4 ms·
Ask HN: Suggested reading about managing R&D projects
I'm curious if anyone has any good materials to share regarding the management of R&D projects (both successes and cautionary tales, big companies and small).
Thanks!
- jpttsn 4y agoI enjoyed The History of the Making of the Atomic Bomb
- random_moonwalk 4y agoThanks, looks great!
- mathattack 4y agoMuch less true science there. Two biographies worth reading. One is about aircraft R&D, the other a computer. Both fall on the R side of R&D. https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/skunk-works-leo-janos/1124718130 https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/skunk-works-leo-janos/11247... https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/soul-of-a-new-machine-tracy-kidder/1001868164 https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/soul-of-a-new-machine-tracy...
- random_moonwalk 4y agoLoved Skunkworks, will checkout The Soul of a New Machine - thanks!
- dano 4y agoI read The Soul of a New Machine in 1982 and thought I was late to the technology party... little did I know how much that book impacted my life. I hope you enjoy it.
- theshrike79 4y agoPeopleware[0] If you lead any kind of team in IT it is required reading. It will make you a bit sad though: it was written in 1987 presenting common problems and solutions to said problems. We're still struggling to get the solutions implemented today. [0] https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/67825.Peopleware https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/67825.Peopleware
- random_moonwalk 4y agoThanks, will pick up a copy!
- Blackstrat 4y agoGood recommendation. I would add Slack by the same author. It doesn’t necessarily align with the average PMP but it’s highly effective.
- jebarker 4y agoNot directly management books. I work in an R&D lab myself and two books I found useful in thinking about the structure and evaluation of projects: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11797471-the-idea-factory https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11797471-the-idea-factor... https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/530415.The_Art_of_Doing_Science_and_Engineering?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=98KCmZmdNu&rank=1 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/530415.The_Art_of_Doing_...
- random_moonwalk 4y agoMuch appreciated!
- itsdrewmiller 4y agohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mythical_Man-Month https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mythical_Man-Month is a classic for a reason, on this exact topic.
- random_moonwalk 4y agoThanks. I suppose I'm after more materials related to projects with a science/research element where outcomes are perhaps more loosely defined than for a typical software project. I haven't read this, however, and it is definitely relevant so it's going on the list.
- tra3 4y agoGreat question, I've taken some of these books down to read later. I was fascinated by The Pentagon Wars [0]. Arguably US Military is one of the biggest bureaucracies that spends tons of money on R&D projects. Apart from describing the issues with the projects themselves, the author describes how structuring the incentives could potentially pervert the process of developing new tech. I really loved it. [0]: https://www.amazon.com/Pentagon-Wars-Reformers-Challenge-Guard/dp/1612516009 https://www.amazon.com/Pentagon-Wars-Reformers-Challenge-Gua...
- random_moonwalk 4y agoThanks for this
- RhysU 4y agoI have a completed outline for an Applied Research Management book following the old Scott Meyers format. Of course, I am slowly working on the writing phase. Hit me up by email if you would like to pick over the outline.
- dano 4y agoI'd like to help, but your email is not in your profile.
- RhysU 4y agoSorry, added.
- random_moonwalk 4y agoThanks, sounds very interesting - where can I find your email?
- RhysU 4y agoSorry, added.