software engineering

Much of what is written about project management misses the whole point. When managing a "project", you are simply managing people. All the metrics and project management software in the world will not make a successful project. It's the efforts, motivation and skill of the people involved that yield success. Mr. Murch's project management approach begins with people - understanding the necessary skills for the PM, clearly defining project team roles, devoting an entire chapter to team motivation and retention, exploring ways to involve and empower end users. The metrics and methodologies are presented as well, with case studies that clarify and emphasize important points. The book also covers the tricky topics of problem management, risk management and crisis management. I also found the sections on configuration management and release management beneficial. This is project management presented by someone who's lived it in the trenches and truly has "best practices" to share with other professionals and students of the field.

This well written book with incisive text and the author expresses a sense of excitement and optimism about IT Project Management that pervades throughout. The book is broad in its coverage but hits the bulls eye for content,accuracy and quality. The book is particularly strong in the first parts which includes an excellent chapter on the History of Project Management and team building and retention practices.

In section two there is a detailed description of a Software Development Project Lifecycle and well-illustrated description of the tasks and milestones, deliverables. The sections on techniques is well balanced and highly informative with Chapters on Rapid Application Development (RAD),Risk management and others.

This is an important new book in the highly competitive field of Project Management and it comes highly recommended.

Best Practices on Every Page

This is an excellent well-written, concise and extraordinary value book. As a IT professional with over 25 years project management experience I have been looking for a complete guide to PM - and now I have found it. The book leads the reader through the phases, issues, techniques and best practices in the industry. I shall be using it for teaching PM best practices in my corporation from now on as well as recommending it to other managers.

It is an exceptional well produced book, with well-illustrated diagrams and explanations where appropriate. It has clarity and style - unlike many PM books. I was also surprised to find a FREE class questions and answers available from the publishers in a separate volume.

Clearly Murch knows his craft and what makes good ( and bad ) project management. I would encourage Murch to write another follow-on book in the same style and quality that deals with advanced IT PM techniques. For a book like that is clearly needed in the IT industry.

Must recommend this book for all interested in PM, IT professionals and end users, seniro IT management and students

Thank you,