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Lessons in Agile Management: On the Road to Kanban
David J. Anderson describes this collection as "The Missing Link in the Evolution of Kanban." Anderson developed the Kanban Method over years spent managing and coaching Agile development teams, at companies such as Sprint, Motorola and Microsoft, by integrating Lean thinking with Agile principles and practices. This compendium of anecdotes and epiphanies tells a very personal story as he shares his journey on the road to Kanban - now a popular method for improving predictability while managing change and risk in organizations worldwide.
This collection of over 150 articles compiled from the Agile Management blog and several other sources represents 12 years of invaluable insights by David J. Anderson in managing software development from 1999 through to 2011. Each article has been carefully selected and grouped into one of 16 chapters on topics such as Leadership, Management, Peter Drucker, Theory of Constraints and Eli Goldratt, W. Edwards Deming, Human Resource Departments and Policies, Agile, Lean and Leading Change Initiatives. Each chapter is introduced with contemporary commentary explaining its relevance and contribution to both Agile and Kanban.
This book might have been titled, "The Very Best of Agile Management Blog" but that would do it an injustice. Each article has been lovingly reworked from the original to provide a coherent flowing story that introduces both the need for Kanban and how it emerged as a leading method for improving agility in knowledge work organizations. Many articles are enhanced with new observations and reflection on how the Agile community has progressed since original publication. In total there are around 20,000 words of current insights explaining why Kanban is necessary and what makes it an important innovation in the development of Agile methods.
This collection of over 150 articles compiled from the Agile Management blog and several other sources represents 12 years of invaluable insights by David J. Anderson in managing software development from 1999 through to 2011. Each article has been carefully selected and grouped into one of 16 chapters on topics such as Leadership, Management, Peter Drucker, Theory of Constraints and Eli Goldratt, W. Edwards Deming, Human Resource Departments and Policies, Agile, Lean and Leading Change Initiatives. Each chapter is introduced with contemporary commentary explaining its relevance and contribution to both Agile and Kanban.
This book might have been titled, "The Very Best of Agile Management Blog" but that would do it an injustice. Each article has been lovingly reworked from the original to provide a coherent flowing story that introduces both the need for Kanban and how it emerged as a leading method for improving agility in knowledge work organizations. Many articles are enhanced with new observations and reflection on how the Agile community has progressed since original publication. In total there are around 20,000 words of current insights explaining why Kanban is necessary and what makes it an important innovation in the development of Agile methods.
434 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2012
8 people are currently reading
222 people want to read
About the author
David J. Anderson
32 books63 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
David is an innovator in management thinking for 21st Century businesses. Author and pioneer of the Kanban Method he has more than 30 years’ experience working in the high-technology industry. David previously worked at IBM, Sprint, Motorola, and Microsoft where he developed the Kanban Method to greatly improving business outcomes on an enterprise-scale.
Originator of the Kanban Method, and co-creator of the Kanban Maturity Model, the Fit-for-Purpose Framework, and Enterprise Services Planning. David is a global leader in management training and leadership development for professional services, and intangible goods industries.
He is the author of 7 leading books for modern business with the most renowned being published in 2010 “KANBAN: Successful Evolutionary Change for Your Technology Business” which is in the top 5 best-selling Agile books of all time.
David also founded Kanban University, which includes over 400 accredited trainers and consultants. In addition, he created multiple global Kanban conferences and is the Chairman of the David J. Anderson School of Management which provides training in 21st-century business practices for enterprise agility, business resilience, and organizational maturity.
The group of companies founded by David is held within Mauvius Group Inc. This group of companies is focused on improving the quality of management, leadership, and decision making for 21st-century businesses.
David is an innovator in management thinking for 21st Century businesses. Author and pioneer of the Kanban Method he has more than 30 years’ experience working in the high-technology industry. David previously worked at IBM, Sprint, Motorola, and Microsoft where he developed the Kanban Method to greatly improving business outcomes on an enterprise-scale.
Originator of the Kanban Method, and co-creator of the Kanban Maturity Model, the Fit-for-Purpose Framework, and Enterprise Services Planning. David is a global leader in management training and leadership development for professional services, and intangible goods industries.
He is the author of 7 leading books for modern business with the most renowned being published in 2010 “KANBAN: Successful Evolutionary Change for Your Technology Business” which is in the top 5 best-selling Agile books of all time.
David also founded Kanban University, which includes over 400 accredited trainers and consultants. In addition, he created multiple global Kanban conferences and is the Chairman of the David J. Anderson School of Management which provides training in 21st-century business practices for enterprise agility, business resilience, and organizational maturity.
