Book Description

How can you build a successful community of practice that is integrally linked to your company's strategic vision? Learn from the first-hand experience of Hubert Saint-Onge, recognized by Fortune magazine as a leader in the field of knowledge capital, and co-author Debra Wallace, the people responsible for a recent project to establish a community of practice for independent agents at Clarica Life Insurance Company- voted one of the most admired knowledge enterprises in the world by practitioners and researchers.

'Leveraging Communities of Practice for Strategic Advantage' combines theory and practice to outline a model for developing successful communities of practice and proposes a direction for establishing communities of practice as an integral part of the organizational structure. Saint-Onge and Wallace relate what worked, what didn't, and why as they tell the story from inception through implementation to assessment. Whether you're developing communities of practice or want to learn how to leverage existing communities for strategic gain, this book provides you with everything you need to launch successful communities of practice in your organization.

* Hubert Saint-Onge has been recognized by Fortune magazine as a leader in the area of leveraging knowledge capital
* Clarica has been voted one of the most admired knowledge enterprises in the world by practitioners and researchers
* Combines theory and practice to outline a model for developing successful communities of practice ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Very practical indeed
This book has proved very practical indeed with the developing of CoPs in our environment.

A useful practical model
The book describes the introduction of a virtual community of practice, the Agents Network, at Clarica Life Insurance, Canada's first and oldest mutual insurance company. The book offers a practical and detailed example of the establishment, implementation and evaluation of the virtual community, with examples of the tools used by the project team at Clarica.

The authors introduce the notion of communities of practice as a new strategy to leverage knowledge capital to create sustainable competitive advantage. By valuing communities of practice, by recognising the contribution of community members, and giving support for time and commitment) and providing an infrastructure (e.g. giving them a communication platform, active facilitation and information resources), the authors suggest that organizations can increase the speed of innovation and knowledge sharing.

The Community Development Process Model (p.137) provides an excellent 'roadmap' to the approach they undertook that is readily understood. Practical suggestions and tools about evaluating the value of the community are also provided. There is a good combination of theory and practice and, therefore, something for anyone interested in this topic. It has a balance between high-level strategic models, and detailed and practical examples.

The approach taken at Clarica was systematic and project-managed, with the organization playing a very active role in facilitating the conceptualisation, establishment, growth and expansion of the community. The organization obviously provided significant resources to undertake the project. Virtual communities of practice, like the one described in the book, clearly require strong organisational support and resources due to the technological infrastructure they require to be effective.

The authors do not purport to provide a recipe - rather, they tell a story about the introduction of a virtual community of practice in one organization - as such, the book offers an in-depth view of the process. The questions asked at the end of each chapter are intended to challenge readers to assess whether the approach described would work in their own organization.

Practitioners may be tempted to read more widely to find alternative approaches to developing communities of practice, and to select 'the best of the best'. The Clarica approach is only one way, but it does provide sound conceptual models that set the strategic context, as well as diving directly into the detail. There is a useful associated website.

The Future is Here!
Hubert and Debra, thanks, you two have written a monumental work, but in such a humble and mater-of-fact manner. The more I read, the more I became frustrated with the title, because although the book is about the strategic nature of "Communities of Practice," it offers so much more. For the last thirty years, people have been trumpeting the 'end of the hierarchy,' but without anything to put in its place. Know we know the future, and it is here!

In Nonaka and Takeuchi's "The Knowledge Creating Company," there was the suggestive diagram of the "hypertext organization." It showed three layers, the hierarchy, the project team community and a third space, the knowledge community. A few years later Nonaka understood that this third space was what the Japanese call "Ba," a shared mental space. Is this not what you two are talking about in your "Reflective and Strategic - Communities of Practice?"

