Ask HN: Books to read when you transform from SWE into SWE Management?

#1

Post by DDerTyp » Mon, Feb 28, 2022, 8:37 AM UTC

Hello HackerNews!

I started my SWE career in 2016. I'm in a team which develops an enterprise SaaS-Application. Now I got the opportunity to transform into a leader role which focuses on DevOps, Tests, QA, Documentation and related topics.

So far, we set goals and start to introduce the team (around 5 people) into that topic.

My question is - are there any good books, articles, podcasts, ... which can help me in this "challenge"? I already got some basic (practical) knowledge in leading people and managing a product.

Stay safe!

Re: Ask HN: Books to read when you transform from SWE into SWE Management?

#2

Post by adastra22 » Mon, Feb 28, 2022, 9:14 AM UTC

The usual suspects: The Mythical Man-Month by Fred Brooks. Management by Peter Drucker.

Re: Ask HN: Books to read when you transform from SWE into SWE Management?

#3

Post by brobinson » Mon, Feb 28, 2022, 9:15 AM UTC

Leadership Strategy and Tactics: Field Manual

Re: Ask HN: Books to read when you transform from SWE into SWE Management?

#4

Post by endymi0n » Mon, Feb 28, 2022, 9:18 AM UTC

Here's the single one resource I'm giving any of our new leaders, it's really short and the highest signal-to-noise ratio I've ever seen:

https://www.defmacro.org/2014/10/03/engman.html

I'm personally revisiting it every time I send it around, because it's just so good.

Here's another I've seen recently that goes into a bit of detail while not being quite as succinct:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30240428

EDIT: replaced second link with HN one as it contains an Emoji and broke due to policy

Re: Ask HN: Books to read when you transform from SWE into SWE Management?

#5

Post by brianmcc » Mon, Feb 28, 2022, 9:18 AM UTC

I recommend "Managing Humans" by Michael Lopp aka "Rands".

https://randsinrepose.com/

It's a bit tongue in cheek rather than "management theory" but no less worthwhile for it.

Re: Ask HN: Books to read when you transform from SWE into SWE Management?

#6

Post by pan69 » Mon, Feb 28, 2022, 9:26 AM UTC

Peopleware: Productive Projects and Teams

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peopleware:_Productive_Project...

Re: Ask HN: Books to read when you transform from SWE into SWE Management?

#7

Post by robin_reala » Mon, Feb 28, 2022, 9:34 AM UTC

You should definitely subscribe to Charity Major’s blog. Every post gets a “oh, of course” from me. https://charity.wtf/

Re: Ask HN: Books to read when you transform from SWE into SWE Management?

#8

Post by unculture » Mon, Feb 28, 2022, 9:40 AM UTC

The Manager’s Path by Camille Fournier

Re: Ask HN: Books to read when you transform from SWE into SWE Management?

#9

Post by mro_name » Mon, Feb 28, 2022, 9:42 AM UTC

"Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In" by Roger Fisher and William Ury

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getting_to_Yes:_Negotiating_Ag...

Re: Ask HN: Books to read when you transform from SWE into SWE Management?

#10

Post by flakyfilibuster » Mon, Feb 28, 2022, 9:46 AM UTC

Lots of good recommendations in the thread.

I found this one to be pretty valuable: https://www.amazon.de/Difficult-Conversations-Discuss-What-M... (sorry, amazon link)

Because, obviously you're going to get into situation as a manager where you have to have difficult conversations.