Most large distributed systems projects today involve so many different technologies that no one is competent in all of them. To help make sense of it all, this ReadyNote outlines the current state of distributed systems software engineering, then provides technicians and managers with methods, practices, and tools adaptable for individual project needs. Much of the material in this ReadyNote applies to managing a wide variety of projects, whether distributed systems or otherwise, so it should also provide value for any managers who are simply looking for a modern perspective on project management.

A complimentary download of the authors Modern Project 2.0 project management toolkit is included with every purchase.

Special note: Instructions for downloading the Modern Project 2.0 project management toolkit are included at the bottom of the copyright page for the ReadyNote, or page 2 of the .pdf.

This is the first volume of the IEEE ReadyNotes Series in Distributed Systems Software Engineering. The series will include:

Volume 1: Distributed Systems Project Management

Volume 2: Distributed Systems Architecture and Specification

Volume 3: Distributed Systems Security Design and Specification

Volume 4: Distributed Systems Design

Volume 5: Distributed Systems Software Implementation and Testing

Volume 6: Distributed Systems Theory

• Norman R. Howes has over 35 years of project management experience while at Texas Instruments, Honeywell, E-Systems, Lockheed and the Institute for Defense Analyses. The last 25 years' experience has been in the area of high performance distributed real-time systems. He is currently a consultant in the areas of distributed systems, cyber warfare command and control systems and IT project management. He has been an invited speaker and guest lecturer at several conferences and workshops.
• Since 1968, Howes has taught at TCU, the University of Dallas, the University of Houston at Clear Lake and George Mason University. He is the author of three books, several book chapters and over 60 papers in the areas of mathematics, computer science, software engineering and mathematical logic. He has communicated papers at the 1970 International Congress of Mathematicians and at the 2006 World Congress of Computer Scientists, et. al. (WORLDCOMP'06). During 1975-1977 he was the computer consultant for the Chief of Defense, Denmark working on the requirements specification for the NATO Northern Region Command and Control System.
• From 1984 until 1987 Howes managed the design and implementation of the prototype space station system at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. In 1998 he took a position at the Institute for Defense Analyses in Alexandria, VA. During his 20 years at the Institute, he led two major distributed system developments. He was the editor for the Architectural Design Specification for the Global Command and Control System that served the U.S. military and various Defense agencies for over a decade and managed the development of a cyber warfare command and control system that was operationally deployed at one Defense and one Government agency between 2003 and 2005.