This book can help you do just that. This rare find comprehensively delves into these nuanced topics and should sit on the bookshelves of all those involved in software development.
Managing the Unmanageable: Rules, Tools, and Insights for Managing Software People and Teams
By Mickey W. Mantle & Ron Lichty
Second Edition
Copyright (c) 2020
Pearson Education
ISBN13 9780135667361
Page Count: 502
Genre: Software, Management
www.amazon.com