The Economics of Iterative Software Development : Steering Toward Better Business Results

by Walker Royce

Description Effective softwaredevelopment is no longer merely an IT concern: today, it is crucialto the entire enterprise. However, most businesspeople are notready to make informed decisions about software initiatives. The Economics of Iterative Software Development: Steering TowardBetter Business Results will prepare them. Drawing on decadesof software development and business experience, the authorsdemonstrate how to utilize practical, economics-based techniques toplan and manage software projects for maximum return on technologyinvestments. The authors begin by dispelling widespread myths aboutsoftware costs, explaining why traditional, "engineering-based"software management introduces unacceptable inefficiencies intoday's development environments. Next, they show business andtechnical managers how to combine the principles of economics anditerative development to achieve optimal results with limitedresources. Using their techniques, readers will learn how to buildsystems that enable maximum business innovation and processimprovement?and implement software processes that allow them to doso consistently. The Economics of Iterative Software Development: Steering TowardBetter Business Results will help both business and technicalmanagers make better decisions throughout the software developmentprocess?and it will help team and project leaders keep any projector initiative on track, so they can deliver more value faster. For Sale in Indiansubcontinent only Build software to interact with customers and help deliver goodsand services in new and innovative ways Industry observers see this synergy of business concerns and IT projects as the fastest growing topic of interest to both groups A compact and easily-digestible book that explains the key terms behind software success and failure from a business perspective Borrows from real-world case studies and helps team leaders and managers understand why software costs what it does Preface About the Authors Part I: The

264 pages, Paperback

First published March 17, 2009

Reviews

[Bob Schatz]

Congratulations Walker for communicating what your father Winston tried to tell the software world 40 years ago. The waterfall was a "virus" wrongfully extracted from Winston Royce's famous 1970 paper "Managing the Development of Large Software Systems". You should have dedicated the book to him!

While some things in this book may be misleading for the agile novice, it contains the sound advice and core reasons why companies need to improve by implementing agile processes. The basic premise is sound and the key factors of reducing complexity, getting the right people, improving the process, and creating a great development environment will help companies ready to make that commitment have a much better chance of beating the odds.

[Ben Linders · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book covers iterative development, and how companies can apply it. It didn't give me real new insights or ideas. Also, in a book with "economics" in the title I would expect more data or examples on how to define the business case for iterative development.