Advice for a New Software Project Manager?

Tom O'Neill asks: "I have recently been promoted to 'Manager of Software Development' at the small business I work for. I have been developing web-based software professionally for about 6 years. I have seen the software development cycle work and I have seen it fail. Are there any project managers out there with some advice for a green horn like myself? Are there any books or other reading material that I could read in order to manage a software project effectively?"

Comments

History

[telstar]

Pay attention to history ... It's bound to repeat itself.

Heh

[Safety Cap]

I am a Project Manager, having worked my way up from the trenches. I've been a PM for 6 years, developer for > 15.

My advice to you is to get the hell out now while you still can.

All joking aside, get yourself certified; that will give you a base of knowledge that will help you understand what you're doing.

The following a Must Reads:

• The Mythical Man-Month
• Code Complete
• Rapid Development

I personally don't jive with RD, but the book is an excellent source of knowledge and is applicable outside of RD. Also, get yourself educated in risk management and estimations (work breakdowns). I haven't seen any good books on either -- maybe I need to write one :)

Good luck.

Re:Heh

[ebbe11]

The following a Must Reads:

• The Mythical Man-Month

By Frederick P. Brooks.

• Code Complete
• Rapid Development

By Steve McConnell.

But the most important book is Software Project Survival Guide by the same author. This is exactly what you need. Get it and read from cover to cover. Repeat that once a year until the people manage can finish your quotes from it.

Another thing

[Safety Cap]

You'll do yourself a favor if you network with other IT PMs.

Many people have been where you are now; tap their experience and avoid the pitfalls they got to live through.

You can find a bunch at the local PMI Chapter.