Surprise! Now You're a Software Project Manager

Charles R. Crawford, a former associate professor of computer science at
York University, is a computer programming and mathematics consultant in
Toronto.

It has been estimated that 80 percent of major software development
projects worldwide are not completed within their committed schedules.
Pressures resulting from workload rise are cited as one of the leading
causes of failure to meet project deadlines.

De Baar’s short monograph describes some planning approaches that he
believes will increase a manager’s chances of success. One of the
book’s key themes is the importance of communicating with stakeholders
throughout the project. To facilitate that process, the author includes
detailed instructions on holding a workshop for stakeholders. The
book’s appendix provides short descriptions of popular project
planning methods. The appendix is followed by a bibliography but no
index.

De Baar’s writing style is rambling and conversational, and his book
would have more credibility if it were supported by examples based on
his own experiences in software development, rather than by folksy
anecdotes that are drawn from real life but have no connection with
software projects.