The complete software project manager : mastering technology from planning to launch and beyond / Anna P. Murray.

Includes index.

FORWARD xvii -- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xix -- ABOUT THE AUTHOR xxi -- INTRODUCTION xxiii -- CHAPTER 1 Software Development Explained: Creativity Meets Complexity 1 -- CHAPTER 2 Agile, Waterfall, and the Key to Modern Project Management 7 -- CHAPTER 3 Project Approaches; Off-the-Shelf and Custom Development; One Comprehensive Tool and Specialized Tools; Phased Launches and Pilots 17 -- CHAPTER 4 Teams and Team Roles and Responsibilities Defined 29 -- CHAPTER 5 Project Research and Technology Choice; Conflicts at the Start of Projects; Four Additional Project Delays; Initial Pitfalls 55 -- CHAPTER 6 Final Discovery; Project Definition, Scope, and Documentation 77 -- CHAPTER 7 Budgeting: The Budgeting Methods; Comparative, Bottom-Up, Top-Down, and Blends; Accurate Estimating 101 -- CHAPTER 8 Project Risks: The Five Most Common Project Hazards and What to Do About Them; Budgeting and Risk 115 -- CHAPTER 9 Communication; Project Communication Strategy; from Project Kickoff to Daily Meetings 129 -- CHAPTER 10 The Project Execution Phase: Diagnosing Project Health; Scope Compromises 145 -- CHAPTER 11 First Deliverables: Testing, QA, and Project Health Continued 159 -- CHAPTER 12 Problems: Identifying and Troubleshooting the Three Most Serious Project Problems; Criteria for Cancellation 169 -- CHAPTER 13 Launch and Post-Launch: UAT, Security Testing, Performance Testing, Go Live, Rollback Criteria, and Support Mode 183 -- APPENDIX 201-- GLOSSARY 215 -- INDEX 223.

Your answer to the software project management gap The Complete Software Project Manager: From Planning to Launch and Beyond addresses an interesting problem experienced by today's project managers: they are often leading software projects, but have no background in technology. To close this gap in experience and help you improve your software project management skills, this essential text covers key topics, including: how to understand software development and why it is so difficult, how to plan a project, choose technology platforms, and develop project specifications, how to staff a project, how to develop a budget, test software development progress, and troubleshoot problems, and what to do when it all goes wrong. Real-life examples, hints, and management tools help you apply these new ideas, and lists of red flags, danger signals, and things to avoid at all costs assist in keeping your project on track. Companies have, due to the nature of the competitive environment, been somewhat forced to adopt new technologies. Oftentimes, the professionals leading the development of these technologies do not have any experience in the tech field and this can cause problems. To improve efficiency and effectiveness, this groundbreaking book offers guidance to professionals who need a crash course in software project management. * Review the basics of software project management, and dig into the more complicated topics that guide you in developing an effective management approach * Avoid common pitfalls by perusing red flags, danger signals, and things to avoid at all costs * Leverage practical roadmaps, charts, and step-by-step processes * Explore real-world examples to see effective software project management in action The Complete Software Project Manager: From Planning to Launch and Beyond is a fundamental resource for professionals who are leading software projects but do not have a background in technology. -- Provided by publisher.