"Of late I have been very weary of reading various books, magazines, research journals and what not on Project Management. So when I received a copy of yet another PM book, I was not at all excited. But, since I had nothing better to do, I just thought what the heck; let me take a shot at it?

Before even completing 2 chapters, I was entirely engrossed in it. The book was so fascinating, I found myself smiling quite often as most of the examples taken, were so close to my own project management experience. It made me look back and think about the various situations I had faced. The author starts each topic with a very simple and easy to understand sample and then advances the subject matters through simple examples and then illustrating them onto detailed case studies.

The biggest difference I see in this book is that the author has not written this book based on any industry standard methodology or theory. He has written this book based on his own day to day experiences in Software Project Management, which most of the project managers would like to read, share and learn.

I found that the author had addressed many complicated project management issues as well. I particularly liked the following which he had mentioned in the introductory chapter:

True professionals know their limitations, and the responsible course of action is to either configure the project in such a way that it stands a chance of success or stamp it "return to sender".

I think this is a fact that even most senior project managers forget about, or do not act upon, due to some negative impact from senior management. But in reality committing yourself to a project which you know at heart will not be successful, will create more problems for you later than convincing management on your decision on not acquiring it.

Again and again he takes real life examples such as planning a wedding in order to explain how the scope of a system can be changed (Determining Scope), and raising a kid and teaching him to walk on the road in order to explain how a PM methodology can be introduced to your organization with stakeholder Buy-in (Introducing Process component to the organization).

I recommend this book for any Project Management professional who wants to excel in their career, and would look to recommend purchasing of this book for our company project office as a resource to mentor new PMs. "

Thushara Wijewardena,PMP
General Manager – Project Office
Development Center ( Sri Lnaka)
KSNZ

You can read an entire interview with Thushara Wijewardena at The Project Management Podcast.

Podcasts

Starting 2007 Bas had a fun discussion with Dina Scott from the Controling Chaos Podcast about his book "Surprise!". Taken from her site:

"Are you a new project manager or just play one on TV? This episode is for you! Recently, I had a fun conversation with Bas de Baar, a Project Manager from The Netherlands and author of the book "Surprise! You're a Software Project Manager!". Bas wrote the book for people with little or no project management experience but are expected to manage a software development project. It is chocked full of practical advice on where to start, what to focus on and how to get through your first project! Don't let the title of the book fool you, though. This book isn't just about managing a software development project. It addresses the core concepts and skills to manage any type of project."

You can find the interview here.

Earlier, in September 2006, Bas had an interview with Cornelius Fichtner from the Project Management Podcast. You can listen to that interview here.

PDF download and 20% Discount!

Get the book from:
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It's late Friday afternoon and you have just been told by your boss that you will be the project manager for a new software development project starting first thing on Monday morning. Congratulations! Now, if only you had taken some project management training…

This book was written as a crash course for people with no project management background but who still are expected to manage a small software development project. It cuts through the jargon and gives you the basics: practical advice on where to start, what you should focus on, and where you can cut some corners. This book could help save your project… and your job!

ENDORSEMENTS AND REVIEWS

"Bas de Baar's book rises above the sea of IT project management books. In his approach he teaches us to adopt a different mind set and focus on the people rather than on the tools. And with IT projects always being so tool centric, this is a valid lesson for any new software development project manager."
- Cornelius Fichtner, PMP, ThePMPodcast.com

"Bas has the right idea behind what project management is all about! Surprise! is a fun read but chocked full of great advice, practical process steps and tools that any budding project manager can use to manage their projects more effectively. But more importantly, Bas focuses on communication as the main competency necessary to be a successful project manager. Managing projects is really about managing communications on your projects. Bas gets that! This is a super primer that I would recommend to anyone embarking on a new project – software related or not."

- Dina Henry Scott, PMP, ControllingChaos.com

Read the reviews at Amazon.com.

"I would recommend this book to any project manager no matter whether he is in software business or not. The work reveals the pitfall all other project
management books try to avoid – the HUMAN FACTOR. I believe this manual is the link between project management theory and reality."
- Sergei Toropov, Marketing Director, VIP Quality Software

Get the book from:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Amazon Canada
Amazon UK
PDF download

"I must say: I like your writing style. I can tell you have been in the trenches of real projects (unlike some theoretical books I've read). I like the way you present topics in simple terms, using real life examples that new PM's can easily understand. Then you move to more textbook terminology."
- Jack Black, editor PMConnection.com

"The biggest difference I see in this book is that the author has not written this book based on any industry standard methodology or theory. He has written this book based on his own day to day experiences in Software Project Management, which most of the project managers would like to read, share and learn."
- Thushara Wijewardena,PMP, read entire endorsement

"Truly insightful information delivered in a fun read. A short cut to
an experience level you can only get from managing tons of projects
followed by light years of introspection. Whether you are a new PM or
have been at it for years, this book will capture your attention from
the first page."
- Terry L. Taylor, IT QA/QC Manager

"The book provides all the necessary projects basics, mixed with insights and many practical hints, which should make the first few weeks in the new role much easier than before. If your are looking for a good, practical introduction into the purpose and process of software project management, this book might be for you."
- Rainer Volz, Virtual Projects, read entire review.

"Filled with great personal experience and insight!"
- Francois Gagnon ing.jr., developer, Quebec

"The title of your book made me curious about it… could it really be that someone has written a book on how to manage a project, in a way that I can understand and apply? I've looked at quite a few other project management books, but there was so much mumbo jumbo in it, it was really discouraging… Thankfully I found your book!

Bas, you really have done a tremendous job in explaining in easy to understand terms what is needed when you manage a project. All the practical information is there, and it really gave me the confidence to take charge. Thank you so much."
- Erwin Steneker, Editor CustomerServicePoint.com