Succeeding with Agile: Software Development Using Scrum
- ISBN13: 9780321579362
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
Proven, 100% Practical Guidance for Making Scrum and Agile Work in Any Organization This is the definitive, realistic, actionable guide to starting fast with Scrum and agile–and then succeeding over the long haul. Leading agile consultant and practitioner Mike Cohn presents detailed recommendations, powerful tips, and real-world case studies drawn from his unparalleled experience helping hundreds of software organizations make Scrum and agile work. Succeeding with Agile is for pragmatic software professionals who want real answers to the most difficult challenges they face in implementing Scrum. Cohn covers every facet of the transition: getting started, helping individuals transition to new … More >>
Succeeding with Agile: Software Development Using Scrum
Mike Cohn’s books have always been great resources of inspiration for me: Both in my early agile days, where I transformed from being a traditional project manager to a newborn ScrumMaster, as well as today where I, as a Certified Scrum Coach, helps clients to excellence in agile product development. Cohn’s latest book: “Succeeding With Agile Software Development Using Scrum” is no exception to this – in fact, I consider this book to be the best I have ever read in the area of broad covering what is necessary in order to succeed with agile development.
When stating “broad coverage”, I by no means indicate that this book is a brief description of the relevant subjects. On a contrary, it is more than 400 pages full of insights, details and suggestions on how to succeed with agile implementations in organizations of diverse sizes and cultures. Cohn has done a great job in compiling the essence from many sources and combine it with his own experiences and significant opinions into this masterpiece. There are other books that dig deeper on single subjects (like the up-coming books by Roman Pichler and Lyssa Adkins) which Cohn respectfully are suggesting as additional reading by the end of each chapter.
As Cohn states at the very beginning: “This is not a book for those who are completely new to Scrum or agile”. I agree. If you are looking for an introduction to Scrum, you should turn to other sources like the official Scrum Guide or one of Ken Schwabers books, just as long as you remember to come back to this one after gaining experience on your own. This book is filled with descriptions and figures that help even well experienced and highly certified agile practitioners to get the clear picture!
In each chapter, Cohn has included small time-outs named “Things to try now” and “Objection”. The first type helps the reader to reflect on his (or should I rather say “her”?) current practice, as well as give concrete suggestions on things that can be done in order to add some positive change. I have personally found many grains of gold that I will apply to my own practice. The second type, “Objection” is actually quite unique. In those sections, Cohn puts himself in the shoes of the skeptical stakeholder and state reasons why Scrum is not working – or at least not is going to work in MY organization (I am just reminded of having similar objections myself the first time I heard about Scrum – luckily I was wrong!). Of course he also takes the time to answer back on each objection by acknowledging the problem behind the objection and providing pragmatic solutions that easily can be implemented.
Reading the book is just like getting a Dan Brown novel in your hands – in fact, I have put “The Lost Symbol” on hold for the benefit of this one! It is written in a clear language with well-described examples and the humor you always sense whenever you read or have live experiences of Cohn. You will get enormous value where either you read it from start to finish or handpick chapters whenever needed.
This one will be one of my primary references for quite a while. Well done, Mike!
Bent Myllerup
Certified Scrum Coach, Project Management Professional and Certified Systemic Coach.
Rating: 5 / 5
Succeeding with Agile: Software Development Using Scrum offers a definitive classic guide to starting with Scrum and agile. Tips, real-world case studies drawn from the author’s experience helping hundreds of software organizations, and ‘things to try now’ sections based on his advice offer practical, quick ways of coming up to speed fast. Advanced computer collections will relish this.
Rating: 5 / 5
I’ve been coaching and training Agile for a while now and I’ve always used a ‘Real World’ practical approach, so when I started to read this book, I couldn’t put it down. I was so happy to see that many of the practices my teams had used were discussed in addition to many many more great new ones I can now share with them. I found myself jumping from section to section, topic to topic wanting to read more and more of what Mike had to share. I found the advice in this book to be very practical and really enjoyed the real company examples he uses for the various topics.
I was also very impressed by how I was able to find a complete set of topics that met my needs as a coach and trainer. I’m very passionate about the topic of creating high performing teams and how leadership style greatly influences the odds of Agile success and found great topics that covered both. At the end of each chapter Mike shares great additional resources I can use to learn more which is very nice since I was interested in doing a deep dive into some subjects.
Overall this is an excellent book that I will recommend to all my teams! Mike has done it again
- Sally
Rating: 5 / 5
Mike Cohn has written a highly useful reference for applying scrum and agile methods in the real world. I will keep this book within arm’s reach since it is useful in a wide variety of situations. The book provides practical advice on everything from overcoming resistance to change to applying scrum on globally distributed teams. Mike imparts a wealth of knowledge and experience in this book. He also cites many valuable references and experts along the way, providing well-rounded advice. I particularly enjoyed Part I, which provides excellent guidance on adopting agile methods and then extending the process and principles across the wider organization.
If you and your organization are new to scrum, you’ll need some additional references on the basics; the author assumes readers already know the fundamental principles and practices of agile development. However, even if you’re adopting agile for the first time, you’ll quickly encounter many of the challenges that aren’t described in those basic book and you’ll need this book to help move past those difficulties.
Rating: 5 / 5
Mike Cohn is a great figure and force in the Software Development industry. He has once again taken his experiences and posted them in the form of a book for all to read and learn. I remember listening to Mike at the 2009 Scrum Gathering when we were asking him about Agile/Scrum Development and is it short lived (will the industry find something new). His response was, in the day of object-oriented programming, we used to say “we are doing OO”. Today, objects won, we no longer have to say that, we just know that is the best way to program software. He hopes the same is true for Scrum. One day, we don’t call it Scrum, we just call it Software Development.
This book is filled with ideas/suggestions that are concrete examples of his experiences. He shares what worked and what did not work. I think anyone can take any challenge they have with Agile and find some solution or idea in this book. It is a must read for organizations who have moved from learning Scrum to learning to do it well. Great job Mike as always. Thank you for your common sense and practical approach to software development. This book is among the staples that will not only serve as a book to read, but a repository of ideas and suggestions that we can always look to when we encounter challenges.
Rating: 5 / 5