Book Talk: A Tale of Two (Software) Systems

Software development projects often run behind schedule and over budget. They are ripe for application of lean principles, and a new book coming out this month focuses on that issue.

A Tale of Two Systems: Lean and Agile Software Development for Business Leaders by Michael Levine uses a pair of fictional development projects to explain what makes one project fail and another succeed. Traditional practices involve a process-centric “waterfall” approach, while lean and agile principles approach things differently.

Levine has a 26-year career in technology, and currently leads the operations and technology groups at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. His hands-on experience makes him the perfect person to have written this valuable book.

There are currently only a handful of books that apply lean principles to software development and implementation issues. Others you may also find interesting include Lean Software Strategies: Proven Techniques for Managers and Developers by Peter Middleton and James Sutton, and Lean Performance ERP Project Management: Implementing the Virtual Lean Enterprise, Second Edition by Brian J. Carroll.

Do you have a question or comment about a book(s) that you would like addressed in Book Talk? Email me directly at Ralph.bernstein@taylorandfrancis.com.