Software Project Management Kit for Dummies [Paperback]

Greg Mandanis (Author), Allen Wyatt (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 076450634X | ISBN-13: 978-0764506345 | Publication Date: May 15, 2000

The seasoned programmer and novice alike find this reference the ideal resource for getting a project off to the right start. Friendly, practical advice is combined with the latest software in this ...For Dummies edition. Follow your expert guide through planning, development, testing, and implementation -- the first steps to your project's success. Then get your hands on scheduling, assigning resources and estimating costs, and best of all, making your software happen.

The book's CD-ROM includes trial versions of Microsoft Project 2000, Soffrant TRACK, and Cost Xpert as well as templates and a wealth of other planning tools.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Discover how to:

Put your project on the path to success
Manage tasks, resources, and progress with Microsoft Project
Stay on top of builds, bugs, and betas
Implement Software Quality Assurance (SQA) testing
Build customer-care programs

All this and a BONUS CD-ROM, including:
Trial versions of Microsoft Project 2000 (for plans, schedules, and Gantt charts); Soffront TRACK (for defect tracking); and Cost Xpert (for cost and resource estimation)
Plus exclusive templates for Microsoft Project, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and more!

From the Author

You've probably heard all the media hype concerning eCommerce and software start-up, overnight, billionaire success stories. You may be wondering how you can work on a software or eCommerce project so you can cash in on your stock options and get rich too.

However, the alarming reality is that about one-half of the estimated 300,000 software projects in the United States will fail due to poor planning, or inexperienced project managers and project teams.

If you are a new or experienced project manager, or team member of a new software project, but you don't have the tools, or know where to begin, don't worry be happy!

With the Software Project Management Kit For Dummies as your toolkit and your handy reference, you will find step-by-step instructions that will show you how to quickly and easily create successful software projects that are on schedule and under budget!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 350 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies (May 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076450634X
• ISBN-13: 978-0764506345
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,223,152 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CD full of PM Forms/Document Templates Never Seen Before !, November 21, 2000

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Software Project Management Kit for Dummies (Paperback)

I've just wrapped up reading "Software Project Management for Dummies" book and would like to start by saying thank you. There are several Software PM books out there though it seems that the majority focus on a highly technical perspective or on basic communication tactics. I am to interview Monday for a Software PM position (am currently an Internet PM) and your book has helped me address the differences between the two.

I came across the book after combing through nearly 15 software pm books. I despise the title "for dummies" and had not picked it up until I was frustrated with the current offerings. As mentioned, they primarily dealt with highly technical software processes or people skills. Hardly any even mentioned a scope document! The CD has proven to be an enormous resource for myself. Those are the forms/documents needed for monitoring and progression of projects that I have not seen anywhere.

Thanks for the book and any tips that may follow.

Regards, Jason L. Volk

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Super reference, August 8, 2000

By 

Robert McDermott (San Antonio, Texas USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Software Project Management Kit for Dummies (Paperback)

The book is a very good reference for beginners. I am a professional educator with Webster University and teach a graduate level course in software project management. I have had approximately 30 years experience with project management in general and 10 years experience with software project management. The material on the enclosed CD-ROM is excellent for beginners to use to get acquainted with the tools of the trade.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good reference, November 13, 2001

By 

Christo "montxsuz" (Vancouver, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Software Project Management Kit for Dummies (Paperback)

I bought the "Complete Idiot's Guide to Project Management" first, then found this title on the shelves. So I bought The Dummies book and gave The Idiot's book away.

The Dummies book is a good reference for people dabbling in project management. It is well structured, well laid-out, and well written. At the same time it cuts the (...)found in so many heavy-duty management books.

Particularly useful are the templates found all through the book - and the CD with digital copies of them all. I have introduced many of these templates into my workplace, with slight modifications.

Negatives? The absence of UML and Object Oriented development processes.