 致中國讀者
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去年，我榮幸地得知，清華大學出版社將要引進出版拙著的一個中譯本系列。作為作者，知道自己的作品將要結識成千上萬的中國軟件工程師、經理、測試員、咨詢師以及其他相信技術能給我們帶來更加美好的新世界的人們，我感到非常的驚喜。
在我早期的職業生涯中，我編寫了大量計算機和軟件方面的圖書；但是，隨著經驗的增長，我發現如果我們在技術應用和構建之時對于其人文方面沒有給予足夠重視，技術就變得毫無價值－－甚至是危險的了。于是，我決定在我的作品中加入人文領域的內容，并希望能夠給讀者帶來這方面的思考和重視。
在這之后我出版的第一本書是《程序開發心理》（The Psychology of Computer Programming）。這是一本研究軟件開發、測試和維護中的關于人的過程。該書現在已經是銀版了（自第一次出版至今已經有25年），這充分說明了人們對于理解其工作中人文部分的渴求。很高興這本《程序開發心理》也將成為這一中譯本系列的其中一本。
清華大學出版社引進翻譯的我的這系列作品，讓我有機會將這些選本看作一個整體來思考，并且發現了其中的一些相通的主題。從我有記憶開始，我就對"人們如何思考"產生了濃厚的興趣；當我還是一個小男孩時，世界上僅有的計算機常常被人稱為"巨型大?quot;。我當時就想，如果我搞清楚了這些巨型大腦的"思想"，我或許就可以更深入地了解人們是如何思考的。這就是我為什么一開始就做一個計算機程序員，而后又與計算機打了將近50年的交道；我學到了許多關于人們思考的知識，但是目前所知的還遠遠不夠。
我的對于思考的興趣在這些書中都有體現，而在以下三本中尤其清楚：即《系統化思維導論》（An Introduction to General System Thinking，這本書也已經是銀版了）；它的姊妹篇《系統設計的一般原理》（General Principles of Systems Design，這本書是與我的妻子Dani合著的，她是一名人類學者）；還有一本就是《你的燈亮著嗎？--如何找到問題的真正所在》（Are Your Lights On? : How to Figure Out What the Problem Really Is，這本書是與Don Gause合著的）。我對思考的興趣很自然地延伸到如何幫助他人去清楚思考的方法上，于是我又寫作了這個系列中的其他三本書：《咨詢的奧秘--成功提出和獲得建議的指南》（The Secrets of Consulting : A Guide to Giving and Getting Advice Successfully）；《咨詢的奧秘--咨詢師的百寶箱》（More Secrets of Consulting: The Consultant's Tool Kit）；《走查、審查與技術復審手冊》（The Handbook of Walkthroughs, Inspections, and Technical Reviews : Evaluating Programs, Projects, and Products，這本書已經是第3版了）。
隨著年齡的增長，我逐漸認識到清晰的思維并不是獲取技術成功的充分條件，就算是思維最清楚的人也還需要一些道德和情感方面的領導才能。因此我又寫了《成為技術領導者--解決問題的有機方法》（Becoming a Technical Leader: An Organic Problem-Solving Approach）。隨后我又出版了四卷《質量軟件管理》（Quality Software Management），其內容涵蓋了系統思維、優先度量、協調行動和變更預期等，所有這些都是技術項目取得成功的關鍵。
在與各位譯者的合作中，通過他們不同的文化視角和層面來審視我的作品，我的思維和寫作都獲得了升華。我最大的希望就是這些譯著同樣也能夠幫助你們--我的讀者朋友--在你的項目、甚至是整個人生中獲取更大的成功。最后，感謝你們的閱讀。
Gerald M. Weinberg
October 11, 2002
英文原信內容
Preface to the Chinese Editions of Weinberg's Series Last year, I was honored to learn that Tsinghua University Press intended to publish a series of my books in Chinese translations. As an author, I'm thrilled to know that my work will now be within reach of thousands more software engineers, managers, testers, consultants, and other people concerned with using technology to build a new and better world.
Early in my career, I wrote numerous highly technical books on computers and software, but as I gained experience, I learned that technology is worthless - even dangerous - if we don't pay attention to the human aspects of both its use and its construction. I decided to add the human dimension to my work, and bring that dimension to the attention of my readers.
After making that decision, the first book I published was The Psychology of Computer Programming, a study of the human processes that enter into the development, testing, and maintenance of software. That book is now in its Silver Anniversary Edition (more than 25 years in print), testifying to the desire of people to understand that human dimension to their work. I was very pleased to learn that The Psychology of Computer Programming will be one of the books in this series of Chinese translations.
Having my books translated gives me an opportunity to reflect on them as a collection, and to perceive what themes they have in common. As long as I can recall, I was interested in how people think, and when I was a young boy, the few computers in the world were often referred to as "giant brains." I thought that I might learn more about how people think by studying how these giant brains "thought." That's how I first became a computer programmer, and after almost 50 years of working with computers, I've learned a lot about how people think - but I still have far more to learn than I already know.
My interest in thinking shows in all of these books, but is especially clear in An Introduction to General System Thinking (now also in a Silver Anniversary edition); in its companion volume, General Principles of Systems Design (written with my wife, Dani, who is an anthropologist); and in Are Your Lights On? : How to Figure Out What the Problem Really Is (written with Don Gause). My interest naturally extended to methods of helping other people to think more clearly, which led me to write three other books in the series - The Secrets of Consulting : A Guide to Giving and Getting Advice Successfully; More Secrets of Consulting: The Consultant's Tool Kit; and the Handbook of Walkthroughs, Inspections, and Technical Reviews: Evaluating Programs, Projects, and Products (which is now in its third edition).
But as I grew older, I learned that clear thinking is not the only requirement for success in technology. Even the clearest thinkers require moral and emotional leadership, so I wrote Becoming a Technical Leader: An Organic Problem-Solving Approach, followed by my series of four Quality Software Management volumes. This series covers Systems Thinking, First-Order Measurement, Congruent Action, and Anticipating Change - all of which are essential for success in technical projects.
I have already begun to improve my own thinking and writing by working with the translators and seeing my work through different cultural eyes and brains. My fondest hope is that these translations will also help you, the reader, become more successful in your projects - and in your entire life. Thank you for reading them.
- Gerald M. Weinberg
11 October 2002
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