Managing the Software Process [Hardcover]

Watts S. Humphrey (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0201180952 | ISBN-13: 978-0201180954 | Publication Date: January 11, 1989

The author, drawing on years of experience at IBM and the SEI, provides here practical guidance for improving the software development and maintenance process. He focuses on understanding and managing the software process because this is where he feels organizations now encounter the most serious problems, and where he feels there is the best opportunity for significant improvement. Both program managers and practicing programmers, whether working on small programs or large-scale projects, will learn how good their own software process is, how they can make their process better, and where they need to begin. "This book will help you move beyond the turning point, or crisis, of feeling over-whelmed by the task of managing the software process to understanding what is essential in software management and what you can do about it." Peter Freeman, from the Foreword 0201180952B04062001

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The author, drawing on years of experience at IBM and the SEI, provides here practical guidance for improving the software development and maintenance process. He focuses on understanding and managing the software process because this is where he feels organizations now encounter the most serious problems, and where he feels there is the best opportunity for significant improvement. Both program managers and practicing programmers, whether working on small programs or large-scale projects, will learn how good their own software process is, how they can make their process better, and where they need to begin.

"This book will help you move beyond the turning point, or crisis, of feeling over-whelmed by the task of managing the software process to understanding what is essential in software management and what you can do about it." Peter Freeman, from the Foreword

0201180952B04062001

About the Author

Known as “the father of software quality,” Watts S. Humphrey is the author of numerous influential books on the software-development process and software process improvement. Humphrey is a fellow of the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) at Carnegie Mellon University, where he founded the Software Process Program and provided the vision and early leadership for the original Capability Maturity Model (CMM). He also is the creator of the Personal Software Process (PSP) and Team Software Process (TSP). Recently, he was awarded the National Medal of Technology—the highest honor given by the president of the United States to America's leading innovators.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 512 pages
• Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional (January 11, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201180952
• ISBN-13: 978-0201180954
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #461,507 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the inspiration for the CMM, and darned good!, March 30, 1999

By 

John A. Kostecki ([e-mail]) (Rochester, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Managing the Software Process (Hardcover)

This was Watts Humphries book which inspired others at the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) to develop a model called the Capability Maturity Model for Software. The book attempts to debunk the fantasies of modern software development, such as "Superprogrammers" and "Best People." What is offered instead is a common sense approach which says that you can develop software using realistic schedules and have realistic expectations of quality if you follow common sense processes (roadmaps) for project management and quality.

There is not much mystery or razzle-dazzle in this book. I think that most of the programmers and managers who read it are usually nodding their heads in agreement with most of the ideas. Problem for us process war horses is that we lose track of what is the bottom line in software development - having a successful project. Definition: A reliable plan, on-time delivery, within the originally stated cost, and within or exceeding the requirements for quality.

The book does not have the acronym CMM in the title, but Humphries describes the maturity levels of a software engineering in the same context of the levels of software process maturity: Initial, Repeatable, Defined, Managed and Optimized. His approach is to look at the main features of each level, such as Project Plan, Software Configuration Management and Software Quality Assurance as part of the Repeatable Process.

I recommend that anyone interested in software process improvement read this book and internalize it before moving into the CMM for Software because it sets the background philosophy for the CMM. Ther are many errors which people make in trying to implement the CMM, such as compartmentalizing the maturity levels and Key Process Areas. If "Managing the Software Process" is read and understood in its entirety first, some of the mistakes may be avoided.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars true meat and bones, July 15, 2003

By 

Cheng Linda "lindacheng" (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Managing the Software Process (Hardcover)

This book is all meat and bones for anybody wanting an indepth study of the software development process. If you've graduated passed Steve McConnell's Microsoft press series, then it is time for you to move on to Watts Humphrey. I am tasked to design all the software development processes in my company and Rapid Development (and other McConnell) books only helped me in the initially phases of designing the process. When it comes to nitty gritty details, Humphrey nailed it.

The book is full of sample forms and checklists for the processes you need to put in place. Processes are broken down into generic but specific terms so that it is easily applied/tailored to your company. I was having problems with expressing the interleaving nature of the sets of processes in configuration management (version control, code review, QA, build management, ...). Humphrey's book somehow was able to express that (in other terminologies of course).

Definite must buy for anyone who is part of an SEPG or Project Manager for software development.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic, September 26, 2000

By 

JB (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Managing the Software Process (Hardcover)

This is a classic book that every software developer and manager should read. It explains the concepts behind the five levels of CMM. I know that might sound boring, but the author does a good job of keeping the book reasonably interesting. Most of what you read will sound like common sense, but in practice many companies do not use a lot of common sense when it comes to software development. So this book can serve as a guide to help software development organizations set realistic goals for process improvement.