BUILDING BETTER SOFTWARE

Fenelon offers a primer for more effective software development.

As the author makes clear at the beginning of his book, project managers in the software field face plenty of obstacles (like managing teams and meeting deadlines), and the failure to clear these obstacles has never been more publicly visible—Fenelon uses the obvious example of a software glitch that grounded thousands of airline flights in the summer of 2024. Fixing such problems involves a good deal more than improved tech—project managers need better approaches, which the author outlines in these pages, providing practical steps (not “theories or ivory tower wishes”) that IT project managers can use to improve the experiences of both stakeholders and customers. Central to Fenelon’s project is the understanding of software quality metrics, such as the percentage of test-cases passed within acceptable parameters, the number of defects and “Defect Density,” and “Mean Time Between Failure[s].” (“Issues in this area can be particularly hard to correct without significant impact to the software.”) The author breaks down basic concepts like crafting detailed test plans that can serve as “a roadmap for the testing team and provide a clear understanding of what needs to be done to ensure the quality of the software.” Fenelon’s book has many strengths, including clarity and abundant illustrations, but its chief virtue is its muscular compression. The author is aware of the fact that there’s an infinite number of potential problems any software project can encounter—it’s typical of his book’s premium on utility that readers are presented with a “dirty dozen” things IT troubleshooters are most likely to encounter. Project leaders can be lumbered with a bewildering number of variables to track, and Fenelon tackles that confusion squarely and encouragingly; overwhelmed managers will be grateful.

A densely-packed and refreshingly clear game plan for improved tech-project management.