This is a reading list that I used to keep on my laptop, so I could recommend books I'd read to people who were interested. Putting it online makes it easier to share and harder to lose (hopefully!).
I have a healthy backlog of books to read, but I'm always interested in new recommendations. Let me know if you find any of this useful.
| Topic | Fundamentals | Intermediate | Advanced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leadership | The Phoenix Project by Gene Kim et al Turn the Ship Around by L. David Marquet |
http://www.scrumexpert.com/videos/agile-metrics-beyond-the-burndown-chart/ Drive by Daniel H. Pink Start With Why by Simon Sinek A Seat at the Table by Mark Schwartz |
The Servant by James C. Hunter |
| Throughput and stability | The Phoenix Project by Gene Kim et al | http://www.scrumexpert.com/videos/agile-metrics-beyond-the-burndown-chart/ Accelerate by Nicole Forsgren et al |
|
| Automation | The Phoenix Project by Gene Kim et al | ||
| Architecture | The Phoenix Project by Gene Kim et al | The Unicorn Project by Gene Kim | |
| Lean Management | The Phoenix Project by Gene Kim et al | http://www.scrumexpert.com/videos/agile-metrics-beyond-the-burndown-chart/ Accelerate by Nicole Forsgren et al |
Waterfall and ITSM/ITIL leads to late projects, budget over runs, low moral and failing businesses.
There is a better way and that way is DevOps
The sequel to The Phoenix Project, a retelling of the original timeline from a developer's point of view. A must read for anyone trying to delivery disruptive consumer facing software, from within a large enterprise.
Whatever flavour of Agile your IT department is using to deliver project or products, your job as a CIO can no longer take the waterfall approach. This shows why a waterfall approach to leadership will fail and maps out a new path. It is open about areas which are so new, that they have not been extensively tested, so each leader will have to adjust certain elements as they go.
Challenges the wisdom of buying COTS products in an interesting way.
Mandates that initial work always focuses on testing risks and assumptions. Making the unknown, known, in the most efficient way possible. This may lead to a project being stopped, but this approach leads to the least capital expenditure possible, to reach that decision. Thus the project provided business value.
Shows the science data to back up the claims that CI/CD and Lean product management create IT teams which outperform others in the industry by a wide margin. Advises some areas do adopt COTS and adjusts their business to fit the tool, rather than the tool to the business. I remain unconvinced by this stance.
The role of a leader to inspire their team is a theme that is touched on in previous books, without any indication on how to do that. The book can feel a bit repetitive, but that is mostly because the tiniest minority follow the advise it offers. So it shows many different (real world) examples and ways of applying the advice. There are some really good anti-patterns too.
This is another look at team motivation, but in more depth and at a individual and small team level.
A look at heuristic work, increasing Flow, and Mastery.
The book cites a number of studies to back up claims which can seem counter intuitive at first.
http://www.scrumexpert.com/videos/agile-metrics-beyond-the-burndown-chart/
A pivotal part of a leaders role is rapid and fair feedback for the team. Creating the correct measures is critical for the team success. This covers balanced metrics and the What, So What and Now What approach to measures.
This is a book that challenges the reader to take a hard long look at themselves and their reason for being leaders. It shows the true nature of leadership and how it runs against the reasons most strive for leadership positions.
This a great starting book for those used to a waterfall and/or command and control leadership style and who need convincing that a new leadership style can work here. It documents the way a Leader-Leader style of leadership was introduced into a very strict, military setting and the results it delivered. This documents a good place to start the journey, rather than the end state most business will want to look for.