Changing Software Development: Learning to Become Agile

Changing Software Development explains why software development is an exercise in change management and organizational intelligence.  An underlying belief is that change is learning and learning creates knowledge.  By blending the theory of knowledge management, developers and managers will gain the tools to enhance learning and change to accommodate new innovative approaches such as agile and lean computing.

Changing Software Development is peppered with practical advice and case studies to explain how and why knowledge, learning and change are important in the development process.  Today, managers are pre–occupied with knowledge management, organization learning and change management; while software developers are often ignorant of the bigger issues embedded in their work.  This innovative book bridges this divide by linking the software world of technology and processes to the business world of knowledge, learning and change.

From the Inside Flap
"Where a situation involves change, the solution involves learning. If you don‘t believe that this applies to software development, this book will set you straight. If you do believe it, this book will help you go about it. Either way, you‘ll learn something."

Kevlin Henney

From the back cover:

"Successful companies have known the importance of continuous change and learning for a long time; this is the first book that describes these concepts in an organic way in the context of software development. A must read for everybody involved in this business."

Giovanni Asproni, Director, Asprotunity Limited

"Do you want to improve software development in your organization? Do you believe in agile methodologies but struggle to introduce them? You will find help in this book. Allan has done an excellent job of combining modern business management principles with modern software methodology so you can draw on the knowledge of both business and software experts."

Lise B. Hvatum, Software Development Manager, Schlumberger

Changing Software Development links the software world of technology and processes to the business world of knowledge, learning and change. This book explains why software development is an exercise in change management and organizational intelligence. Using knowledge management theory, the author gives developers and managers the tools to enhance learning and adopt new innovative approaches such as Agile and Lean software development.

This book is peppered with practical advice and case studies to explain how and why knowledge, learning and change are important in the development process. In addition, Allan offers direct actions that can be undertaken to enhance and build a learning environment.

Chapter highlights include:

• Understanding Agile Development

• Information Technology — Bringer of Change

• Change Model

• Making Change Happen

Changing Software Development provides the necessary skills in change management to enable developers to use new approaches to deliver successful projects.

About the Author:

Allan Kelly worked as a developer for over 10 years, and now helps software teams and companies improve their ability to deliver software. Patterns, other writing and more information can be found on his website: http://www.allankelly.net