Review By: Siva Krishnajee
03/13/2012Arnie Lund has authored a great book about essential skills for managing UX teams. The book is not simply about user experience management. It is about managing creative people at fast-moving technology companies. The book is well written and based on real stories and experience. This is a must-have book for any person who is managing creative people or who aspires to manage creative people in technology companies.

User experience management is becoming a separate discipline in technology companies. Product managers are assigned to this function, which combines the skills of technology, UI design, and psychology. They will grow as UX team managers in their career. Arnie Lund has written in detail about how these managers can create, equip, focus, and nurture their teams. In addition, he has covered how to create a high-performance team, transform the organization, and be an evangelist for the product and the organization.

Specific things I liked in the book include what should be covered in an elevator speech and how to manage the executives in product evangelization. In the world of successful business, Arnie clearly communicates that creating a product is only half the job. The creator should be able to sell the product to executives on how it aligns with the executives' goal and thus the organization. Without that, the product won't go anywhere.

The book has tables, charts, and diagrams to convey details very clearly. Lund explains the grief cycle, which employees undergo when there are layoffs. Also, the chart matrix about the professional activity model is a great thing. It clearly shows which activity has influence over what professional areas and the impact.

This book is a manager's guide for self management, managing a team of creators, and general management techniques. It can be used as a reference for most management activities.