From Book News, Inc.
The authors, consultants in risk and management, show how to identify and embrace worthwhile risks in software development and offer strategies for common risks that software projects face, such as schedule flaws, requirements inflation, and specification breakdown.Copyright © 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Edward Yourdon
" . . . destined to become the Bible for serious IT professionals and project managers."

Conrad Weisert, IDINews
"Advice projects must not ignore (but often do) . . . A must for the project manager (and his or her boss)."

Rob Austin, Professor, Harvard Business School
"The seminal work on managing software project risk. . . . Finally we have a guide to risk management . . . ."

Michael Schrage, Co-Director of MIT Media Lab’s e-Markets Initiative, Author of Serious Play
"Bold, provocative yet coolly pragmatic . . ."

Paul Gray, Information Systems Management
"The book is a brilliant tour de force. . . . should be on your bookshelf . . . ."

Book Description
Any software project that's worth starting will be vulnerable to risk. Since greater risks bring greater rewards, a company that runs away from risk will soon find itself lagging behind its more adventurous competition. By ignoring the threat of negative outcomes—in the name of positive thinking or a Can-Do attitude—software managers drive their organizations into the ground. In Waltzing with Bears, Tom DeMarco and Timothy Lister—the best-selling authors of Peopleware—show readers how to identify and embrace worthwhile risks. Developers are then set free to push the limits. You'll find that risk management * makes aggressive risk-taking possible * protects management from getting blindsided * provides minimum-cost downside protection * reveals invisible transfers of responsibility * isolates the failure of a subproject. Readers are taught to identify the most common risks faced by software projects: * schedule flaws * requirements inflation * turnover * specification breakdown * and under-performance. Packed with provocative insights, real-world examples, and project-saving tips, Waltzing with Bears is your guide to mitigating the risks—before they turn into problems.

SYNOPSIS