On Time Within Budget: Software Project Management Practices and Techniques, 3rd Edition [Paperback]

E. M. Bennatan (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471376442 | ISBN-13: 978-0471376446 | Publication Date: May 24, 2000 | Edition: 3

A developer's survival guide packed with real-life case

studies, tips, techniques, and best practices for completing software projects on time and within budget

Whether you work at a large or small company, this book will provide you with expert, down-in-the-trenches tips, techniques, and strategies to deliver a software project in a cost-effective and timely way. Real-life case studies let you learn from the mistakes as well as the successes of others. Author E. M. Bennatan zeroes in on proven methods for avoiding bottlenecks and overruns at every step in the software development cycle--from cost estimating to product delivery.

The Third Edition of this bestselling guide routes you directly to what you need to know about:
* Managing both small and large projects in a distributed environment
* Common development problems and how to avoid them
* Preparing estimates and proposals and bidding for contracts
* Managing teams for maximum quality and productivity
* Proven scheduling and project development planning techniques

New to this edition:
* How best to ensure an effective relationship with customers
* Risk management and disaster prevention
* The pros and cons of acquiring custom software from outside suppliers
* Managing multinational projects
* How to save time by reusing software components

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

A developer's survival guide packed with real-life case

studies, tips, techniques, and best practices for completing software projects on time and within budget

Whether you work at a large or small company, this book will provide you with expert, down-in-the-trenches tips, techniques, and strategies to deliver a software project in a cost-effective and timely way. Real-life case studies let you learn from the mistakes as well as the successes of others. Author E. M. Bennatan zeroes in on proven methods for avoiding bottlenecks and overruns at every step in the software development cycle--from cost estimating to product delivery.

The Third Edition of this bestselling guide routes you directly to what you need to know about:
* Managing both small and large projects in a distributed environment
* Common development problems and how to avoid them
* Preparing estimates and proposals and bidding for contracts
* Managing teams for maximum quality and productivity
* Proven scheduling and project development planning techniques

New to this edition:
* How best to ensure an effective relationship with customers
* Risk management and disaster prevention
* The pros and cons of acquiring custom software from outside suppliers
* Managing multinational projects
* How to save time by reusing software components

About the Author

E. M. BENNATAN spent many years leading a multinational software design center for Motorola. He was also responsible for program management of Motorola's High Availability Systems Corporate-wide Initiative. Bennatan has over twenty years' experience in software development and software project management and is a member of the IEEE Computer Society and the ACM.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 3 edition (May 24, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471376442
• ISBN-13: 978-0471376446
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #826,347 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent S/W Project Management Book, September 12, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: On Time Within Budget: Software Project Management Practices and Techniques, 3rd Edition (Paperback)

I had been using the second edition of On Time Within Budget but this third edition is a major improvement. Especially the epilog that gave me a great summary of how to implement the theories in the book. The book is excellent as a reference source and includes almost all the information I need to run a software project. I found the summaries at the end of each chapter to be a great help. The section on estimates is one of the most useful I have read anywhere. Only criticism is that it should be hardcover.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Reference Text, February 28, 2001

By 

"reshef99" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: On Time Within Budget: Software Project Management Practices and Techniques, 3rd Edition (Paperback)

This is a great reference book -- I look up examples and methods regularly. I have been managing software development for several years and this is the first real project management book I have found that isn't full of sky-high theories. There are many down-to-earth ideas that I have implemented successfully. Risk Analysis (chapter 2) is a must, and Organizational Excellence (Chapter 10) should be read by every software organization (especially the opening anecdote). I really like the common sense epilogue -- If you don't do anything else do this. A classic.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good reference even for non-software managers, March 26, 2002

By 

Frank Byou (Forth Worth, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: On Time Within Budget: Software Project Management Practices and Techniques, 3rd Edition (Paperback)

I don't usually write reviews but I was prompted to do this one because I strongly disagree with a preceding review. I am an EE senior manager and software development had always been a mystery to me until I got hold of On Time, Within Budget. I particularly found the following chapters helpful: Chapter 1 which includes reasons for project success and failure, Chapter 2 on risk management and how to reduce the cost of risk events, Chapter 5 on the management of software engineers, and most especially the Epilogue on pulling it all together, which provides a great overall perspective.

This book is full of real-life examples; it was clearly written by someone who has been down in the trenches. This adds credibility to the methods described.

I have learned a lot from the book and I use it as a reference regularly.