Recent Professional Books
This is a selection of more recently read books from my collection. As time goes by it will continue to grow and I will continue to add previously purchased books to the list.
In The Pipeline
Books in the to-read and partially read queue.
Recent Professional Books - Details
The Adventures of an IT Leader
Robert D. Austin, Richard L. Nolan, Shannon O'Donnell
Adventures follows the story of a business executive assigned to the role of CIO and the lessons and discoveries he makes along the way. The story points out the gap between high performing managers and technologists early, then takes a realistic character and bridges that gap. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in IT management, business architecture, or even in a business managament role that will interface with IT. Not every approach is going to be right for every situation, but as the book so aptly points out, we need to have a variety of tools in our toobelt and this book provides both more tools and mental frameworks for finding more.
AI Application Programming
M. Tim Jones
AI Application Programming is a solid book that covers a wide breadth of AI topics. After a short history it dives in, delivering chapters that are each based around separate methods (back propagation, artificial life, agents, etc). Descriptions, illustrations, sample problems, and sample code do a good job of defining the various algorithms and methods. This was a book that I digested slowly, reading each chapter more than once and thinking in depth before moving on.
Critical Chain Project Management
Lawrence P. Leach
Critical Chain Project Management [the book] outlines the concepts behind CCPM [the project management method] and provides information on why it has higher success rates than Critical Path project planning. CCPM [the book] explains the Theory of Constraint, the theory and hard numbers behind the practice, and does a good job of walking the reader through the construction of simple and complex project plans. Even readers that would never switch away from Critical-Path would get good information from this book, as the author spends time in the beginning defining projects, discussing topics straight out of the PMBOK, and many concepts from CCPM are relevant for every project (such as the need for visibility).
Enterprise Architecture as Strategy
Jeanne W. Ross, Peter Weill, David C. Robertson
This book speaks to the C-level reader, who it assumes knows nothing about Enterprise Architecture. The content walks through an executive-driven process of defining the business model and vision and then how to implement the strategies necessary to reach that vision. The book offers a number of case studies as well as an interesting maturity classification system for architecture. The insights and vocabulary is designed for the executive level reader, but non-executives will get a great deal from it as well and I would definitely recommend it.
Good to Great
Jim Collins
Good to Great is an excellent book based on five years of case studies that studied companies that had made and sustained remarkable transformations. There is no chapter about technology and it in fact only discusses technology as an accelerator (or contributor) to achieving greatness rather than a trigger, as many technologists would like to believe. If anything I belieev this book places technical focus exactly wheer it belongs, not a pure maintenance role but neither as the end-all be-all driver of the company. Whether you're a leader, a business architect, a technologist in constant contact with the business, or posess a purely technical role with little contact with teh greater business, the concepts in this book should prove useful or at least food for thought.
Enterprise Architecture Planning
Steven H. Spewak
Enterprise Architecture Planning is, without a doubt, the best EA book I have read. The first time I read it, I was somewhat new to the concept of EA and I recall being amazed that I was already learning new concepts or viewpoints while still reading the foreword. The book covers the equivalent of Layers 1 and 2 of the Zachman framework, walking you through methods of gathering current state information, building a long-term architectural model, and defining and prioritizing plans for reaching the model. The book covers methods you can use, common issues you could run into in various steps of the process, and stresses the importance of visibility and communications throughout the process.
How to Measure Anything: Finding the Value of Intangibles in Business
Douglas W. Hubbard
This book surprised me fairly early. It's focus is on the authors assertion that nothing important to the business is truly immeasurable. Early on he provides a number of examples for projects or risks that are often claimed to be immeasurable and then through the course of the book provides tools and methods to assign values to each of them. The author walks us through making accurate estimations, calibration to improve our estimation ability, how to find measurements where they aren't obvious, and how to use tools like Monte Carlo Simulations and Bayesian statistics. After reading just the first couple chapters of this book, I found it impossible to recapture my earlier viewpoint on 'immeasurable' topics. The transformation in my viewpoint was both surprising and welcome.
