The Accidental Project Manager: Surviving the Transition from Techie to Manager

"I found much to admire in The Accidental Project Manager, Ensworth’s book of useful and always gentle advice for the novice manager."–Tom DeMarco, Author of Slack: Getting Past Burnout

Busywork, and the Myth of Total Efficiency

"In an engaging style, Ensworth poses hundreds of thought-provoking questions that will help both new and seasoned project managers get a solid grip on the myriad aspects of a complex software project."–Karl Wiegers, Process Impact

You’ve just been asked to manage a software development project. Where do you begin? In The Accidental Project Manager, seasoned guide Patricia Ensworth calmly walks you through every aspect and challenge of this new and exciting experience. This "cheat sheet" provides you with practical advice and critical information you need to manage successful software projects.

To help you successfully manage your projects, Ensworth provides you with all of the forms you’ll encounter during your project, when you’ll need them, and how to use them.

With minimum jargon and maximum common sense, you’ll learn about:

• The various associates who become members of your team, upon whose skills and efforts you will depend
• The four major phases of a software development project and the project manager’s role within each phase
• Ways in which different organizations vary with regard to the responsibilities of the software quality assurance group
• All the necessary steps for planning and budgeting your software project
• Advice on how to evaluate the software project managers who may report to you and how you can help them do a better job

The companion Web site at www.wiley.com/compbooks/ensworth includes:

• Downloadable Microsoft Word templates for all the forms discussed in the book
• Additional forms and templates that can be adapted for use in your software project
• Links to valuable resources

Wiley Computer Publishing
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Visit our Web site at www.wiley.com/compbooks/
Visit the companion Web site at www.wiley.com/compbooks/ensworth