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         Communication Aspects in Software Engineering

1 July 2009

Agile Project Management with Scrum

Filed under: Agile,Book Review — Tags: , — admin @ 21:04

About Scrum we like the philosophy and the following practices:

  • Feature prioritisation sessions
  • Undisturbed iterations (called Sprints)
  • Functionality presentation sessions
  • Self-organising teams

In a nutshell, SCRUM principles are as follows:

  • All management responsibilities are divided between 3 Scrum roles:
    • The Product Owner focus is focused on Return On Investment (ROI)
    • The Team is responsible for developing functionality. Teams are self-managing, self-organising, cross-functional and they are responsible for figuring out how to turn Product Backlog into an increment of functionality.
    • The Scrum Master fills the position normally occupied by the Project Manager. He is responsible for the Scrum process. Like a sheep-dog, he’s responsible for keeping the flock together (focused) and keeping the wolves away (undistracted).
  • Each Sprint is an iteration of 30 consecutive calendar days
    • A Sprint starts with a planning meeting, where the Product Owner presents the highest priority Product Backlog (4 hours) and the Team plans out the Sprint (another 4 hours).
    • A Sprint finishes with a Sprint review meeting (4 hours), where the team present what was developed. Then the Scrum Master holds a Scrum retrospective meeting with the team.
  • Artefacts:
    • A Product Backlog lists the features with estimates, associated Sprint and remaining work (days) – maintained by the Product Owner
    • A Sprint Backlog lists the tasks, which the team defines for turning the Product Backlog they selected into an increment of functionality, associated with the Originator, the person Responsible, the Status and the hours of work remaining – maintained by the Scrum Master -No Gantt-chart
  • Rules:

For more information, get the book form Ken Schwaber – Agile project Management with Scrum – click on the image below:

9 June 2009

Coping with Difficult People

Filed under: Book Review — Tags: — admin @ 10:55

Robert M. Bramson has identified several patterns of behavior exhibited by difficult people, in his book Coping with Difficult People.
These patterns of behavior are:

  • Hostile-Agressive : Pushy and uses intimidation. Arbitrary and arrogant.
  • Complainer : Gripe without offering a solution. Seldom takes action to rectify a situation.
  • Silent-and-Non-Responsive : Not very communicative. Relies on others to share their feelings and thoughts.
  • Super-Agreeable : Never commit themselves. Fear rejection.
  • Negativist : Are fatalists. Often nay sayers.
  • Know-It-All : Self-appointed experts. Condescending.
  • Indecisive : Delays making decisions. Fear of hurting or alienating someone.

Project Managers will improve their skills significantly by having a good understanding of Bramson’s work, as he provides a good insight on dealing with several types of difficult people.
Failure to deal with difficult people at meetings, for example, may result in achieving nothing. It also creates atmospheres of negativism that last long after these sessions are dusted.

Get it from Fishpond.com.au:

11 March 2009

Hollywood Secrets of Project Management Success

Filed under: Book Review — Tags: — admin @ 21:29

Very good and entertaining book written by James R. Persse on Project Management best practices.

Get it from Fishpond.com.au:

18 Lessons are listed and thoughly documented, using examples from reknown Hollywood projects.
This book will convince you of the necessity to have in place a Project Management System and to follow it.

It will also encourage you to learn more on subjects such as Portfolio Management.

20 February 2009

Self-improvement to achieve success

Filed under: Book Review — Tags: — admin @ 16:27

In order to be significantly more successful in your career and in all areas of your life, compared to where you are now, there is a gap that requires to be filled.
No matter how good you are, or think you are, if you want to be more successful, you need to improve.

Psycho-Cybernetics is an excessively good book, presenting fundamental psychological principles in a simple and fascinating fashion…

  • Self-image is key to a better life and to success… You might be surprised to learn that most people don’t have a healthy self-image.
  • Conscious efforts are sometimes counter productive. Relax and let the success mechanism within you work for you.
  • The book provides a simple yet powerful definition for happiness. Are you happy on a daily basis? You can acquire the habit of happiness.
  • How to turn a crisis into a creative opportunity and how to get that winning feeling!…

Get it from Fishpond.com.au:If you are serious about achieving success, we recommend you read this book.

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