“PSP – a self-improvement process for Software Engineers” 2005

By Watts S. Humphrey (Software Engineering Institute) Addison-Wesley

This book is the updated edition based on the original PSP textbook “A Discipline for Software Engineering” by the same author. Some topics in the original textbook not essential for industrial software developers are omitted from this PSP book.

“Introduction to the Team Software Process” 2000

By Watts S. Humphrey (Software Engineering Institute) Addison-Wesley

One should have learned and is familiar with PSP before reading this book. The TSP process is described in detail in Part Two of this book – from launching a project, to the postmortem. The various roles, their goals, and principal activities, are described in Part Three. The students are expected to develop a single product using this book as the reference text.

“CMMI – guideline for Process Integration & Product Improvement 2/e” 2007

By Mary B Chrissis, M Konrad, S. Shrum (Software Engineering Institute) Addison-Wesley

This is the CMMI reference model book for version 1.2. It is based on the CMMI-DEV v1.2 model (which can be downloaded from SEI web site) plus articles contributed by the relevant experts of that area. The case study is applying CMMI for Services. (SEI is also developing two new constellations – one for service, another one for acquisition). In the process areas, tips, hints and cross-references are added in the margins.

“Balancing Agility and Discipline” 2004

By Barry Boehm & Richard Turner, Addison-Wesley

This book tries to address two ostensibly conflicting approaches to software development – agile methods, versus the plan-driven, process-based methods. It uses TSP/PSP and XP to highlight how the two approaches are different. It concludes that there is not a ‘perfect’ answer – it depends on the situation. E.g. dynamism of the requirement, culture of the organization, size and criticality of the final solution. There is an overview of the different methods in the appendix.

“Practical Support for CMMI-SW software project documentation – using IEEE Software Engineering standards” 2006

By Susan K. Land, John W. Walz (IEEE Computer Society) Wiley & Sons

This book is useful for companies doing CMMI process improvement at maturity level 2 or 3. It is still based on CMMI version 1.1 (not the latest 1.2). In the CD that come with the book, there are templates based on the IEEE standards. One can refer to these templates and the IEEE standards to develop or enhance their existing processes quickly. In the book, all the core Process Areas in Level 2 and 3 are covered.

“Road Map to Software Engineering – a Standards based guide” 2005

By J. Moore Wiley & Sons

This provide additional information when you try to use the IEEE standards to define your process baseline. It explains how to classify your baseline process at different levels of abstraction.

“Managing Project Quality”

By Timothy J. Kloppenborg and Joseph A. Petrick Quality Progress; Sep 2004.

Project initiation, and closure are very important to manage project quality effectively, but are often neglected. The initial stage includes identification, alignment, selection, and chartered commitment. The project quality closing stage includes contributor assessment, appreciation and renewal.

Quality First

PM Network; May 2006.

Interview Dr Lynn Crawford, of University of Technology, Sydney, and Dr. Jeanne Dorle of Western Carolina University on the quality issue. The key considerations are people and process. An organization cannot improve in quality without being effective in either people or process. How to find out whether the problem is due to people or process, and the course of actions, are discussed. Use of Six Sigma is also mentioned.

Negotiation

By Richard Luecke (Harvard Business Essentials)

This book is very useful for those new to the subject. It is easy to read, but readers can also be assured the key topics are covered. It guides you how to plan and prepare. It also covers the table tactics. In the Appendix, there are forms and checklists that you can use when you are preparing for a negotiation.

“Quality Software Project Management”

By Robert T.Futrell, Donald F. Shafer, Linda I. Shafer

This reference book is remarkable in its coverage. At 1640+ pages, readers can be assured of the extensive detail of the content. The full range of quality issues related to software project management from requirement, through validation and verification, and post-performance analysis are addressed.