Tackling Wicked Problems

Tackling Wicked Problems

Author: John Harris

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2010-09-23

Total Pages: 327

ISBN-13: 1136531440

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From climate change to GM foods, we are increasingly confronted with complex, interconnected social and environmental problems that span disciplines, knowledge bases and value systems. This book offers a transdisciplinary, open approach for those working towards resolving these 'wicked' problems and highlights the crucial role of this 'transdisciplinary imagination' in addressing the shift to sustainable futures. Tackling Wicked Problems provides readers with a framework and practical examples that will guide the design and conduct of their own open-ended enquiries. In this approach, academic disciplines are combined with personal, local and strategic understanding and researchers are required to recognise multiple knowledge cultures, accept the inevitability of uncertainty, and clarify their own and others' ethical positions. The authors then comment on fifteen practical examples of how researchers have engaged with the opportunities and challenges of conducting transdisciplinary inquiries. The book gives those who are grappling with complex problems innovative methods of inquiry that will allow them to work collaboratively towards long-term solutions.


Scrum - A Pocket Guide

Scrum - A Pocket Guide

Author: Gunther Verheyen

Publisher: Van Haren

Published: 2013-10-01

Total Pages: 113

ISBN-13: 9087537948

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This pocket guide is the one book to read for everyone who wants to learn about Scrum. The book covers all roles, rules and the main principles underpinning Scrum, and is based on the Scrum Guide Edition 2013. A broader context to this fundamental description of Scrum is given by describing the past and the future of Scrum. The author, Gunther Verheyen, has created a concise, yet complete and passionate reference about Scrum. The book demonstrates his core view that Scrum is about a journey, a journey of discovery and fun. He designed the book to be a helpful guide on that journey. Ken Schwaber, Scrum co-creator says that this book currently is the best available description of Scrum around. The book combines some rare characteristics: • It describes Scrum in its entirety, yet places it in a broader context (of past and future). • The author focuses on the subject, Scrum, in a way that it truly supports the reader. The book has a language and style in line with the philosophy of Scrum. • The book shows the playfulness of Scrum. David Starr and Ralph Jocham, Professional Scrum trainers and early agile adopters, say that this is the ultimate book to be advised as follow-up book to the students they teach Scrum to and to teams and managers of organizations that they coach Scrum to.


Agile Testing

Agile Testing

Author: Manfred Baumgartner

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2021-09-09

Total Pages: 257

ISBN-13: 3030732096

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This book is written by testers for testers. In ten chapters, the authors provide answers to key questions in agile projects. They deal with cultural change processes for agile testing, with questions regarding the approach and organization of software testing, with the use of methods, techniques and tools, especially test automation, and with the redefined role of the tester in agile projects. The first chapter describes the cultural change brought about by agile development. In the second chapter, which addresses agile process models such as Scrum and Kanban, the authors focus on the role of quality assurance in agile development projects. The third chapter deals with the agile test organization and the positioning of testing in an agile team. Chapter 4 discusses the question of whether an agile tester should be a generalist or a specialist. In Chapter 5, the authors turn to the methods and techniques of agile testing, emphasizing the differences from traditional, phase-oriented testing. In Chapter 6, they describe which documents testers still need to create in an agile project. Next, Chapter 7 explains the efficient use of test automation, which is particularly important in agile development, as it is the main instrument for project acceleration and is necessary to support state-of-the-art DevOps approaches and Continuous Integration. Chapter 8 then adds examples from test tool practice extending test automation to include test management functionality. Chapter 9 is dedicated to training and its importance, emphasizing the role of employee training in getting started with agile development. Finally, Chapter 10 summarizes the results of the agile journey in general with a special focus on testing. To make the aspects described even more tangible, the specific topics of this book are accompanied by the description of experiences from concrete software development projects of various organizations. The examples demonstrate that different approaches can lead to solutions that meet the specific challenges of agile projects.


When Bad Things Happen to Good People

When Bad Things Happen to Good People

Author: Harold S. Kushner

Publisher: Random House Digital, Inc.

Published: 2001

Total Pages: 224

ISBN-13: 0805241930

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Offers an inspirational and compassionate approach to understanding the problems of life, and argues that we should continue to believe in God's fairness.


The Revolt of The Public and the Crisis of Authority in the New Millennium

The Revolt of The Public and the Crisis of Authority in the New Millennium

Author: Martin Gurri

Publisher: Stripe Press

Published: 2018-12-04

Total Pages: 465

ISBN-13: 1953953344

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How insurgencies—enabled by digital devices and a vast information sphere—have mobilized millions of ordinary people around the world. In the words of economist and scholar Arnold Kling, Martin Gurri saw it coming. Technology has categorically reversed the information balance of power between the public and the elites who manage the great hierarchical institutions of the industrial age: government, political parties, the media. The Revolt of the Public tells the story of how insurgencies, enabled by digital devices and a vast information sphere, have mobilized millions of ordinary people around the world. Originally published in 2014, The Revolt of the Public is now available in an updated edition, which includes an extensive analysis of Donald Trump’s improbable rise to the presidency and the electoral triumphs of Brexit. The book concludes with a speculative look forward, pondering whether the current elite class can bring about a reformation of the democratic process and whether new organizing principles, adapted to a digital world, can arise out of the present political turbulence.


