I'm inclined to accept McConnell's argument that "Controlled projects are less susceptible to Brooks’ Law than chaotic projects". But I'm also inclined to believe that well controlled projects are less susceptible to being late in the first place. And (yes, the distinction's not binary, but all the same...) if project management is chaotic, then it is reasonable to expect the management of the addition of staff to be as chaotic as everything else. In that situation, I'll bet on Brooks every time. But if a well controlled project gets thrown out by something external - the Japanese tsunami for a tragic example - then I could easily imagine the addition of staff improving matters.

Regards,

John Davies

Update: I don't accept that Linux disproves Brooks. Brooks's point related to adding manpower to a late project.