Managing the Unmanageable: Rules, Tools, and Insights for Managing Software People and Teams
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Addison-Wesley Professional
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Over 50 five-star reviews on Amazon.com (U.S.)!
Lichty and Mantle have assembled a guide that will help you hire, motivate, and mentor a software development team that functions at the highest level. Their rules of thumb and coaching advice form a great blueprint for new and experienced software engineering managers alike.
Tom Conrad, CTO, Pandora
I wish Id had this material available years ago. I see lots and lots of meat in here that Ill use over and over again as I try to become a better manager. The writing style is right on, and I love the personal anecdotes.
Steve Johnson, Senior Architect, Inlet Digital
Managing the Unmanageable is a well-written, must-have reference book for anyone serious about building sustainable software teams that consistently deliver high-quality solutions that meet expectations. It is loaded with incredibly useful and practical tips and tricks to deal with real-life situations commonly encountered by software managers anywhere in the world. It tearlessly peels back the onion layers of the process of managing software developerswhether a handful of co-located programmers or thousands dispersed across the worldthrough a balance of battle-tested approaches and keen understanding of the various personalities and backgrounds of software team members. Finally, a book on software engineering that focuses on the managers dilemma of making a team of programmers work efficiently together. Every single software manager should have it on their bookshelf.
Phac Le Tuan, CTO, Reepeet, and CEO, PaceWorks
Becoming a great engineering leader requires more than technical know-how; Ron and Mickeys book provides a practical cookbook for the important softer side of engineering leadership, which can be applied to any software development organization.
Paul Melmon, VP of Engineering, NICE Systems
EXCELLENT. Well-structured, logical, filled with great personal color and many little gems. You guys have done a great job here. Terrific balance between theory and practice, rich with info.
Joe Kleinschmidt, CEO, Obindo, former CTO, Leverage Software
I started reading the nuggets section and it took fewer than four pages to improve my thinking. What struck me about the nuggets was that I could sense the genesis of this book: two masters of their craft learning from each other. Most books feel like a teacher describing a sterile version of what ought to be done that leaves you wondering, Will this work in the real world? Reading the nuggets felt like the sort of guidance that I would get from a trusted mentoraa mentor who I not only trusted, but one who trusted me to take the wisdom, understand its limits, and apply it correctly. Its concentrated like a Readers Digest for technical management wisdom.
Mike Fauzy, CTO, FauzyLogic
Managing the Unmanageable is a great collection of sometimes-obvious and sometimes-not-obvious guidance for software managers. I wish that I had had this book when I first started managing teams, and it still is illuminating. For programmers who step into management, the hardest thing is to learn the soft skills. Ron and Mickey do a great job of illustrating not just the why but also the how.
Bill Hofmann, VP of Engineering, Klamr.to
Unique dialogue around the human aspects of software development that is very much overdue.
Mart Friedman, CEO and founder, Greenaxle Solutions
The advice provided herein about what to do on a new employees first day of work seems unique and very helpful!
Steven Flannes, PhD, author, People Skills 3.0: Next-Generation Leadership Skills for Project Success
I just wish that I had this book when I started as a first-time manager five years ago!
Kinnar Vora, VP, Product Development and Operations, Sequoia Retail Systems
The book provides insight to a unique group of people: programmers. Companies around the planet have struggled and are still struggling with how to best develop software products. Managing programmers is at the heart of developing software products successfully. Many project and organization leaders are ill-equipped to deal with programmers and software development in general. I think this book can bring insight to leaders of software organizations and help them understand and even get inside the head of programmers and therefore be more effective leaders.
Michael Maitland, CEO (geek-in-charge), WhereTheGeeksRoam
I have enjoyed reading the book very much, and I wish I had it ten years agoprobably would have saved me from making certain mistakes. A lot of what I read is not new to me, but I have never seen so much relevant material assembled in one place. This book was just what I needed. I already feel that Ive benefited from it.