Please write your next book as quickly as possible and reveal the key to the "culture of leadership," a phrase that got short-shrift. Revisit the earlier work you did at The Mutual Group around "values." I am convinced this, more than any number of memos, meetings and check lists, was what made it possible to accomplish what you did at Clarica. ... Read more

Book Description

All New Preface by the Authors

For years pundits have predicted that information technology will obliterate everything-from supermarkets to business organizations to social life itself. But beaten down by info-glut, exasperated by computer crashes, and daunted by the dot com crash, individual users find it hard to get a fix on the true potential of the digital revolution.John Seely Brown and Paul Duguid argue that the gap between digerati hype and end-user gloom is largely due to the "tunnel vision" that information-driven technologies breed.We've become so focused on where we think we ought to be-a place where technology empowers individuals and obliterates social organizations-that we often fail to see where we're really going. The Social Life of Information shows us how to look beyond our obsession with information and individuals to include the critical social networks of which these are always a part. ... Read more

Reviews (43)

A View of IT from a Social Context
I enjoyed reading this thoughtful book, which evaluates and analyzes the role of technology in a balanced social context. I learned to appreciate a different perspective - a perspective where information technologies are placed in a balanced contextual relationship to social values, and to human needs and relationships. Other books I have read survey technology from the standpoint of technological determinism, or as the book says, from the standpoint of the "blinkered euphoria of the infoenthusiast." This book is a good reading and it seeds deeper discussion and thought.

Since I work in the field of distance learning, I found Chapter 5, "Learning - in Theory and in Practice," Chapter 6, "Innovating Organization, Husbanding Knowledge," Chapter 7 - "Reading the Background," and Chapter 8, "Re-education," particularly interesting and relevant. The authors identify three differences between information and knowledge: 1) knowledge usually entails a knower (the person who knows), 2) knowledge appears harder to detach (than information), and 3) knowledge requires assimilation. So these days, with all the talk about hot distance education trends and increasing on-line and other technology-mediated educational programming, we need to remain mindful of the need for technology-mediated programming to empower folks to learn, i.e., acquire and assimilate knowledge.

I also appreciated Brown and Duguid's insightful discussion regarding changes in higher education. It is true that an opportunity exists to provide greater access to higher education through the expanding use of information technologies. But, it is important to distinguish the current hype about distance learning from the reality of what really is currently available and accessible. The authors also draw distinctions between social distance and geographical distance and the dangers of polarization. I also agree that the goal should be access to higher education.

Full of ah-ha moments, though a bit of a slow read.
I just finished reading The Social Life of Information, by John Seeley Brown and Paul Duguid. This was not the quickest read; it's a business book with the obtuseness of vocabulary that implies. However, if you're a computer person with any desire to see your work in a larger context, this is a book you should read. In it, they examine eight separate areas in which computers, and the internet in particular, have supposedly changed our lives (this is typically called 'hype', though the authors don't use the word) in the latter years of the 20th century. (This book is copyright 2000.) You probably remember some of these claims: the death of the corporation, of the university, of paper documents, of the corporate office. In each chapter, they review one claim, show how the claim's proponents over-simplify the issue, and look at the (new and old) responses of people and institutions to the problem that the claim was trying to solve. They also examine, in detail, the ways in which humans process information, and how the software that is often touted as a replacement simply isn't.

I really enjoy 'ah-ha' moments; these are times where I look back at my experiences in a new light, thanks to a theory that justifies or explains something that I didn't understand. For example, I remember when I started my first professional job, right out of college, I thought the whole point of work was to, well, work. So I sat in my cube and worked 8 solid hours a day. After a few months, when I still didn't know anyone at the office, but had to ask someone how to modify a script I was working on, I learned the value of social interaction at the office. (Actually, I was so clueless, I had to ask someone to find the appropriate someone to ask.) While examining the concept of the home office, the authors state "[t]he office social system plays a major part in keeping tools (and people) up and running." It's not just work that happens at the office--there's collaboration and informal learning.

I've worked remotely in the past year for the first time, and anyone who's worked remotely has experienced a moment of frustration when trying to explain something and wished they were just "there," to show rather than tell--the authors refer to this process as 'huddling.' When someone is changing a software configuration that I'm not intimately familiar, it's much easier to judge correct options and settings if I'm there. The authors explain that "[huddling] is often a way of getting things done through collaboration. At home with frail and fickle technologies and unlimited configurations, people paradoxically may need to huddle even more, but can't." This collaboration is even more important between peers.

Reading about the home office and its lack of informal networks (which do occur around the corporate office) really drove home the social nature of work. After a few years at my company, I had cross-departmental relationships (often struck up over beer Friday) that truly eased some of my pain. Often, knowing who to ask a question is more important than knowing the answer to the question. It's not impossible to build those relationships when you're working remotely, but it's much more difficult.

