Politics in Software Development

Navigating Stakeholder Power and Conflict in Organizations
1. Auflage 2022
ISBN: 978-1-4842-7379-1
Verlag: Apress

Buch, Englisch, 136 Seiten, Format (B × H): 155 mm x 235 mm, Gewicht: 236 g

Equip yourself to navigate organizational politics in the world of software development. This book will help you understand the power dynamics at work between competing stakeholders with conflicting goals in projects and organizations. 

Politics in Software Development consists of three main parts. Author Peter Wendorff begins by defining key concepts in organizational politics. He then moves on to software development processes and investigates how their design reflects stakeholder interests. In the final part, he highlights the role of political skill in software development and provides an overview of tactics that stakeholders frequently use.

There is widespread competition within organizations for rewards, recognition, status, and power. It gives rise to political behavior of stakeholders, which is generally seen as a problem. This negative view of organizational politics tends to overlook its positive functions. For example, it can alsobe thought of as an arena where stakeholders with conflicting goals can argue, persuade, negotiate, bargain, and cooperate to address conflicts. 

Political conflict resolution regularly happens in organizations in an entirely civilized manner. It helps find agreements that reconcile differences in a constructive way, and it is needed because stakeholder conflicts are simply a natural aspect of organizations. While there is much literature about organizational politics, very few authors consider the specifics of software development. This book addresses both subjects and is written for an audience interested in a political perspective on software development.

What You'll Learn

• Recognize and understand political activities in organizations
• Understand what software processes have to do with stakeholder power and interests
• Acquire fundamental political skills for dealing with politics in software development

Who This Book Is For

Project managers, lead developers, team leaders, team coaches, product owners, business analysts, developers, and other software professionals. This book is also suitable for students in software engineering.

Zielgruppe

Professional/practitioner

Autoren/Hrsg.

Wendorff, Peter

Fachgebiete

• Mathematik | Informatik EDV | Informatik Angewandte Informatik Wirtschaftsinformatik
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Betriebswirtschaft Unternehmensorganisation, Corporate Responsibility Unternehmensethik
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Angewandte Ethik & Soziale Verantwortung Wirtschaftsethik, Unternehmensethik
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Betriebswirtschaft Management Strategisches Management
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Betriebswirtschaft Wirtschaftsinformatik, SAP, IT-Management
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Betriebswirtschaft Organisationstheorie, Organisationssoziologie, Organisationspsychologie
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Betriebswirtschaft Management Projektmanagement
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Betriebswirtschaft Bereichsspezifisches Management Management: Führung & Motivation

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Part I: Organizational Politics.- 1 Fundamental Concepts.- 2 Perspectives on Power.- 3 Latent Conflict.- 4 Open Conflict.- Part II: Software Processes.- 5 Process Design.- 6 Bureaucratic Control.- 7 Cultural Control.- Part III: Political Action.- 8 Politics at Work.- 9 Political Analysis.- 10 Political Tactics.- Conclusion.- References.

Über Autor(innen)

Peter Wendorff has 25 years of professional experience as an IT consultant focusing on the development of modern information systems with Microsoft® technologies. Peter takes great interest in academic research and has presented 24 research papers at conferences. He works as business consultant and academic adviser through his company Software Research Ltd in the UK. Peter holds Master's degrees in software engineering (with distinction, 1999, UK) and business administration (with distinction, 2008, UK), besides corresponding German university degrees.