“There are many books available on software risks and software failures. There are very few books that provide step-by-step information on getting troubled software projects back on track. This book provides detailed guidelines for software project recovery. Some of the steps the author recommends may be unpleasant, but all are important.” —Capers Jones, chief scientist emeritus at Software Productivity Research LLC “This is a well-conceived, well-written, interesting book about an important topic. The author is right in saying that no one else has covered this particular facet of project failure.” —Robert L. Glass, publisher of the Software Practitioner A 10-STEP PROCESS TO IDENTIFY SEVERELY TROUBLED PROJECTS AND AVOID COSTLY FAILURE It’s a software development nightmare: a project that’s rapidly spiraling out of control...or already a disaster. Conventional project management techniques won’t save these projects: there are no standard rescue processes to follow. You need something radically different: Catastrophe Disentanglement. Drawing on in-depth data from hundreds of development organizations, E.M. Bennatan presents a proven, 10-step program for rescuing any project that’s worth saving. You’ll find specific guidance for addressing massive budget overruns, schedule slippage, poor quality—or all three at once. Using practical examples drawn from decades of hands-on experience as a software development leader and consultant, Bennatan shows how to Evaluate where your project really stands Align your project’s developers, managers, and customers Defi ne the minimum acceptable project goals that are achievable Replan your project to successfully deliver the new minimum goals Identify risks in your revised project and create effective contingency plans Install an “early warning system” to keep your rescued project from slipping back toward catastrophe Catastrophe Disentanglement is an effective, comprehensive approach to software project rescue. Whenever projects are in trouble—whether you are a senior manager, project manager, team member, or software customer—this book could save your career. Preface xi Chapter 1 An Introduction to Catastrophe Disentanglement 1 Chapter 2 When Is a Project a Catastrophe? 15 Chapter 3 Step 1–Stop 43 Chapter 4 Step 2–Assign an Evaluator 57 Chapter 5 Step 3–Evaluate the Project 73 Chapter 6 Step 4–Evaluate the Team 95 Chapter 7 Step 5–Define Minimum Goals 113 Chapter 8 Step 6–Can Minimum Goals Be Achieved? 133 Chapter 9 Step 7–Rebuild the Team 147 Chapter 10 Step 8–Risk Analysis 169 Chapter 11 Step 9–Revise the Plan 189 Chapter 12 Step 10–Create an Early Warning System 209 Chapter 13 Epilogue: Putting the Final Pieces in Place 233 References 245 Glossary 255 About the Author 257 Index 259 © Copyright Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Includes appications of both information technology and production-operations management with a focus on information systems to demonstrate the real environment that exists for IS projects.

This Seventh Edition of Donald Reifer's popular, bestselling tutorial summarizes what software project managers need to know to be successful on the job. The text provides pointers and approaches to deal with the issues, challenges, and experiences that shape their thoughts and performance. To accomplish its goals, the volume explores recent advances in dissimilar fields such as management theory, acquisition management, globalization, knowledge management, licensing, motivation theory, process improvement, organization dynamics, subcontract management, and technology transfer. Software Management provides software managers at all levels of the organization with the information they need to know to develop their software engineering management strategies for now and the future. The book provides insight into management tools and techniques that work in practice. It also provides sufficient instructional materials to serve as a text for a course in software management. This new edition achieves a balance between theory and practical experience. Reifer systematically addresses the skills, knowledge, and abilities that software managers, at any level of experience, need to have to practice their profession effectively. This book contains original articles by leaders in the software management field written specifically for this tutorial, as well as a collection of applicable reprints. About forty percent of the material in this edition has been produced specifically for the tutorial. Contents: * Introduction * Life Cycle Models * Process Improvement * Project Management * Planning Fundamentals * Software Estimating * Organizing for Success * Staffing Essentials * Direction Advice * Visibility and Control * Software Risk Management * Metrics and Measurement * Acquisition Management * Emerging Management Topics "The challenges faced by software project managers are the gap between what the customers can envision and the reality on the ground and how to deal with the risks associated with this gap in delivering a product that meets requirements on time and schedule at the target costs. This tutorial hits the mark by providing project managers, practitioners, and educators with source materials on how project managers can effectively deal with this risk." -Dr. Kenneth E. Nidiffer, Systems & Software Consortium, Inc. "The volume has evolved into a solid set of foundation works for anyone trying to practice software management in a world that is increasingly dependent on software release quality, timeliness, and productivity." -Walker Royce, Vice President, IBM Software Services-Rational

Erwin Schrödinger is one of the greatest figures of theoretical physics, but there is another side to the man: not only did his work revolutionize physics, it also radiacally changed the foundations of our modern worldview, modern biology, philosophy of science, philosophy of the mind, and epistemology. This book explores the lesser-known aspects of Schrödinger's thought, revealing the physicist as a philosopher and polymath whose highly original ideas anticipated the current merging of the natural and the social sciences and the humanities. Thirteen renowned scientists and philosophers have contributed to the volume. Part I reveals the philosophical importance of Schrödinger's work as a physicist. Part II examines his theory of life and of the self-organization of matter. Part III shows how Schrödinger's ideas have influenced contemporary philosophy of nature and our modern view of the world, drawing a fascinating picture of the ongoing synthesis of nature and culture: one of the most interesting developments of modern thought. The volume also contains the most comprehensive bibliography of Schrödinger's scientific work, making it at the same time a book of acute contemporary relevance and a major work of reference.

As Mankind moved from Industrial Age to Information Age, a host of gadgets became essential to our daily life. We worked longer hours to make more money. Our focus was on financial wealth above all else. In recent years, we have started to realize that we have lost many important items like health, leisure, relationships and spiritual connectivity. Now as we enter the Health & Wellness Age we feel “something” is missing: what is it and where are the missing pieces? How do we get THAT balance back in our lives which is crucial to our current well-being, our serenity and our long-term wellness? Naseem Mariam, with over three decades of working, counseling and healing, shares with You 7 Areas you could work on, a quick quiz, and tools to move towards beautiful symphony and balance in the 7 areas. Everyone’s priorities, economic and life situation is unique so take the Serene Wellness Quotient (SWQ) Quiz to evaluate your current status with respect to the 7 Areas. Allow this book to guide YOU (and your near & dear ones) with logical, scientific reasons and excellent tools so that together we can trigger your thoughts, fire your mind and touch your heart. You will then find it easy to create the Serenity and Wellness, the Prosperity and Peace you, your family and the society deserves. Come let us move beyond mere wealth accumulation to Serene Wellness by setting our individual priorities and balancing ALL 7 Areas.

For more than 40 years, Computerworld has been the leading source of technology news and information for IT influencers worldwide. Computerworld's award-winning Web site (Computerworld.com), twice-monthly publication, focused conference series and custom research form the hub of the world's largest global IT media network.

Even the most experienced project managers aren’t immune to the more common and destructive reasons for project collapses. Poor time and budget performance, failure to deal with complexity, uncontrolled changes in scope . . . they can catch anyone off guard. Performance-Based Project Management can help radically improve your project’s success rate, despite these and other obstacles that will try to take it down. Readers will discover how they can increase the probability of project success, detailing a step-by-step plan for avoiding surprises, forecasting performance, identifying risk, and taking corrective action to keep a project a success. Project leaders wishing to stand out among their peers who are continually hampered by these unexpected failures will learn how to:• Assess the business capabilities needed for a project• Plan and schedule the work• Determine the resources required to complete on time and on budget• Identify and manage risks to success• Measure performance in units meaningful to decision makersBy connecting mission strategy with project execution, this invaluable resource for project managers in every industry will help bring projects to successful, career-enhancing completion.