About the Book
Wild West to Agile: The evolution and revolution of software development, drawn from personal experience, from the Apollo moon mission to digital transformations.
In 2023, "technology is your business - no matter what your business." But how did we get here and how could a historical perspective prepare us for the future?
Jim Highsmith tackles the evolution and revolution of software development, embellishes them with personal experiences, from the Apollo moon mission to modern digital transformations, and introduces the adventurous pioneers--from structured era developer Ken Orr to Agile methodologist Kent Beck--who strived to make the world a better place, by building better software.
Jim's six-decade career has encompassed the Wild West (1966-1979), to Structured Methods and Monumental Methodologies (1980s), to the Roots of Agile (1990s), to the present Agile Era (2001-present). In each era, he explores the evolution of software development methods, methodologies, and mindsets.
Whether you are from the 1970-1980's generation looking for an "I was there too" moment, a newer generation interested in the evolution of software development, the Agile generation interested in how Agile methodologies were born and evolved, or have a general interest in information technology, Wild West to Agile has something for you.
Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: The Adventure Begins
Chapter 2: Wild West
Chapter 3: Structured Methods and Monumental Methodologies
Chapter 4: The Roots of Agile
Chapter 5: The Agile Era
Chapter 6: Rogue Teams
Chapter 7: Courageous Executives
Chapter 8: Digital Transformation
Chapter 9: Prepare to Engage the Future
Appendix
About the Author :
Jim Highsmith is a well-known agilist and author, whose career spanned six decades of rapid technology and business change. Jim has been at the forefront of software technologies' response to that change, from working on 1970s COBOL business applications, to recent engagements for digital transformation. With decades of business, management, and software development experience, he is uniquely qualified to explore the history of software development to help us prepare for the ever more chaotic future.
Jim is the author of EDGE: Value-Driven Digital Transformation; Adaptive Leadership: Accelerating Enterprise Agility; Agile Project Management: Creating Innovative Products; Agile Software Development Ecosystems; and Adaptive Software Development: A Collaborative Approach to Managing Complex Systems, winner of the prestigious Jolt Award and of the 2005 international Stevens Award for outstanding contributions to software development.
Jim is a coauthor of the Agile Manifesto, a founding member of Agile Alliance, coauthor of the Declaration of Interdependence for project leaders, and cofounder and first president of the Agile Leadership Network. Jim has consulted with IT, product development organisations, and software companies in the US, Europe, Canada, South Africa, Australia, Brazil, China, Japan, India, and New Zealand.
Review :
"A magnum opus from master storyteller, adventurer, nonconformist, and adaptable agile maven Jim Highsmith. With this braided narrative, Jim defines what it means to be truly agile, both personally and organizationally. A must-read for a fascinating first-person perspective and invaluable insights into the past, present, and future of agility. I haven't enjoyed a book as much in a very long, long time."
--Sanjiv Augustine, Founder and CEO, LitheSpeed
"The phrase 'been there, done that' has rarely been as true as it is for Jim Highsmith and his long and varied career in software. Jim is a great storyteller, and this book tells great stories about many of the leaders of our industry. Enjoy the ride!"
--Rebecca Parsons, Chief Technology Officer, Thoughtworks
"What happened over the last six decades in the software field? How did our methods, methodologies, and mindsets evolve? Who played a key role along the way, and where are we headed today? Only a veteran practitioner, industry legend, master storyteller, and agile pioneer like Jim Highsmith could tell this tale with such detail and depth."
--Joshua Kerievsky, CEO, Industrial Logic; author, Joy of Agility
"An entertaining and insightful book full of nostalgia and advice from a true leader in this space. This book has first-hand experiences and stories of the real struggles of becoming an adaptive organization. Coverage of topics such as the implementation of EDGE is a valuable addition."
--Linda Luu, Enterprise Strategy, IBM; co-author, EDGE: Value-Driven Digital Transformation
"This is a valuable retrospective on a journey from Apollo to SpaceX, through the evolution of technologies from vacuum tubes to billions of transistors on a chip, from the perspective of a leader in software methodologies and a signatory of the Agile Manifesto. Jim Highsmith's work with other experts on adaptive approaches to business and technology has turned agile software development from a great idea into an essential tool for business survival in the modern world for all successful technology companies."
--Jeff Sutherland, Inventor and Co-creator of Scrum and Scale; Signatory of the Agile Manifesto
