Peopleware

Peopleware looks at software development from the side that technical manuals usually skip: the people doing the work. Written by Tom DeMarco and Timothy Lister, it argues that many project failures come from human and organizational causes rather than from the technology itself.

The authors examine the physical and social conditions that shape how programmers and project staff perform. They cover workplace design, interruptions, overtime, staff turnover and the forces that either splinter a team or help it come together into a cohesive unit.

The book is aimed at software managers, project leaders and team members who want to understand why projects stall and how to build environments where people do their best work. It suits readers in technology and in general business management alike.