Galen - Software endgames: eliminating defects, controlling change, and the countdown to on-time delivery

ePUB is an open, industry-standard format for eBooks. However, support of ePUB and its many features varies across reading devices and applications. Use your device or app settings to customize the presentation to your liking. Settings that you can customize often include font, font size, single or double column, landscape or portrait mode, and figures that you can click or tap to enlarge. For additional information about the settings and features on your reading device or app, visit the device manufacturers Web site.

Many titles include programming code or configuration examples. To optimize the presentation of these elements, view the eBook in single-column, landscape mode and adjust the font size to the smallest setting. In addition to presenting code and configurations in the reflowable text format, we have included images of the code that mimic the presentation found in the print book; therefore, where the reflowable format may compromise the presentation of the code listing, you will see a Click here to view code image link. Click the link to view the print-fidelity code image. To return to the previous page viewed, click the Back button on your device or app.

ELIMINATING DEFECTS, CONTROLLING CHANGE, AND THE COUNTDOWN TO ON-TIME DELIVERY

ROBERT GALEN

DORSET HOUSE PUBLISHING
353 WEST 12TH STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10014

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Galen, Robert.
Software endgames : eliminating defects, controlling change, and the countdown to on-time delivery / Robert Galen.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-932633-62-5
1. Computer softwareTesting. 2. Computer SoftwareDevelopment. I. Title.
QA76.76.T48G35 2004
005.14-dc22
2004020896

Trademark credits: All trade and product names are either trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of their respective companies, and are the property of their respective holders and should be treated as such. Jell-O is a registered trademark of Kraft General Foods, Inc. Microsoft, PowerPoint, and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Post-it is a registered trademark of 3M. Nerf is a registered trademark of Hasbro, Inc.

Cover Design: Nuno Andrade
Runner Image: Jared Lister

Copyright 2005 by Robert Galen. Published by Dorset House Publishing, 353 West 12th Street, New York, NY 10014.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of the publisher.

Distributed in the English language in Singapore, the Philippines, and Southeast Asia by Alkem Company (S) Pte. Ltd., Singapore; in the English language in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Mauritius by Prism Books Pvt., Ltd., Bangalore, India; and in the English language in Japan by Toppan Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan.

Printed in the United States of America

Library of Congress Catalog Number: 2004020896

ISBN: 0-932633-62-5 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Digital release by Pearson Education, Inc., June, 2013

Also Available from Dorset House Publishing

Agile Software Development in the Large:
Diving Into the Deep
by Jutta Eckstein
ISBN: 0-932633-57-9 Copyright 2004 248 pages, softcover

Best Practices for the Formal Software Testing Process:
A Menu of Testing Tasks
by Rodger D. Drabick foreword by William E. Perry
ISBN: 0-932633-58-7 Copyright 2004 312 pages, softcover

The Deadline: A Novel About Project Management
by Tom DeMarco
ISBN: 0-932633-39-0 Copyright 1997 320 pages, softcover

Five Core Metrics: The Intelligence Behind Successful Software Management
by Lawrence H. Putnam and Ware Myers
ISBN: 0-932633-55-2 Copyright 2003 328 pages, softcover

Hiring the Best Knowledge Workers, Techies & Nerds:
The Secrets & Science of Hiring Technical People
by Johanna Rothman foreword by Gerald M. Weinberg
ISBN: 0-932633-59-5 Copyright 2005 352 pages, softcover

Peopleware: Productive Projects and Teams, 2nd ed.
by Tom DeMarco and Timothy Lister
ISBN: 0-932633-43-9 Copyright 1999 264 pages, softcover

Project Retrospectives: A Handbook for Team Reviews
by Norman L. Kerth foreword by Gerald M. Weinberg
ISBN: 0-932633-44-7 Copyright 2001 288 pages, softcover

Waltzing with Bears: Managing Risk on Software Projects
by Tom DeMarco and Timothy Lister
ISBN: 0-932633-60-9 Copyright 2003 208 pages, softcover

DORSET HOUSE PUBLISHING
An Independent Publisher of Books on
Systems and Software Development and Management. Since 1984.
353 West 12th Street New York, NY 10014 USA
1-800-DH-BOOKS 1-800-342-6657
212-620-4053 fax: 212-727-1044

To all of my Bugs...

Many of the lessons I bring forward in the text were hard-won, through the many endgames Ive been a part of, at numerous companies and with many teams. I want to thank everyone who has been a part of my endgames. The lessons were sometimes difficult, not always resulting in success. However, for me, one constant throughout has been the privilege of working with so many dedicated, talented, and insightful individuals. In particular, lessons Ive derived from teams at Bell & Howell MMT, EMC, Micrognosis, and WWG/Acterna have been central to many of this books themes. Thank you all for your effort, patience, trust, and above all, perseverance through some very challenging software project endgames.

Ive come to realize that a book is a difficult project in itself. Its not solely the authors effort. It requires support and help from a wide variety of individuals. Its also an incredible amount of work. I want to warmly thank those individuals who reviewed chapters in the book and provided feedback and council. They include Terry Bradley, Erik Hemdal, and Carla Merrill. Of particular note are Trish Gertner and Robert Sabourin. They provided incredibly valuable insight and feedback on the entire book. I thank you both for your time, thoroughness, and effort.

Another realization was just how important the publisher and editorial staff are in the creative process. Ive been truly blessed with a talented and dedicated group of editors at Dorset House. My appreciation to David McClintock, Vincent Au, and Nuno Andrade for their tireless effort and collaboration in helping to refine raw thoughts into a book and taking the time to get it right. Thank you.

Finally, I must thank my family for their enthusiastic support. Kids, thanks for your kind words, interest, and faith. Diane, the book started out as quite a rocky path, simply a gleam in my eye and a dream. Your staunch belief and continuous support made all the difference in getting me through the hard times and to get it on paper. Sometimes, its not the little or the big things that matter, but the