IT Architecture Toolkit
Jane A. Carbone
IT Architecture Toolkit is a self-admitted 'practical guide' to EA. Starting with the role of architecture in IT (and business), the book talks the reader through processes for analyzing current state, building a target state and architectural model, to defining, estimating, and executing projects that support the architectural target. The processes in the book are based on the authors experiences in the field and are just as relevant for people with no knowledge of Enterprise Architecture as they are for experienced practitioners. The processes and methods throughout the book will appear common to EA practitioners and enthusiasts, but they are presented as part of a package that makes the concepts accessible to a wider audience.
IT Governance: How Top Performers Manage IT Decision Rights for Superior Results
Peter Weill, Jeanne Ross
IT Governence provides models based on industry leading businesses to help us both analyze our current state of governance and build a definition for what we would like going forward. Initially I found myself skipping over some of the material, but as we got deeper into some of the cases studies and impacts of different decision archetypes, I found myself going back for a deeper read through the earlier parts. A good book to help with high level analysis and planning for IT departments, with plenty of case studies and practical examples behind it.
IT's hidden face
Claude Roeltgen
The goal of IT's hidden face is to explain the complxities of the IT environment (and maintaining that environment) to a non-IT person. From the reasoning behind seemingly extreme project estimates to the difference between a server and home PC and the planning and work that goes into infrastructure and disaster recovery, this book exposes the layers of complexity behind our processes and does so in a way that can be read by the non-technical professional. Each section outlines a seperate subject or situation that is common in IT departments around the world, while the book as a whole weaves them together into an accurate picture of the complexity inherent in managing our environments. Read it to help communicate with your non-technical peers and offer it as a gift the next time someone suggests their nephew could put together a website in an afternoon.
The Leadership Test
Timothy R. Clark, Ph.D.
The Leadership Test is a very short book that features a series of principles that are presented in story format. Read in one sitting your not going to get much out of it, instead this book is intended to be read, reflected upon, and re-read. While I appreciate the difficulty in boiling something as complex as leadership down into a few key principles, I'm still not sure whether the book is worth keeping as permanent addition to my shelves. Definately borrow and reflect on it if you know someone with a copy, consider previewing at a bookstore if you don't.
Leading Lean Software Development: Results Are not the Point
Mary and Tom Poppendieck
An excellent book that breaks down the business and process of successful lean software development into a series of subjects, drawing on everything from case studies to writings (for instance; Drucker, Deming). This is that single book that could serve as a survey course in utilizing Agile or lean concepts in software development, a single starting point that a student, whether they be leader or developer, could use as the jumping off point to learning about any aspect of Lean or Agile. If you work in any part of a value stream that provides software as an end product, this book is a must read.
Lean Six Sigma for Service
Michael L. George
Lean Six Sigma for Service takes on two topics at once, the use of Lean and Six Sigma in a single environment combined with the challenge of convincing people that these concepts are appropriate for non-manufacturing processes. In both areas the book succeeds, using case studies to show how combined approaches and methods can be used and be successful in service environments, such as banks, hospitals, and government. I wouldn't suggest this book for someone new to Lean or Six Sigma, but if you have experience with either (or both) than it is a good read with good information.
Out of the Crisis
W Edwards Deming
An amazing book. The grammar wasa occasionally a little rough, you could tell parts of this were notes taken directly after a long series of thoughts. The book covers Deming's theory of management, including detailed looks at his 14 points, the seven deadly diseases that afflicted [afflict] american industry, and various topics and tools like Plan-Do-Check-Act to help us execute. The book is not an easy read, but it is rich with information and processes and is one of those books that has somethign new each time we go back to it. (Almost as interesting as the content was the relevance the topic and his predictions have decades lateras we see the same failures and mistakes continuing to afflict our industries).
Performance Dashboards and Analysis for Value Creation
Jack Alexander
The book, rather than being about how to build a dashboard, is focused entirely on how to measure and find the key value drivers for the business. The author spends several chapters explaining financial concepts, analysis methods to use when looking at financial data, and common methods and reasons for comparisons but then begins diving into analysis of the business measurements and methods to determine the key measurements. The author's framework is used to explain valuation concepts, methods of determining what the driving values are for the business, and it's utilization in improving the business. Though many concepts in the book were new to me, I learned a great deal from the book and look forward to reading it a second time.
