Technical Program Management represents a hot field to work in. In today’s world, many have skills to be software developers, and many know how to manage a program of projects, but few combine those skills to manage an entire program of software development projects. In an increasingly digital world, these combined skills are both marketable and valuable and define what a technical program manager (TPM) does. They are force multipliers to projects and organizations who can translate contexts between two environments. In this book, Joshua Teter outlines what it takes to become and excel as a TPM.
In one place, this book covers the program-manager’s skillset, the technical skillset (centered around IT in his perspective), and the value in combining the two skillsets. Much of the role’s value lies in effective risk management, communication between two groups, and translating an organization’s ideas into a rapidly changing technical landscape. For those who like wearing many hats, this role might be a perfect place to show off one’s hat collection.
I’ve read two of the three books, published as of my writing, about this career path, and this book seems to be the best of the lot. It certainly speaks well that it’s in a second edition published by a major book publisher of IT books. The writing is clear, to the point, and comprehensive. It provides a lengthy job description of what a TMP should be able to achieve within an organization.
I’d recommend this book to anyone interested in advancing their IT-project-management knowledge into technical program management. It also identifies competencies for program managers voyaging into technology and for technologists voyaging into program management. In the book, the career paths can seem a bit rigid and corporate, but in practice, many TPMs don’t fall into a fixed box of a tight job description. This book applies to both groups and can enhance all TPMs’ skillsets, even those of us who are more experienced. Finally, it can address those who themselves oversee those in a TPM role to understand their competencies. For me, this book represents the best one-stop place to read about TPMs.
Technical Program Manager’s Handbook: Unlock Your TPM Potential by Leading Technical Projects Successfully and Elevating Your Career Path
By Joshua Alan Teter
Second Edition
Copyright (c) 2022, 2024
Packt
ISBN13 9781836200475
Page Count: 340
Genre: Program Management, Software
www.amazon.com