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Title: Lean Software Development: An Agile Toolkit for Software Development Managers by Mary Poppendieck, Tom Poppendieck ISBN: 0-321-15078-3 Publisher: Addison-Wesley Pub Co Pub. Date: 08 May, 2003 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $39.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 (6 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: REQUIRED READING for anyone interested in agile development
Comment: I gave this book five stars becase that is the maximum I am allowed to give it, otherwise I would have rated it higher.
I think this book should be REQUIRED READING for anyone interested in agile software development methods, or even just general software process improvement. This book contains the kind of practical thinking and analytical tools about agility that I was starved for when the first book on agile development methods first hit the software development scene.
The early books on XP said what XP was and described its values and practices. But when wanting answers to the questions about why a particular practice works, where its strengths are, where its gaps are, and how they are/arent addressed by other practices, I was left wanting (particularly since a lot of folks wanting to adopt agile "in bits and pieces" perceived the need to do so incrementally and needed to understand where to begin, which core things to start with, how to adjust and adapt them to ones environment, and what to look for).
This book filled that void for me, showing me how to think about agile "systems" from a systems-thinking perspective, and how to analyze existing processes (agile or otherwise) to identify their "hot spots" and apply 22 practical tools to get on the road to lean/agility, (in an evolutionary fashion) without mandating instantaneous revolutionary organizational change to replace the entire process all at once.
Rating: 2
Summary: Get the information elsewhere
Comment: The authors attempt to apply lean manufacturing principles and techniques to software development. Despite repeatedly warning the reader that manufacturing is different than software development, most of the examples are not from software development. Some examples were mildly interesting, but they just didn't apply. This had the weird effect of casting doubt on the whole concept they were trying to exemplify. The effort seemed forced, and the focus on manufacturing detracted from providing a clear and practical guide to software development.
The authors present some relevant tools (delaying decisions, eliminating waste, etc.) but these are not new and are presented in a more accessible format in other books. Some of the tools just did not register. Value Stream Mapping, for instance, showed delays were usually instigated by the customer, and we all serve at the pleasure of the customer. Queueing Theory is a long-winded and confusing way of saying what we already know from other agile exponents - that small batches are better. Despite the slimness (under 200 pages), it seemed like a lot of reading for very little information.
Still, I have to give at least two stars for any book that is aligned with agile practices.
Rating: 5
Summary: Practical Tools For Lean Software
Comment: The authors have done a wonderful job in helping us to look for ways to improve toward "Lean Software Development". One of the great things about this book is the approach that it takes. Rather than giving a prescription of "do this, and you should get these results", they give a framework for thinking through the issues and making good decisions. Each chapter concludes with a section called "Try This". My organization has already benefited from the suggestions for identifying waste. Again, they don't tell you what waste to eliminate, but rather how to go about looking for wasteful items.
Another thing that the authors have cleared up is the improper distinction between principles and practices. The authors claim that many of the problems in software today come from the fact that manufacturing *practices* have been applied to software development rather than manufacturing *principles*.
The principles that are explained throughout the book are based on successful companies outside of the software business, e.g. 3M and Toyota, and how in turn these can be applied to software.
One of the best points that they authors make - and they make many good ones - is that local optimization within an organization can actually slow down the overall process.
The overall tone of the book is very pragmatic, and it is definitely going to be a shock to the system for anyone who is accustomed to CMMI or ISO certifications. However, the potential results from this shift in thinking are worth it.
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Title: Balancing Agility and Discipline: A Guide for the Perplexed by Barry Boehm, Richard Turner ISBN: 0321186125 Publisher: Addison-Wesley Pub Co Pub. Date: 15 August, 2003 List Price(USD): $29.99 |
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Title: Test Driven Development: By Example by Kent Beck ISBN: 0321146530 Publisher: Addison-Wesley Pub Co Pub. Date: 08 November, 2002 List Price(USD): $29.99 |
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Title: Agile and Iterative Development: A Manager's Guide by Craig Larman ISBN: 0131111558 Publisher: Addison-Wesley Pub Co Pub. Date: 15 August, 2003 List Price(USD): $34.99 |
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Title: Agile Software Development, Principles, Patterns, and Practices by Robert C. Martin ISBN: 0135974445 Publisher: Prentice Hall Pub. Date: 15 October, 2002 List Price(USD): $55.00 |
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Title: Agile Software Development by Alistair Cockburn ISBN: 0201699699 Publisher: Addison-Wesley Pub Co Pub. Date: 15 December, 2001 List Price(USD): $39.99 |
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