Agile Software Development Ecosystems

Agile Software Development Ecosystems

Author: James A. Highsmith

Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional

Published: 2002

Total Pages: 452

ISBN-13: 9780201760439

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Traditional software development methods struggle to keep pace with the accelerated pace and rapid change of Internet-era development. Several "agile methodologies" have been developed in response -- and these approaches to software development are showing exceptional promise. In this book, Jim Highsmith covers them all -- showing what they have in common, where they differ, and how to choose and customize the best agile approach for your needs.KEY TOPICS:Highsmith begins by introducing the values and principles shared by virtually all agile software development methods. He presents detailed case studies from organizations that have used them, as well as interviews with each method's principal authors or leading practitioners. Next, he takes a closer look at the key features and techniques associated with each major Agile approach: Extreme Programming (XP), Crystal Methods, Scrum, Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM), Lean Development, Adaptive Software Development (ASD), and Feature-Driven Development (FDD). In Part III, Highsmith offers practical advice on customizing the optimal agile discipline for your own organization.MARKET:For all software developers, project managers, and other IT professionals seeking more flexible, effective approaches to developing software.


Software Development, Design, and Coding

Software Development, Design, and Coding

Author: John F. Dooley

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2024-06-27

Total Pages: 521

ISBN-13:

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Learn the principles of good software design and then turn those principles into great code. This book introduces you to software engineering — from the application of engineering principles to the development of software. You'll see how to run a software development project, examine the different phases of a project, and learn how to design and implement programs that solve specific problems. This book is also about code construction — how to write great programs and make them work. This new third edition is revamped to reflect significant changes in the software development landscape with updated design and coding examples and figures. Extreme programming takes a backseat, making way for expanded coverage of the most crucial agile methodologies today: Scrum, Lean Software Development, Kanban, and Dark Scrum. Agile principles are revised to explore further functionalities of requirement gathering. The authors venture beyond imperative and object-oriented languages, exploring the realm of scripting languages in an expanded chapter on Code Construction. The Project Management Essentials chapter has been revamped and expanded to incorporate "SoftAware Development” to discuss the crucial interpersonal nature of joint software creation. Whether you're new to programming or have written hundreds of applications, in this book you'll re-examine what you already do, and you'll investigate ways to improve. Using the Java language, you'll look deeply into coding standards, debugging, unit testing, modularity, and other characteristics of good programs. You Will Learn Modern agile methodologies How to work on and with development teams How to leverage the capabilities of modern computer systems with parallel programming How to work with design patterns to exploit application development best practices How to use modern tools for development, collaboration, and source code controls Who This Book Is For Early career software developers, or upper-level students in software engineering courses


The Heretic's Guide to Best Practices

The Heretic's Guide to Best Practices

Author: Paul Culmsee

Publisher: iUniverse Star

Published: 2013

Total Pages: 419

ISBN-13: 1938908406

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When it comes to solving complex problems, we often perform elaborate rituals in the guise of best practices that promise a world of order, certainty, and control. But reality paints a far different picture, which practitioners are often reluctant to discuss. A witty yet rigorous journey through the seedy underbelly of organisational problem solving, The Heretic’s Guide to Best Practices pinpoints the reasons why best practices don’t work as advertised and what can be done about it. “Hugely enjoyable, deeply reflective, and intensely practical. This book is about weaving human artistry and improvisation, with appropriate methods and technologies, in order to pool collective intelligence and wisdom under pressure.” —Simon Buckingham Shum, Knowledge Media Institute, The Open University, UK “This is a terrific piece of work: important, insightful, and very entertaining. Culmsee and Awati have produced a refreshing take on the problems that plague organisations... If you’re trying to deal with wicked problems in your organisation, then drop everything and read this book.” —Tim Van Gelder, Principal Consultant, Austhink Consulting


Software Development and Professional Practice

Software Development and Professional Practice

Author: John Dooley

Publisher: Apress

Published: 2011-10-13

Total Pages: 254

ISBN-13: 143023802X

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Software Development and Professional Practice reveals how to design and code great software. What factors do you take into account? What makes a good design? What methods and processes are out there for designing software? Is designing small programs different than designing large ones? How can you tell a good design from a bad one? You'll learn the principles of good software design, and how to turn those principles back into great code. Software Development and Professional Practice is also about code construction—how to write great programs and make them work. What, you say? You've already written eight gazillion programs! Of course I know how to write code! Well, in this book you'll re-examine what you already do, and you'll investigate ways to improve. Using the Java language, you'll look deeply into coding standards, debugging, unit testing, modularity, and other characteristics of good programs. You'll also talk about reading code. How do you read code? What makes a program readable? Can good, readable code replace documentation? How much documentation do you really need? This book introduces you to software engineering—the application of engineering principles to the development of software. What are these engineering principles? First, all engineering efforts follow a defined process. So, you'll be spending a bit of time talking about how you run a software development project and the different phases of a project. Secondly, all engineering work has a basis in the application of science and mathematics to real-world problems. And so does software development! You'll therefore take the time to examine how to design and implement programs that solve specific problems. Finally, this book is also about human-computer interaction and user interface design issues. A poor user interface can ruin any desire to actually use a program; in this book, you'll figure out why and how to avoid those errors. Software Development and Professional Practice covers many of the topics described for the ACM Computing Curricula 2001 course C292c Software Development and Professional Practice. It is designed to be both a textbook and a manual for the working professional.