Exploring Extreme Programming
The Consultant’s Calling: Bringing who you are to what you do, Geoffrey E. Bellman, Jossey-Bass, 1990. This is a laid-back book, about meaning, not a how-to on the mechanics of business. Bellman uses an approach that encourages consultants to understand Continue reading Review – The Consultant’s Calling
This is a gallery of team rooms, and the Big Visible Charts/Information Radiators they use. Please send email to William.Wake@acm.org and have yours included! Jump to the oldest photos at the bottom of the page. 18. Team room picture, from Continue reading A Gallery of Team Rooms and Charts
These patterns (or perhaps proto-patterns) discuss how to use iteration retrospectives as a way of helping a team reflect on and learn from the project while it’s still going on. Continue reading Patterns for Iteration Retrospectives
Improve your ability to see how the organization of a room facilitates or hinders communication. Continue reading Floor Plan
That’s Not What I Meant! How Conversational Style Makes or Breaks Relationships. Deborah Tannen, Balantine Books, 1986. This is a mass-market book on sociolinguistics. When we talk, there is a message (our words) and a metamessage (our actions). The metamessage Continue reading Review – That’s Not What I Meant!
Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most. Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, and Sheila Heen. Penguin Books, 1999. Their model is that a difficult conversation has three aspects: “what happened,” “feelings,” and “identity.” When these are mixed together, it can Continue reading Review – Difficult Conversations
Quality Software Management, Volume 4: Anticipating Change, Gerald M. Weinberg, Dorset House, 1997. This book contains advice for people who are trying to be change artists, those who change their world. One technique they use is to provide a number Continue reading Review – Quality Software Management, vol. 4: Anticipating Change
What are some books recommended for agile coaches? Continue reading Books for Coaches
Coaching: The ASTD Trainer’s Sourcebook, Dennis Kinlaw, McGraw-Hill, 1996. This is focused on “life coaching,” but there are good thoughts on characteristics of coaches and coaching. It’s designed to provide you materials for a variety of workshop formats. I wouldn’t Continue reading Review – Coaching (ASTD)
Dynamics of Software Development, Jim McCarthy. Microsoft Press, 1995. Rules of thumb from a key player on the Visual C++ team: how to ship great software on time. Similar in tone to The Pragmatic Programmer, but aimed more at managers Continue reading Review – Dynamics of Software Development