Principles of Software Engineering Management

by Tom Gilb

Book Overview

This practical guide is designed to assist professionals with the problems involved in developing complex software systems, presenting a set of guidelines and tools to manage the technical and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0201192462
• ISBN13: 9780201192469
• Release Date: January 1988
• Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 1.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.2" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

A project management epiphany

Don't let the publishing date of this book fool you. This is a timeless reference in the art of requirements management and software inspections. It was an epiphany for me as a young software project manager in the late 80's, and it is still on my bookshelf today. It was written by a project manager who has "walked the walk". As another reviewer alluded, this book positively reeks with credibility and real-world experience. And the scope of its requirements management methodology is much wider than just software development -- it can be applied to virtually any project management discipline. Most failed projects were doomed from the start by their faulty requirements management or complete lack thereof. If every budding project manager read this book and practiced this methodology, the world would be a better place. Strong words, but read the book and see if it isn't true. You might also visit the www.gilb.com website -- lots of good stuff there, and a lot of it is free.

Excellent Book On Software Engineering

This book covers two very important software engineering topics: the unambiguous specification of business goals and product specification and on evolutionary project management. It also covers the Fagan inspections process which is one of the most powerful techniques in software development. If you like this book, you should also consider the book "Competitive Engineering" by the same author.

Simply the best book on software development I have read

Firstly, don't let the title put you off -this book is relevant to a lot of people who wouldn't call themselves "sofware engineers" or "managers" - it's also highly relevant to systems analysts / designers & just about any sort of IT consultant, amongst others.What separates this from most other books on software development is that just about every page is obviously written by someone who has been there and done it (recently), not just talked about it. The main ideas of the book (evolutionary delivery, defining ojectives as either "functional" or "attributes" ) may not seem revolutionary, but apply it and it could revolutionise your project and maybe career. No IT book I've ever has ever affected my own work so profoundly.It's also well written and exceptionally well laid out. More please, Tom!

Good discussion of evolutionary development

This book covers three main topics: evolutionary development, requirements management, and inspections. A good introduction to all three, but if you plan on trying evolutionary development, I also suggest reading the pertinent sections of Rapid Development by Steve McConnell.

Add this to your bookshelf

Gilb introduces three ideas that may not be new, but extremely useful for software projects. Evolutionary delivery, or delivering small parts all the time, while getting feedback; formal inspections, which will save time and hassle; attribute specifications, to help you set a clear goal. I guarantee that this book will see software in a fresh, new perspective!