Another enjoyable moment of clarity arose when the authors discussed the nature of documents. I think of a document as a Word file, or perhaps a set of printed out pages. The explicit information (words, diagrams, etc) that I can get from the document is the focus (and this is certainly the case in document management systems sales pitches). But there's a lot more to a document. How do I know how much to trust the information? Well, if it's on a website somewhere, that's a fair bit sketchier than if it's in the newspaper, which is in turn less trustworthy than if I've experienced the information myself. Documents validate information--we've all picked up a book, hefted it, examined it, and judged it based on its cover. The authors say "readers look beyond the information in documents. ... The investment evident in a document's material content is often a good indicator of the investment in its informational content." Just as if someone says "trust me" you should probably run the other way, information alone can't attest to its own veracity. The authors also look at aspects to documents (like history, like feel, like layout) that simply aren't captured when you treat them as streams of bits.

And there are many other examples of 'hype' that are deflated in this book, and a few other 'ah-ha' moments as well. As I stated above, this is a great read for anyone who thinks there is a technical answer to any problem (or even most problems). By taking apart various claims, and examining the truth and untruth of those claims in a real world context, these two authors give technology credit where it's due, while at the same time explaining why some of the older institutions and important factors in our lives will remain around. Reading this book was hard work, but understanding what the authors say gives me yet another way to relate to non-technical people, as well as fend off the zealots who claim, in a knee-jerk fashion, that more software solves problems. I majored in physics, in college, but minored in politics. It always seemed that the people problems, though more squishy, were more interesting. This book is confirmation of that fact.

Valuable idea towards the new IT century
Living in this new century, Information Technology plays a very important part in our daily life. However, as the world is flooded with information, meaningless of the mass information become a questionable matter in return.

This book is just about some ideas concerning the new technology and the new world information. People nowadays know the importance of information but they always missed the limitation of it. As mentioned by the author, increased in information is not necessary equivalents to increased in the value and meaning of it. Controlling the flow of mass information became a critical issue and solutions like better processing and improved data are suggested for improvement.

The book raised an essential element in the IT world, that is the social network, which in fact is playing the core role in this new technology world. Without the help of socialization, technology cannot grow so fast into our daily life. Think about facing problems about how to operate a new version of Microsoft windows, majority of new users would seek advice from those they knew rather than seek helps from the ¡§help¡¨ menu or instruction guidelines on the internet. Therefore, social context plays an important role in helping information and technology become more valuable to human.
It is the truth that even the professional technicians cannot solve problems by themselves sometimes and what they would do is to discuss with colleagues and share experience and knowledge with each other.

I agree that information itself has little meaning; it becomes valuable only after we digested and changed them into knowledge. Without doubt, technologies can ease our learning of knowledge and save much time. Therefore, they all have close relationship with each other.

This book is worthwhile to read and I have several learning insights from it. For instance, the difference between information and knowledge, IT is not as powerful as what I think before and there are still many rooms for improvements. The author pointed out an important term, Tunnel Vision, which means looking at a particular thing in a narrow vision and ignoring other things around. Whenever we try to focus on a certain issue, we should mind the thing around, broader vision is better to help us in getting a more objective view.

In addition, it is informative in clearing our misunderstandings on IT development and there are some good points raised by the author like those I have mentioned before.

Lets go forward to the past
This is a remarkable book, not simply in terms of its insights on how technologies can be misguided if they do no recognize the underlying social structure that they are there to support, but also with regard to the release of this book in March of 2000 at the height of the dot-com boom.

In this book you will not find technological evangelicalism or ideas about how the Internet can change the world, but you will find thoughtful discussion about why online universities need the value of the offline university, why a knowledge economy cannot be understood in terms of a manufacturing paradigm of inter-changeable parts, why Chiat-Day's unstructured office design was an interesting concept but a failure in supporting the social structure of an office, and why groups of like-minded businesses will cluster in the same geographical area even though new technologies would elminate the need for proximity.

