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Title: Software for Your Head: Core Protocols for Creating and Maintaining Shared Vision by Jim McCarthy, Michele McCarthy ISBN: 0-201-60456-6 Publisher: Addison-Wesley Pub Co Pub. Date: 27 December, 2001 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $39.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.06 (16 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Psychology as software specifciation
Comment: Books like Software For Your Head are rare. These are books that are so important, timely, and lucid that they transcend the subject they speak about. In this case, McCarthy is covering team psychology practices (protocols), patterns that lead to the delivery of great intellectual creative works, and the anti-patterns that destroy such efforts.
When I first read this book, I was struck with how silly or unnatural (to me) some of the protocols sounded. Always one eager to subvert the dominant paradigm, I usually feel this a sign that the author's saying something worth listening to. Jim's writing style is so matter-of-fact and direct that it contributed to me chuckling repeatedly thinking, "is this guy nuts?", but at the same time driving me to read further -- for all of which he said resonated with me at a deep level.
As you progress through the book, the reasons behind the patterns and protocols become clearer: we live in a world where it is considered ridiculous to express or leverage emotion in the work place, yet emotion is crucial to our nature & to creating works of high value. So -- use a set of practices that legislate the option of using of emotional information in your collaboration.
Of even more value to myself is the book's description of the anti-patterns. It took me quite a while to read this work as I've had to put the book down several times after reading the anti patterns, being so overwhelmed by the accuracy of what was being said, based on all the prior situations I've been in where leaders forced the team, or sometimes the whole company, down the path of perdition.
I can't think of a more important contribution to software development today. Even the agile methodologies like XP are important developments, but they don't go to as deep a level as this book does.
For any software professional or creative team leader, this book comes with my highest recommendation.
Rating: 5
Summary: The Best Kept Secret in Product Development
Comment: I saw Jim speak at a Microsoft Canada Technical Briefing in March of 2000. He talked about patterns and antipatterns. At that time I was a technical consultant/programmer working on a team of twenty to build an online trading simulation. Every single thing he described in that keynote speech was true of our team. I decided I wanted to learn more.
It wasn't until I was already signed up for BootCamp that I read Software For Your Head and I found out that it isn't about developing software. It's about developing the most important product, the product from which all other products are developed - the team.
It was a tough read, but that was because it challenged so many assumptions, so much received wisdom for my years in large corporations. I was proud of the fact that I was adept at managing my time, understanding interpersonal politics, leading teams, facilitating meetings, leading change, and trying to produce great products instead of mediocre ones.
But when I read SFYH I had to stop many times to rethink many of the situations I had been through. I was challenged to find a single one which I could not have handled better and with more positive results had I known and used the protocols properly.
Also the sheer number of ideas presented in a single book is quite astounding. I have read the Blanchard books, for instance, which give you only 4-6 ideas in all of 120 pages for $$ Canadian each. SFYH gives you several ideas per page for a whopping 381 pages for just over twice the price - $$ Canadian.
It is a disquieting read. Many business books set up a comfortable "we both know this subject is tough (otherwise you wouldn't have bought the book), but I'm on your side and I won't ask too much of you" companionable voice. It's a voice that says, "I know you're going to have a hard time making this work, and I don't really expect you to try."
With Software For Your Head the writing is unequivocal. Jim and Michele assume you are a thinking capable, curious, intelligent adult who wants to learn and use that learning to do great things. They have learned from the teams they've observed in BootCamp, and they want to share the best practices of those teams with anyone who will listen. This book is about getting results. I found their challenge quite refreshing. It gave me hope that there really is something I haven't tried yet, and it really could work if I apply it consistently. I just have to be accountable for my own results.
Having taken BootCamp, twice now, and committed to become a BootCamp instructor, the protocols are now second nature to me, and I use them every day, in product development, family decisions, personal goal setting and resolving conflicts. Because I can get results fast, and only results matter, I have more time with my family. I can resolve conflicts with folks I work with and people I live with and therefore have more time to have fun, spend with people I love, and work on things that give me joy.
I can't think of a more challenging, and therefore useful, book to read for anyone who must work or live with others.
Rating: 4
Summary: 8/10
Comment: I give this book eight out of ten.
What I like about it:
The ideas in this book have enormous power. They could (and can) change the way people work with each other for the better.
The book presents the function that team = product. The better the team works together the better the product. This is so obvious and yet gets constantly overlooked.
The patterns and anti patterns of behavior are very well observed and described.
After reading this book the second time I have been to a McCarthy boot camp and the book does an admirable job of describing what is achievable.
I have tried each of the protocols described in this book and I can tell you they rate amongst the best ways I have discovered of helping teams work well together.
The title describes the book well, it takes some time to work this out. It is a clever idea that we can load new software into our brains and therefore become better at doing something - such as interacting with other people (or even ourselves!)
In order to get a ten:
It would be easier to read. The book is written too much like a software manual. The McCarthy's previous book - Dynamics of Software Development - was much easier to read and proved to be very popular with the development teams I introduced it to. Software For Your Head requires commitment to read to the end.
The examples would be clearer. Throughout the book are stories which serve as examples of the ideas being presented. I often have to read these a second time to get the full meaning of them.
For more of Dr. Neil's reviews go to http://www.Roodyn.com/BookReviews.aspx
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Title: Dynamics of Software Development by Jim McCarthy ISBN: 1556158238 Publisher: Microsoft Pr Pub. Date: 01 August, 1995 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Agile and Iterative Development: A Manager's Guide by Craig Larman ISBN: 0131111558 Publisher: Addison-Wesley Pub Co Pub. Date: 15 August, 2003 List Price(USD): $34.99 |
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Title: Domain-Driven Design: Tackling Complexity in the Heart of Software by Eric Evans, Martin Fowler ISBN: 0321125215 Publisher: Addison-Wesley Pub Co Pub. Date: 22 August, 2003 List Price(USD): $49.99 |
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Title: Code Complete by Steve McConnell ISBN: 1556154844 Publisher: Microsoft Press Pub. Date: 14 May, 1993 List Price(USD): $35.00 |
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Title: Test Driven Development: By Example by Kent Beck ISBN: 0321146530 Publisher: Addison-Wesley Pub Co Pub. Date: 08 November, 2002 List Price(USD): $34.99 |
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