The Pragmatic Programmer
Andrew Hunt, David Thomas
A must have for every developer, The Pragmatic Programmer covers a wide range of topics that explain best practices, the reasoning behind them, and common risks or pitfalls. This is one of those books that can be read in pieces and should be read several times, as small sections are relevant without the framing of the larger stories and, as time progresses, the light of experience will provide a new dimension on many portions of the book.
Programming WCF Services
Juval L&246;wy
Probably should be considered the definitive work on WCF. It is not just a great functional breakdown of the different factors available with WCF, but it also provides numerous suggestions, class extensions, and detailed informaiton into how the components work from the viewpoint of an expert. This is not just a 'here are all the options' book (though it does that well), it also provides the extra information that comes from having used and gone beyond the cabailities of the platform. An excellent book and a great addition to the technical bookshelf.
Rework
Jason Fried, David Heinemeier Hansson
An interesting series of tips and stories from the founders of 37signals. There were a number of points I found intriguing, but overall I didn't find the book to be revolutionatry. Many of the points found in the book can also be found in the tenets of Lean Manufacturing and Agile or in the writings of various leadership and business writers. I think what this book brings to the table is it's overall inspirational message and the presentation of ideas in a clear, concise essays. It is worth reading, even for those of us in larger businesses, but don't pick it up with the expectation that it will transofmr your business or life (if it does, great, if it doens't than you won't be let down).
Slack: Getting Past Burnout, Busywork, and the Myth of Total Efficiency
Tom DeMarco
Slack makes a case that the push towards ultra-efficiency is actually hurting businesses more than helping them. Throughout the book it covers traditional methods of getting more done with less, and shows the flaws inherent in that thinking. From overtime to lack of employee empowerment to risk management and leadership, this book cuts through the traditional thinking and explains the dangers, costs, and opportunity losses in actions that are traditionally believed to deliver more results, not less. The book is primarily speaking tot he manager or leader, but I would urge everyone to read it at least once.
SQL Server MVP Deep Dives
(lots)
SQL Server MVP Deep Dives is a collaborative work by numerous Microsoft MVPs that offers deep looks into the nooks and crannies of SQL Server. Chapters cover everything from tools, tuning, DR mechanisms, reporting, PowerShell... you name it, it has a high likelihood of having a very detailed chapter. This book will sit directly next to my SQL Server Admin guide, as it's invaluable as both a learning text and reference. (I haven't finished the entire book cover to cover, the chapters make this a great candidate to pick up and read one at a time and I'm still working my way to the end.)
Taiichi Ohno's Workplace Management
Taiichi Ohno
Workplace Management is a collection of writings from Taiichi Ohno, one of the creators of TPS (Toyota Production System) and a founder of lean manufacturing. The book covers a wide range of his thoughts throughout the years, from memories of where Toyota started and their progression, to simple anecdotes or thoughts he had along the way. Though short, the book is remarkably good. This was one that I read a few pages at a time, often putting it back down and simply thinking about his point for an hour or day before returning to continue reading. Be aware, however, he uses lean terminology throughout the book, so a basic understanding of lean concepts is suggested.
Usability Engineering (Interactive Technologies)
Jakob Nielson
You know it's going to be a great book when you learn something from the foreword. I tried several times to sit down and read this like a conventional book, but it is just so full of information I found myself putting it down each time after only a few pages so I could think abuot the points in more depth. The information and processes in the book use study after study to give us an informaiton on techniques, processes, and even communciations tools to work with. A necessary reference to anyone interested in usability.
World Class IT: Why Businesses Succeed When IT Triumphs
Peter A. High
This book does an outstanding job of outlining a nicely packaged structure for IT success in a business. Peter shares the high level principles of the methodology his company uses, breaks each down into bite-size pieces, and follows up with case studies and experiences from CIOs and managers in the field. The close of each chapter is a long series of practical and usable metrics that serve to both underline the principle and make us reflect on metrics that we can use in our own environment. The book flowed smoothly through each of the five principles it focused on and, though I felt more familiar with some topics than others, my interest level was constant throughout the book. Highly recommended and I am glad it has become a permanent part of my collection.
