Message from Dean - May 8th 2007

I am currently testing out a new version of the APF Bridge Component - If you notice any errors within this demo store please drop me a line.

Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 005.1
EAN: 9780735619937
ISBN: 073561993X
Label: Microsoft Press
Manufacturer: Microsoft Press
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 192
Publication Date: March 10, 2004
Publisher: Microsoft Press
Studio: Microsoft Press

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Alternate Versions: Click to Display

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Editorial Review:

Product Description:
Apply the principles of Scrum, one of the most popular agile programming methods, to software project management—and focus your team on delivering real business value. Author Ken Schwaber, a leader in the agile process movement and a co-creator of Scrum, brings his vast expertise to helping you guide the product and software development process more effectively and efficiently. Help eliminate the ambiguity into which so many software projects are borne, where vision and planning documents are essentially thrown over the wall to developers. This high-level reference describes how to use Scrum to manage complex technology projects in detail, combining expert insights with examples and case studies based on Scrum. Emphasizing practice over theory, this book explores every aspect of using Scrum, focusing on driving projects for maximum return on investment.




Rating: - The real deal
Software development has grown more and more complex to the point where it approaches chaos. Most approaches to it have been aimed at controlling (read, taming) the chaos. And such approaches are doomed to failure since chaos, by definition, cannot be tame. A more realistic approach is to accept chaos and learn to harness it to give you a competitive edge. Such is the message Chet Richards' fantastic little book, Certain to Win, and such is the message of this echo of Agile development processes.

Mr. Schwaber has given us the tools we need to understand what Agile is and is not. He also gives us the basic tools we need to begin using Scrum for as a chaos-harnessing approach to software development project management. All the key players and their tasks are identified through the use of several case studies. Each case study illustrates, by example, key concepts in applying Scrum to project management. The use cases are gleaned from the author's personal experience ... Read More

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Rating: - Good stuff
Let me just say, right off the bat, this is a wonderful book.

But how so, you ask.

Well, I have been involved in agile projects as tech lead, as project manager and as SME for just about a decade. I have also been practicing SCRUM for past few years. I find these methodologies (or techniques) quite helpful in "getting things done".

But.... despite my experience, I believe this book taught me a lot. Not in a sense that it taught me new ideas, but rather that it put structure on my existing knowledge base.

I found the book to be very well organized, maybe not as detailed as I would've liked, but sufficiently so. The subject matter has been dealt with properly and explained so that it is easy to understand. While it is definitely a good book to have for a novice, it is a good reference for those of us who have been in the field for a while.

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Rating: - A very good overview
This book gave me a fast and easy intro to this tenique as a project manager

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Rating: - Good description of Scrum, from the master
Nobody knows Scrum better than Ken Schwaber. This is a good read for launching new Scrum projects.

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Rating: - A Handbook with Case Studies
There's plenty of books on SCRUM - and finding the right one is a tough job.

This book is what you're looking for if you want a basic introduction and examples of applications - because there's plenty of case studies. SCRUM techniques are described and then discussed by resort to case studies, helping the lessons become more applicable to you.

The end result is a good SCRUM Manual for a more experienced Project Manager or IT professional. It's not a book that's pick-up-and-learn basics - its a book on theory, philosophy, and applications for people who have been there.

If you need a first SCRUM book, and want to get the most out of one book as possible, this is definitely a good choice. It's also an excellent book to have to bone up on theory and real-life applications. Finally, it's a definite "lender" that you'll pass around the office.

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