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Book Editorial:1

Rapid Development
Steve Mcconnell

Rating: 5.0/5 Stars
Rank: 2101

Amazon.com
I can hear some of you exclaiming, "How can you possibly recommend a book about software scheduling published by Microsoft Press and written by a consultant to Microsoft?!" Well, put aside any preconceived biases.

This is a tremendous book on effective scheduling software development, and it drinks deeply from the wisdom of all the classics in the field such as Brook's Mythical Man Month -- and is likely well-informed by McConnell's experiences, good and bad, in Redmond.

The nine page section entitled "Classic Mistakes Enumerated" is alone worth the price of admission and should be required reading for all developers, leads, and managers. Here are some types of the 36 classic mistakes that McConnell describes in detail:

People Related Mistakes
- Heroics
- Adding people to a late project
- Politics placed over substance (etc.)
Process Related Mistakes
- Abandonment of planning under pressure
- Planning to catch up later
- "Code-like-hell" programming (etc.)
Technology Related Mistakes
- Silver-Bullet syndrome
- Overestimating savings from new tools or methods
- Switching tools in the middle of a project (etc.)

I suspect that if you've ever been involved in software development, you winced after reading each of these nine points.

And you will learn a great deal from the remaining 640 pages about concrete solutions.

My only substantive gripe: cheesy Powerpoint graphics.

Nonetheless, this book is Very Highly Recommended.

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Rapid Development
Steve Mcconnell

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1.	Amazon.com
	I can hear some of you exclaiming, "How can you possibly recommend a book about software scheduling published by Microsoft Press and written by a consultant to Microsoft?!" Well, put aside any preconceived biases. This is... read full editorial

2.	Book Description
	Corporate and commercial software-development teams all want solutions for one important problem--how to get their high-pressure development schedules under control. In RAPID DEVELOPMENT, author Steve McConnell addresses... read full editorial

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Customer Reviews

Sample 3 of 62

Rapid Development
Steve Mcconnell


	Great for Managers and Developers
	(Jacksonville, FL) July 13, 2000 - 5.0/5 stars
	This is an excellent project-centric book for both managers and developers. If you are a manager, it tells you what to do and what not to do. Teaches you not to be bullied by technologically ignorant corporate officers,... read full review

	A Must for Development Managers & Leads
	(Colleyville, TX USA) May 20, 2001 - 5.0/5 stars
	This book is a must for development managers (those who manage software development projects)! Read it cover to cover and highlight the important summary paragraphs throughout the book for easy reference later.If you're... read full review

	Showed this to my former boss and he stole it from me...
	(Mexico) February 21, 2003 - 5.0/5 stars
	This is the second time I buy this book, but even if I cannot tell you this might be the bible of project management, is very close to being that.Very well written, easy to read with lots of advice to consider... read full review

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