In the updated edition of this critically acclaimed and bestselling
book, Microsoft project veteran Scott Berkun offers a collection of
essays on field-tested philosophies and strategies for defining,
leading, and managing projects. Each essay distills complex concepts and
challenges into practical nuggets of useful advice, and the new edition
now adds more value for leaders and managers of projects everywhere.
Based on his nine years of experience as a program manager for Internet
Explorer, and lead program manager for Windows and MSN, Berkun explains
to technical and non-technical readers alike what it takes to get
through a large software or web development project. Making Things
Happen doesn't cite specific methods, but focuses on philosophy and
strategy. Unlike other project management books, Berkun offers personal
essays in a comfortable style and easy tone that emulate the
relationship of a wise project manager who gives good, entertaining and
passionate advice to those who ask.
Topics in this new edition include:
- How to make things happen
- Making good decisions
- Specifications and requirements
- Ideas and what to do with them
- How not to annoy people
- Leadership and trust
- The truth about making dates
- What to do when things go wrong
Complete with a new forward from the author and a discussion guide for
forming reading groups/teams, Making Things Happen offers in-depth
exercises to help you apply lessons from the book to your job. It is
inspiring, funny, honest, and compelling, and definitely the one book
that you and your team need to have within arm's reach throughout the
life of your project.
Coming from the rare perspective of someone who fought difficult battles
on Microsoft's biggest projects and taught project design and management
for MSTE, Microsoft's internal best practices group, this is valuable
advice indeed. It will serve you well with your current work, and on
future projects to come.