The group of companies founded by David is held within Mauvius Group Inc. This group of companies is focused on improving the quality of management, leadership, and decision making for 21st-century businesses.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 22, 2019
The second half!
The book initially was pretty difficult to be read by me - a collection of blogposts, not seeing the organising force behind them.
Now, this has changed in the second half of the book - the articles there were like a goldmine!
I'd recommend it to all, who are interested in organisational change in their role! :)
The book initially was pretty difficult to be read by me - a collection of blogposts, not seeing the organising force behind them.
Now, this has changed in the second half of the book - the articles there were like a goldmine!
I'd recommend it to all, who are interested in organisational change in their role! :)
December 24, 2013
Yupp, only 3 stars.
Mainly for two reasons:
1.) Nothing has changed - I still hate blog post collections turned to books. I find the chaotic, the "flow" of reading is disturbed and doesn't feel like aiming at any particular point. This didn't work out for many good authors (including Umberto Eco) and it doesn't work for David Anderson either.
2.) Waiting for a book for 1.5yr can make your expectations skyrocket and in this particular case that's what happened for me. Unfortunately, contrary to what I was thinking, this book somehow belongs between past Anderson's books - you could even call it a "prequel" to "Kanban". That's why you won't find anything new and breathe-taking here. There's no additional "layer", no new ideas that would enhance Kanban.
Obviously, it doesn't mean the book is a waste - you can see (and track) how some ideas developed and evolved, how D.A. was shifting towards where he belongs right now - I can't call it boring, but there's no "wow" effect, as if you've already read "Kanban" you won't find anything new here really.
Anyway, it's a nice read and it won't put you to sleep. But in terms of order, it's better if you read it before "Kanban".
Mainly for two reasons:
1.) Nothing has changed - I still hate blog post collections turned to books. I find the chaotic, the "flow" of reading is disturbed and doesn't feel like aiming at any particular point. This didn't work out for many good authors (including Umberto Eco) and it doesn't work for David Anderson either.
2.) Waiting for a book for 1.5yr can make your expectations skyrocket and in this particular case that's what happened for me. Unfortunately, contrary to what I was thinking, this book somehow belongs between past Anderson's books - you could even call it a "prequel" to "Kanban". That's why you won't find anything new and breathe-taking here. There's no additional "layer", no new ideas that would enhance Kanban.
Obviously, it doesn't mean the book is a waste - you can see (and track) how some ideas developed and evolved, how D.A. was shifting towards where he belongs right now - I can't call it boring, but there's no "wow" effect, as if you've already read "Kanban" you won't find anything new here really.
Anyway, it's a nice read and it won't put you to sleep. But in terms of order, it's better if you read it before "Kanban".
August 12, 2012
David openly tells the story, the insights, inspirations and events that has shaped what has come to be known as the Kanban Method.
Along the way you'll not only find principles illustrated by the personal fashion disaster that used to be Davids wardrobe you'll also get acquainted with many in the Agile community lesser known thinkers. Reading it is very much feels like having a trusted conversation with a friend, the sort that while brilliant in his own accord freely shares the credit with those who've inspired, helped and contributed.
I believe that practitioners at all levels will find something worthwhile in this book.
Along the way you'll not only find principles illustrated by the personal fashion disaster that used to be Davids wardrobe you'll also get acquainted with many in the Agile community lesser known thinkers. Reading it is very much feels like having a trusted conversation with a friend, the sort that while brilliant in his own accord freely shares the credit with those who've inspired, helped and contributed.
I believe that practitioners at all levels will find something worthwhile in this book.
July 8, 2012
David is a great story teller and here through a variety of stories
he manages to drive home key underlying principles of lean/agile
management as well as cool tips and practices. If you are a manager
trying to lead a lean/agile organization you will greatly enjoy this
book. Lean/agile industry insiders will also appreciate the fresh
perspective on David's journey and the birth of the Kanban Method.
I especially liked the discussion of TOC/Goldratt, Role of management as well as the traffic/transportation examples.
he manages to drive home key underlying principles of lean/agile
management as well as cool tips and practices. If you are a manager
trying to lead a lean/agile organization you will greatly enjoy this
book. Lean/agile industry insiders will also appreciate the fresh
perspective on David's journey and the birth of the Kanban Method.
I especially liked the discussion of TOC/Goldratt, Role of management as well as the traffic/transportation examples.
September 11, 2013
It´s so difficult for a book that is a compendium of blog posts to be a pleasant reading. However, this book was a great surprise. It shows in a very soft reading how David had arrived to ideas of Kanban. This is also a historical book about agile software development. It has a lot of pages, but it´s enjoyable to go through them. Definitely a great reading for those involved in agile software development.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews