Johanna’s Books

I've written these books:

Write a Conference Proposal

Learn to write a conference proposal that the conference program committee wants to accept. Includes tips on titling and how to write a bio that helps you explain why you should present this session.

See Write a Conference Proposal the Conference Wants and Accepts.

Modern Management Made Easy, a triad of management books

Learn to manage yourself, lead & serve others, and lead an innovative organization. Read about Practical Ways to Manage Yourself, Practical Ways to Lead and Serve—Manage—Others, and Practical Ways to Lead an Innovative Organization. Or, see the page with all the books: Modern Management Made Easy.

From Chaos to Successful Distributed Agile Teams: Collaborate to Deliver (with Mark Kilby)

Many people don’t believe that virtual teams, with distributed and dispersed members, can use agile approaches. However, most teams, even agile teams, have at least one remote team members. Are we ready to say, “You can’t use agile approaches?” No.

As employees and consultants, we have a combined history of 55 years working with virtual teams. These teams use agile and lean principles and modify the practices to create success across distance and time zones. Read about From Chaos to Successful Distributed Agile Teams.

Create Your Successful Agile Project: Collaborate, Measure, Estimate, Deliver


You think agile techniques might be for you, but your projects and organization are unique. An “out-of-the-box” agile approach won’t work. Instead, unite agile and lean principles for your project. See how to design a custom approach, reap the benefits of collaboration, and deliver value. For project managers who want to use agile techniques, managers who want to start, and technical leaders who want to know more and succeed, this book is your first step toward agile project success.

 

Manage Your Project Portfolio: Increase Your Capacity and Finish More Projects

 Too many projects? Want to organize them and evaluate them without getting buried under a mountain of statistics? You can.

You can evaluate projects by value, stopping them when they have achieved enough value. You can stop the multitasking.

Read about Manage Your Project Portfolio: Increase Your Capacity and Finish More Projects.

 

Agile and Lean Program Management: Scaling Collaboration Across the OrganizationAgile and Lean Program Management: Scaling Collaboration Across the Organization

Scaling agile or lean projects to a program is difficult. Dictating to a program doesn’t work. What does? Autonomy, collaboration, and exploration. Learn how to become an agile and lean program manager or become a valued member of a program team and collaborate across the organization. Read more about Agile and Lean Program Management: Scaling Collaboration Across the Organization.

 

 

Predicting the Unpredictable: Pragmatic Approaches to Schedule or Cost

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Have you ever been asked, “How much will this project cost?” Or, “How long will this project take?” If so, you should read this book.

Read more about Predicting the Unpredictable: Pragmatic Approaches to Estimating Cost or Schedule.

 

Diving for Hidden Treasures: Uncovering the Cost of Delay in Your Project Portfolio (with Jutta Eckstein)

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Have you ever wondered about how your projects become late? Are you worried that your projects become later and you don’t know why?

Cost of delay can tell you where the delays occur and why. Common practices, such as multitasking, experts, and even other projects’ delay can make your project late. Learn simple tools and methods for analyzing and eliminating the costs of delay in your project.

Read more about Diving for Hidden Treasures: Uncovering the Cost of Delay in Your Project Portfolio

 

Manage Your Job Search

MYJS.150 Not sure where to start with your job search? Treat it like the project it is. Full of tips, stories, and humor, Johanna Rothman will help you apply pragmatic project management techniques to your job search so that you take control and find fulfilling work.

 

Read about Manage Your Job Search

 

Hiring Geeks That Fit

HiringGeeksThatFit.150 Do you want to hire great people? Not sure how? Read this book.

If you want your project and organization to succeed, you need great people. These people will adapt to what comes their way, to think. They will solve problems without you having to tell them how.

Read about Hiring Geeks That Fit.

 

 

Manage It! Your Guide to Modern, Pragmatic Project Management

Manage It! Your Guide to Modern, Pragmatic Project Management

 

This book is a reality-based guide for modern projects. You'll learn how to recognize your project's potholes and ruts, and determine the best way to fix problems—without causing more problems.

Read all about Manage It! Your Guide to Modern, Pragmatic Project Management.

 

Behind Closed Doors: Secrets of Great Management (with Esther Derby)

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Want to see how a great manager manages?

That's what Behind Closed Doors: Secrets of Great Management shows and teaches you.

 

 

Hiring the Best Knowledge Workers, Techies & Nerds

Good technical people are the foundation on which successful high technology organizations are built. Establishing a good process for hiring such workers is essential. Take a look at more of the preface from Hiring the Best Knowledge Workers, Techies & Nerds: The Secrets and Science of Hiring Technical People.

 

Corrective Action for the Software Industry

Corrective Action for the Software Industry

You might be one of the many folks confused about corrective action and how to make it work.

See Corrective Action for the Software Industry for a clear explanation and templates.

 

Amplifying Your Effectiveness

Amplifying Your Effectiveness We wrote this book for the first AYE conference. The variety of techniques and perspectives represented in the book will help you amplify your effectiveness—whether or not you are able to attend the live event. See Amplifying Your Effectiveness for more information.