I just finished up Lean Software Development: An Agile Toolkit for Software Development Managers

LSD with 7 Principles and 22 Tools

* Eliminate Waste
– Seeing Waste, Value Stream Mapping

* Amplify Learning
– Feedback, Iterations, Synchronization, Set-Based Development

* Decide as Late as Possible
– Options Thinking, The Last Responsible Moment, Making Decisions

* Deliver as Fast as Possible
– Pull Systems, Queuing Theory, Cost of Delay

* Empower the Team
– Self-Determination, Motivation, Leadership, Expertise

* Build Integrity In
– Perceived Integrity, Conceptual Integrity, Refactoring, Testing

* See the Whole
– Measurements, Contracts

What a great book. I have read so many different software development books and this is one of those few that are the ‘must reads’. I just cannot recommend it enough. The book compares software development to the manufacturing industry, particularly auto manufacturing. It uses Toyota vs GE examples quite often to show how the paradigm level differences were able to grant Toyota huge wins in efficency and delivery. At the end of the day - the software analogy here is a strong one. This is a practical book - that I can say many mental nuggets will work their ways into my daily way.

I found this particular pic interesting:

So what does this mean - be LEAN. Only implement what is the top prioirty work. Deliver it fast, get feedback fast. Do Not waste your efforts doing BDUF (Bug Design Up Front). In stead delay decision making as much as possible, focus on the priorities - and deliver - fast.

As a Scrum user (for the past several projects) I can say that this approach just plain works. Once the stakeholders see that they can have some input after the ‘initial spec’ they are just pleased. Once you can continually deliver working - RELEVANT software - your team will be more highly valued than if you were an ‘excellent task master’ and delivered pristine docs for an already outdated system.

-CD

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