Accidental Project Manager W/W

by Patricia Ensworth

Book Overview

Why do so many software projects fail? The reality is that many of these projects are led by programmers or developers thrown into the role of project manager without the necessary skills or training... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 047141011X
• ISBN13: 9780471410119
• Release Date: July 2001
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
• Length: 269 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.5" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Great book, for a specific audience

This book is very clear and easy to read and is very well pitched for the new project manager. It is specifically targeted at people who work in organisations that don't produce software as a product, i.e. people in corporate IT departments, because a lot of the book is about analysing and gathering information, in a way you just can't do if you're tendering for work. It assumes you have a large and well-funded team (e.g. 4 developers, 3 testers, a technical author, etc.), but I think a lot of the advice would be equally applicable in smaller teams (e.g. the different roles you need to fulfill). It's lightly written with plenty of humour.

Great Read!!!

WOW, what a fantastic book, loaded with valuable info. After reading this you can build your own 'flight checklist' for all future projects. This book provides countless tips in how to manage a development team, gotcha's to look out for and several hints on advanced CYA techniques.A must read for all team leads and managers whether you are a newbie or been leading teams for years.

A very good guid for beginning project managers

This book gives a good base for IT professional that became a new project manager to work with. Even though some of the enviornments and situations in the book does not exist in new or small companies, but it paints a good picture for the new project manager of what needs to be done and the process to do it. I recommend this book highly to any new IT professionals that became a project manager.

The "CliffNotes" to Project Management

Great book! I wish I had this when I first transitioned to Management. Although I've been in PM for over 15 years, I still found Ensworth's advice quite helpful and thought provoking. I plan to recommend this book to every new Manager, developer, and programmer that I know.

Best book ever for a novice manager

Years ago Jerry Weinberg told me that virtually all managers feel like imposters when they first begin managing. I certainly remember feeling that way in my first managerial assignment. Of course you can never reveal the feeling to those around you, that wouldn't be playing the game. While we're at it, you often can't ask your peer managers for much advice and guidance either. It's dumb, but for all the talk about "management teams," peer managers are more likely to be your competitors than your coaches. So where do you turn for sensible advice? I suggest Patricia Ensworth's thoughtful book for the first time manager. I suggest it for second and third time managers as well. She lays out the problems and has at least something sensible to propose for each one. I wish I'd had this book in hand the day I was promoted into management. It might have made the next five years a lot easier. Tom DeMarco