Quality Software Management, Volume 1: Systems Thinking, Gerald M. Weinberg, Dorset House, 1992.
Starts with “What is quality?” Looks at management patterns for software development, and highlights the importance of feedback. Uses system models (that show interconnections with reinforcing and damping feedback) to examine the impact of management and the need to steer. Considers the challenges of steering, and of customer feedback.
Weinberg applies these tools to look at quality and errors. Errors are hard to find, and resolving one problem can create others. Finally, he looks at how stress and pressure can cause breakdowns in teams. (Reviewed Nov., ’02)