Implementing Lean Software Development

In 2003, Mary and Tom Poppendieck’s Lean Software Development introduced breakthrough development techniques that leverage Lean principles to deliver unprecedented agility and value. Now their widely anticipated sequel and companion guide shows exactly how to implement Lean software development, hands-on.

This new book draws on the Poppendiecks’ unparalleled experience helping development organizations optimize the entire software value stream. You’ll discover the right questions to ask, the key issues to focus on, and techniques proven to work. The authors present case studies from leading-edge software organizations, and offer practical exercises for jumpstarting your own Lean initiatives.

• •  Managing to extend, nourish, and leverage agile practices
• •  Building true development teams, not just groups
• •  Driving quality through rapid feedback and detailed discipline
• •  Making decisions Just-in-Time, but no later
• •  Delivering fast: How PatientKeeper delivers 45 rock-solid releases per year
• •  Making tradeoffs that really satisfy customers

•  Implementing Lean Software Development is indispensable to anyone who wants more effective development processes–managers, project leaders, senior developers, and architects in enterprise IT and software companies alike.

“This remarkable book combines practical advice, ready-to-use techniques, anda deep understanding of why this is the right way to develop software. I haveseen software teams transformed by the ideas in this book.”

–Mike Cohn, author of Agile Estimating and Planning
 

“As a lean practitioner myself, I have loved and used their first book for years.When this second book came out, I was delighted that it was even better. If youare interested in how lean principles can be useful for software developmentorganizations, this is the book you are looking for. The Poppendiecks offer abeautiful blend of history, theory, and practice.”

–Alan Shalloway, coauthor of Design Patterns Explained
 

“I’ve enjoyed reading the book very much. I feel it might even be better than thefirst lean book by Tom and Mary, while that one was already exceptionallygood! Mary especially has a lot of knowledge related to lean techniques inproduct development and manufacturing. It’s rare that these techniques areactually translated to software. This is something no other book does well(except their first book).”

–Bas Vodde
 

“The new book by Mary and Tom Poppendieck provides a well-written andcomprehensive introduction to lean principles and selected practices for softwaremanagers and engineers. It illustrates the application of the values andpractices with well-suited success stories. I enjoyed reading it.”

–Roman Pichler
 

“In Implementing Lean Software Development, the Poppendiecks explore moredeeply the themes they introduced in Lean Software Development. They beginwith a compelling history of lean thinking, then move to key areas such asvalue, waste, and people. Each chapter includes exercises to help you apply keypoints. If you want a better understanding of how lean ideas can work withsoftware, this book is for you.”

–Bill Wake, independent consultant
 

About the Author

Mary Poppendieck is a seasoned leader in operations and product development with more than thirty years of IT experience. She has led teams implementing solutions ranging from enterprise supply chain management to digital media, and built one of 3M’s first Just-in-Time Lean production systems. Mary is the president of Poppendieck LLC, which specializes in bringing Lean techniques to software development.

Tom Poppendieck is an enterprise analyst, architect, and agile process mentor with more than twenty-five years of experience developing and implementing complex systems. He currently assists organizations in applying Lean principles and tools to software development processes.