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Managing Humans: Biting and Humorous Tales of a Software Engineering Manager
 
 
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Managing Humans: Biting and Humorous Tales of a Software Engineering Manager [Paperback]

Michael Lopp (Author)
3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)

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Book Description

159059844X 978-1590598443 June 22, 2007 1

Managing Humans is a selection of the best essays from Michael Lopp's popular website http://www.randsinrepose.com/. Lopp is one of the most sought-after IT managers in Silicon Valley, and draws on his experiences at Apple, Netscape, Symantec, and Borland. Among his fans is the incomparable Joel Spolsky (author of Joel on Software), who first suggested this book.

The book covers handling conflict, managing wildly differing personality types, infusing innovation into insane product schedules, and figuring out how to build lasting and useful engineering culture. The essays are biting, hilarious, and always informative.


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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Michael Lopp is a Senior Software Engineering Manager for Apple Computer. His previous positions as an IT manager include such companies as Icarian, Netscape, Symantec, and Borland.

He is the author of the popular website http://www.randsinrepose.com/.


Product Details

  • Paperback: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Apress; 1 edition (June 22, 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 159059844X
  • ISBN-13: 978-1590598443
  • Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #74,302 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

44 Reviews
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3 star:
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Average Customer Review
3.7 out of 5 stars (44 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Valuable insights for both the manager and the "manage-ee"..., July 14, 2007
This review is from: Managing Humans: Biting and Humorous Tales of a Software Engineering Manager (Paperback)
Managing people is difficult. Managing software engineers is something completely different. Michael Lopp brings his experience to bear in the book Managing Humans: Biting and Humorous Tales of a Software Engineering Manager. Wickedly funny, and dangerously accurate...

Contents:
Part 1 - Management Quiver: Don't Be A Prick; Managers Are Not Evil; The Monday Freakout; Agenda Detection; Mandate Dissection; Information Starvation; Subtlety, Subterfuge, And Silence; Managementese; Technicality; Avoiding The Fez; Your Resignation Checklist; Saying No
Part 2 - The Process Is The Product: 1.0, Taking Time To Think; The Soak; Malcolm Events; Capturing Context; Status Reports 2.0; Trickle Theory
Part 3 - Versions Of You: A Glimpse And A Hook; Nailing The Phone Screen; Ninety Days; Bellwethers; NADD; A Nerd In A Cave; Meeting Creatures; Incrementalists And Completionists; Organics And Mechanics; Inwards, Outwards, And Holistics; Free Electrons; Rules For The Reorg; Offshore Risk Factor; Joe; Secret Titles
Glossary; Index

Although the title would lead you to believe that the book is targeted for managers, that's not really the case. Yes, software managers will get a *lot* from these pages, but so will any other software professional being managed (that should cover everyone). Lopp, aka "Rands", has spent many years on the front lines of management, from larger companies to startups. In a "cut to the chase" fashion (with words you likely won't see in any other management book), he shares his insights and knowledge when it comes to dealing with the strange and often bizarre world of software development. You'll learn the underlying cause of the Monday morning "freakout", and what's really being said behind the emotional outburst. You'll understand what happens when your staff is starved for information (not a good thing). And something I've already used... figuring out the players in a meeting, and what the real agenda is.

Much of part 1 is devoted to the management side, but parts 2 and 3 are more general in nature, and apply to your own well-being. The Soak is something that we often don't allow ourselves the luxury of, but it's critical to sorting through your thoughts and ideas. A Nerd In A Cave does a great job explaining why we set up our work area as we do. And if you've ever had an argument with someone over the merits of a particular solution to a problem, you'll immediately relate to Incrementalists and Completionists. I know that explains a lot about my approach to problem resolution...

This is one of those reads that is both enjoyable and valuable. You'll either learn to manage better, or learn how to be managed better. You may even learn how to manage yourself while you're at it.
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33 of 38 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Some good content, but needs an editor, July 25, 2007
By 
A. Pukinskis "alex025" (Boulder, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Managing Humans: Biting and Humorous Tales of a Software Engineering Manager (Paperback)
I'm torn, because there's a lot of great content in this book on management responsibilities, how to handle specific management problems, and how developers can understand managers.

But the book is really choppy. Topics shift abruptly in the middle of chapters without transitions, headings have nothing to do with the content that follows then, and the chapters don't flow together. The style is downright strange at times. There are whole paragraphs full of incomprehensible colloquial gobbledygook. The author occasionally refers to himself in the third person as "Rands", but only at random, which just serves to make the book harder to read.

I usually inhale books like this in a day or so, but I've been working on this one for weeks and am barely a hundred pages in.

If you need practical software management advice, do buy this book, but be prepared to do a lot of work to get value out of it. And let's hope Mr. Lopp can find a skilled editor for a second edition that really helps this great information shine.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Definitely not the best book on management, June 23, 2008
By 
Leonardo Bueno (Vitória, ES Brazil) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Managing Humans: Biting and Humorous Tales of a Software Engineering Manager (Paperback)
I've read a couple of Rand's posts on his blog and thought it'd be nice to be able to read the edited, reviewed and improved paper version... I should have saved my money. It's not that the book is useless, but it doesn't adds to much value to the blog posts. Also, not all chapters are worth reading, so you pay for a lot of bad stuff too.
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Inside This Book (learn more)
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
crazy town, agenda detection, bug database, phone screen, sales folks
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
The Management Quiver, The Process Is the Product, Managers Are Not Evil, Silicon Valley, Mike the New Guy, Long Stare, Chatty Patty, Joe Blow, Members Only
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