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The Manager Pool: Patterns for Radical Leadership
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Author: Don Sherwood Olson, Carol L. Stimmel
List Price: $29.99
Our Price: Click to see the latest and low price
ISBN: 0201725835
Publisher: Addison-Wesley Pub Co (15 December, 2001)
Edition: Paperback
Sales Rank: 290,372
Average Customer Rating: 4.22 out of 5
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Customer ReviewsRating: 4 out of 5
Managing Tips Presented With Humor
I was recently promoted to Team Lead after 5 years as a Software Developer, and I was looking for books that could give me some advice. This was one of my choices, and I was not disappointed with it. I was drawn to this book because of its ties to the Software Patters Series because I was interested in patters as a developer. It is questionable whether or not this book belongs in a patterns series, and the authors even admit that some of their patters are theorized rather than observed. This does not make it a poor text, but it probably does not belong in this series. Be that as it may, the book is broken down into five categories of patterns: Psychological and Retentive, Behavioral and Expulsive, Strategic, Tactical, and Environmental patterns.While I do not agree with everything that the authors have to say, everything in the book is good food for thought. Many of the patterns are common sense, such as "21. Get A Guru". Nothing makes a manager's life easier than having an expert. "23. Overtime Detox" should be common sense, but it speaks of the state of software development when most software management books have to speak out against manditory overtime. One pattern that I really question is "24. Defense de Pisser". This pattern suggests that drug tests in the work place should be completely done away with. Even if I didn't agree with this in principle, it is not practal. Many companies are in the defense or transportation industry where employees are required by the government to pass drug tests. I could go on for quite a while on what the authors have written, but I'll stop at giving you a peek at the book. While I don't agree with everything that the authors wrote, it was still worthwhile to read it from cover to cover. For each issue they present, I suggest first deciding whether or not you agree with them. Then answer the deeper question of why or why not. You will be better off for your efforts if you do.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Where is Major Kong?
Or how I learned to love my manager and stop worrying. I am a software engineer with over twenty years in the trenches. I was recently placed in a managerial position at gunpoint. I suspect that this makes me the living anti-thesis of this book, wherein developers choose a manager for thier team from a pool of available managers. I read this book a few months ago. I found myself today presenting an argument to our Higher up Management addressing why mandatory overtime is a bad idea. I found the lucid writing of the authors rolling off my tongue and to my surprise and utter disbelief they agreed. Too bad there was no chapter addressing higher salaries and less responsibility. At any rate it worked. I would like to thank the authors in this review. I was somewhat disappointed by the use of Radical in the title. As a baby boomer I was geared up to read an accompaniment to Jerry Rueben, "Steel this Book", but alas are there any radicals left amongst us. The book is a funny read, and in many ways conjured both visual and practical similarities to The Mythical Man Month. Can the "Mythical Radical Corporate Manager" be far behind. Good book !
Rating: 5 out of 5
Fresh Thinking/Practical Focus.
The format and presentation make it an easy,entertaining read. However, there is some great insight that can be harvested and used in a very practical way. It provides a clear understanding of the drivers behind some of the typical behaviors we see every day. It's a huge advantage to be able to understand and anticipate how groups interact.I would recommend it to anyone in the IT trenches.
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