A Tale of Two Systems: Lean and Agile Software Development for Business Leaders

by Michael K. Levine

This business parable reviews two different systems development projects. One project was an abject, expensive failure, while the other succeeded in creating a major new revenue stream, bringing in new customers. By reviewing the tales of these two systems, readers will develop a better understanding of what works and what doesn’t when it comes to the leadership and action steps required to reinvent a company’s procedures to get in step with the times. CEO Evan Nogelmeyer discovers to his dismay that in today’s business world, technology is not just for technologists. But does he discover this soon enough and once he does, does he have the tools and the business savvy he needs to stave off disaster? Evan and his team are all well-intentioned, successful business leaders with advanced degrees and backgrounds in marketing and business. But, without technical backgrounds, do they have what it takes to manage the technology overhaul so critical to the very survival of their company and the future of their own careers? A Tale of Two Lean and Agile Software Development for Business Leaders reviews two fictional systems development Cremins United and Troubled Real Estate Information Management, both launched at the imaginary Cremins Corporation. Cremins is a venerable printing company that must transform itself to survive in the Internet age. One project proves to be an abject and expensive failure, while the other succeeds in creating a major new revenue stream and solving important customer needs. Contrasting the methods employed in a traditional, process-centric 'waterfall' approach, with a lean and agile-inspired approach, this book provides business leaders with a tangible understanding of why lean thinking is so well-suited to contemporary environments requiring flexibility, speed, and the input of specialized knowledge. At the conclusion of the two tales, author Michael Levine articulates a series of conclusions and principles based on Lean Product Development, Agile, and his 25 years of experience in business systems development. While the tales told and the companies and employees that inhabit them are pure fiction, the lessons to be learned are very real and very applicable in today’s highly competitive market, where victory goes time and time again to the lean and the agile.

340 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Don Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed A Tale of Two Systems more than I expected. I was looking forward to reading and learning more about the technical topics covered - but appreciated that the author dramatized the material using a fictional company complete with a cast of employees facing business issues and operational challenges or opportunities. This made it a more compelling read for me. I’m sure the author based the fictional components of the book on real life situations he’s encountered!

Key learnings were that lean product development ideas strongly compliment the Agile approach to building software solutions. Lean concepts like the study phase, the Chief Engineer role, “go see” and the use of simple tools (like the “A3” one pager, developed by Toyota, for documenting problems & the problem resolution process).

I also sense many similarities between the “study phase” advocated by the author and what I’m learning from other reading I’m doing about “design thinking”. Look forward to learning more about these concepts and highly recommend this book if you are interested in learning more about successful software development using Lean and Agile principles.