David Vydra, Continuous Delivery Advocate and Software Craftsman, TestDriven.com
I found the book very helpful. It heightened my sensitivity to my staff, even having managed for decades.
Margo Kannenberg, Assistant Director, Application Development, HighWire Press
Mickey was my manager in my first role as programming manager. His real-world, pragmatic, hands-on guidance was a profound positive influence on everything Ive ever done with management since. His is still my go-to advice as I develop and mentor managers. Im pleased that hes taken the time to canonize it in this book so that many more new and experienced managers can benefit from it.
H. B. Siegel, Director, Amazon.com
Mantle and Lichty cut through abstract principles and present proven techniques that can increase the effectiveness of software development organizations. This book deserves a place on the real (or virtual) bookshelf of every software manager who wants to build an outstanding development team and create a culture where everyone enjoys coming to work. Its especially valuable in telling managers what not to do, and how to address the inevitable problems that affect all organizations.
Anthony I. (Tony) Wasserman, Professor of Software Management Practice, Carnegie Mellon UniversitySilicon Valley; ACM Fellow; and IEEE Life Fellow
Mickey was there on Long Island in the mid-1970s when the group now known as Pixar first formed, delivering successful software products then, and was still doing so, as manager, almost two decades later at Pixar itself. He knows what hes talking about.
Alvy Ray Smith, cofounder of Pixar
Ron and Mickey clearly understand how important it is for programmers to work on projects that make a difference and how essential it is for managers to create and foster a unique and innovative culture.
Kathy Baldanza, VPE, Perforce Software
This book is a treasure trove of real-world experiences that will make you a more effective software development manager.
Chris Richardson, founder of the original CloudFoundry.com, and author of POJOs in Action
Lichty and Mantle have assembled a guide that will help you hire, motivate, and mentor a software development team that functions at the highest level. Their rules of thumb and coaching advice form a great blueprint for new and experienced software engineering managers alike.
Tom Conrad, CTO, Pandora
I wish Id had this material available years ago. I see lots and lots of meat in here that Ill use over and over again as I try to become a better manager. The writing style is right on, and I love the personal anecdotes.
Steve Johnson, Senior Architect, Inlet Digital
Managing the Unmanageable is a well-written, must-have reference book for anyone serious about building sustainable software teams that consistently deliver high-quality solutions that meet expectations. It is loaded with incredibly useful and practical tips and tricks to deal with real-life situations commonly encountered by software managers anywhere in the world. It tearlessly peels back the onion layers of the process of managing software developerswhether a handful of co-located programmers or thousands dispersed across the worldthrough a balance of battle-tested approaches and keen understanding of the various personalities and backgrounds of software team members. Finally, a book on software engineering that focuses on the managers dilemma of making a team of programmers work efficiently together. Every single software manager should have it on their bookshelf.
Phac Le Tuan, CTO, Reepeet, and CEO, PaceWorks
Becoming a great engineering leader requires more than technical know-how; Ron and Mickeys book provides a practical cookbook for the important softer side of engineering leadership, which can be applied to any software development organization.
Paul Melmon, VP of Engineering, NICE Systems
EXCELLENT. Well-structured, logical, filled with great personal color and many little gems. You guys have done a great job here. Terrific balance between theory and practice, rich with info.
Joe Kleinschmidt, CEO, Obindo, former CTO, Leverage Software
I started reading the nuggets section and it took fewer than four pages to improve my thinking. What struck me about the nuggets was that I could sense the genesis of this book: two masters of their craft learning from each other. Most books feel like a teacher describing a sterile version of what ought to be done that leaves you wondering, Will this work in the real world? Reading the nuggets felt like the sort of guidance that I would get from a trusted mentoraa mentor who I not only trusted, but one who trusted me to take the wisdom, understand its limits, and apply it correctly. Its concentrated like a Readers Digest for technical management wisdom.
