Skip to content

Delivery books for CTOs

Title Summary Link
Software Estimation: Demystifying the Black Art This book provides practical techniques to improve software estimation accuracy. It emphasizes structured approaches, historical data, and iterative refinement to manage uncertainty and set realistic expectations. The book helps leaders make informed decisions, align stakeholders, and balance cost, time, and scope effectively. Amazon
The Mythical Man-Month This book warns that adding people to a late project often delays it further due to communication overhead. It advocates for small, skilled teams, realistic scheduling, and clear architecture to manage complexity efficiently. Amazon
The Goal A business novel by Eliyahu Goldratt and Jeff Cox that uses a fictional story to teach the Theory of Constraints (TOC), emphasizing that a company's main goal is to make money by increasing Throughput while decreasing Inventory and Operating Expenses. Amazon
The Phoenix Project A business novel about IT manager Bill Palmer at the failing Parts Unlimited, who is tasked with rescuing the over-budget and behind-schedule Phoenix Project. Through guidance from a mentor, Bill learns and applies the DevOps principles of the "Three Ways" – Flow, Feedback, and Continual Learning – to transform his chaotic IT department by making work visible, improving communication, identifying constraints, and fostering collaboration. Amazon
Accelerate A book based on rigorous statistical research that identifies the specific technical and organizational practices that drive high software delivery and overall organizational performance. Amazon

Share on Share on Share on