Mike Fauzy, CTO, FauzyLogic
Managing the Unmanageable is a great collection of sometimes-obvious and sometimes-not-obvious guidance for software managers. I wish that I had had this book when I first started managing teams, and it still is illuminating. For programmers who step into management, the hardest thing is to learn the soft skills. Ron and Mickey do a great job of illustrating not just the why but also the how.
Bill Hofmann, VP of Engineering, Klamr.to
Unique dialogue around the human aspects of software development that is very much overdue.
Mart Friedman, CEO and founder, Greenaxle Solutions
The advice provided herein about what to do on a new employees first day of work seems unique and very helpful!
Steven Flannes, PhD, author, People Skills 3.0: Next-Generation Leadership Skills for Project Success
I just wish that I had this book when I started as a first-time manager five years ago!
Kinnar Vora, VP, Product Development and Operations, Sequoia Retail Systems
The book provides insight to a unique group of people: programmers. Companies around the planet have struggled and are still struggling with how to best develop software products. Managing programmers is at the heart of developing software products successfully. Many project and organization leaders are ill-equipped to deal with programmers and software development in general. I think this book can bring insight to leaders of software organizations and help them understand and even get inside the head of programmers and therefore be more effective leaders.
Michael Maitland, CEO (geek-in-charge), WhereTheGeeksRoam
I have enjoyed reading the book very much, and I wish I had it ten years agoprobably would have saved me from making certain mistakes. A lot of what I read is not new to me, but I have never seen so much relevant material assembled in one place. This book was just what I needed. I already feel that Ive benefited from it.
David Vydra, Continuous Delivery Advocate and Software Craftsman, TestDriven.com
I found the book very helpful. It heightened my sensitivity to my staff, even having managed for decades.
Margo Kannenberg, Assistant Director, Application Development, HighWire Press
Mickey was my manager in my first role as programming manager. His real-world, pragmatic, hands-on guidance was a profound positive influence on everything Ive ever done with management since. His is still my go-to advice as I develop and mentor managers. Im pleased that hes taken the time to canonize it in this book so that many more new and experienced managers can benefit from it.
H. B. Siegel, Director, Amazon.com
Mantle and Lichty cut through abstract principles and present proven techniques that can increase the effectiveness of software development organizations. This book deserves a place on the real (or virtual) bookshelf of every software manager who wants to build an outstanding development team and create a culture where everyone enjoys coming to work. Its especially valuable in telling managers what not to do, and how to address the inevitable problems that affect all organizations.
Anthony I. (Tony) Wasserman, Professor of Software Management Practice, Carnegie Mellon UniversitySilicon Valley; ACM Fellow; and IEEE Life Fellow
Mickey was there on Long Island in the mid-1970s when the group now known as Pixar first formed, delivering successful software products then, and was still doing so, as manager, almost two decades later at Pixar itself. He knows what hes talking about.
Alvy Ray Smith, cofounder of Pixar
Ron and Mickey clearly understand how important it is for programmers to work on projects that make a difference and how essential it is for managers to create and foster a unique and innovative culture.
Kathy Baldanza, VPE, Perforce Software
This book is a treasure trove of real-world experiences that will make you a more effective software development manager.
Chris Richardson, founder of the original CloudFoundry.com, and author of POJOs in Action
About the Author
Mickey W. Mantle has been developing software for more than forty years as a software and hardware product creator, manager, and executive for companies that include Evans & Sutherland, Pixar, Broderbund, and Gracenote. He currently develops mobile/tablet applications, writes, and consults.
Ron Lichty has been developing software for thirty years, most of them as a programming manager, director of development, and vice president of products and engineering for companies that include Apple, Fujitsu, Razorfish, and Schwab. He has written four books and hundreds of articles. He consults with startups and companies large and small to unravel the knots in software development and make it hum.
Ron Lichty has been developing software for thirty years, most of them as a programming manager, director of development, and vice president of products and engineering for companies that include Apple, Fujitsu, Razorfish, and Schwab. He has written four books and hundreds of articles. He consults with startups and companies large and small to unravel the knots in software development and make it hum.
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