This book is positive about technology, but asks to look first at the real impact and real opportunity. While this is an amazing book that I would highly recommend to everyone interested in this subject, I did think the delineation of new technology and existing social context did not explore emergining social patterns as a result of technological change. We can only hope for a book in the future on this topic by these authors

Engaging Introduction to a Neglected Topic
This book offers a counterargument to the claim that more information (and more Information Technology) will magically make life easier. It is not an argument against technology, but it is a call for more realistic expectations when it comes to things like telecommuting, the "paperless office", and the virtual university.

The authors' engaging tone helps to overcome the dryness of some of the material. As someone who has spent a good deal of time in online communities, however, I felt that the book (and its authors) might have benefitted from a closer look at some of the more social online communities.

Like any book on technology, of course, this book faces the problem of quickly becoming dated, particularly when the authors look into the (possible) future, but it serves as an excellent introduction to the topic. It also includes a bibliography, for readers wishing to delve more deeply into the history and studies behind the book. ... Read more

Book Description

Are you overworked, unappreciated and under-resourced? This book understands you, and provides years and years of User Support experience packed into one volume. The 'How To' book that every IT department needs, it will help turn your helpdesk into a company asset. How to be successful at probably the most stressful job in IT

This book offers tools for measuring productivity and features ten key steps for successful support, while User Support successes and failures are revealed in true life case studies.

This book gives you techniques for:
*Justifying staff and other expenditure
* Gaining senior management support
* Getting the users on your side
* Running a motivated and productive team
* Designing and managing services and service levels

The second edition of this popular book brings updates to several of the author's ideas, strategies and techniques with new material on:

* Customer Relationship Management - definition and the role of the helpdesk
* E-Support and the Internet
* Contrasting the Call Center and the Helpdesk
* first, second and third line support
* Operational Level Agreements
* Strategies for backlog management
* Telephone technologies in user support

In addition there is:
* A new Template for a Service Level Agreement
* An Improved cost justification model for the Internal Helpdesk
* A New cost justification model for the External Helpdesk

New topics include:
- Lines of support
- The rise of the call center
- Knowledge bases
- The Intranet
- The Internet
- The external helpdesk
- Backlog management
- Industry standards
- Calculating headcountReflects technological advancements in software and the Internet
Covers new ways of working: teleworking; virtual offices; keeping staff and customers connected through corporate networks from remote locations. ... Read more

Book Description

In 'Key Issues in the New Knowledge Management,' Firestone and McElroy, the architects of the New Knowledge Management (TNKM) provide an in-depth analysis of the most important issues in the field of Knowledge Management.


The issues the book addresses are central in the field today:
* The Knowledge Wars, or the issue of "how you define knowledge determines how you manage it"
* The nature of knowledge processing
* Information management or knowledge management?
* Three views on the evolution of knowledge management
* The role of knowledge claim evaluation in knowledge processing, or the difference between opinion, judgements, information, data, and real knowledge in knowledge management systems
* Is culture a barrier in knowledge management?
* The Open Enterprise and accelerated sustainable innovation
* Portals
* How should one evaluate KM software?
* Intellectual Capital
* Measuring the impact of KM initiatives on the organization and the bottom line
* KM and terrorism

* The first book to address head-on the central issues in Knowledge Management
* Moves the discussion of knowledge management into the hot area of innovation
* Charts the next generation of knowledge management thinking by the President of KMCI: the leading KM organization ... Read more

Book Description

"Companies across the USA, worried that cyberspace will be terrorism's next battleground have shored up security since September 11. About 77% of businesses improved defenses against hackers, viruses and other attacks. Such threats are real. Cyberspace attacks jumped 64% from a year ago." -- USA Today 8/19/02

* 60% of organizations have suffered a data security breach in the last 2 years. 43% of those with sensitive or critical information have suffered an extremely serious one.

* IT security is now the key boardroom issue of the e-commerce age.

* Aimed at CEOs, FOs, and senior managers in the private and public sectors.

* Explains current "best practice" in managing data and information security

* Encourages companies to ensure effective management control and legal compliance through attaining BS 7799 / ISO 17799.

IT governance is a critical aspect of corporate governance, and recent reports have focused boardroom attention on the need to ensure "best practice" in IT management.

This important guide, now up-dated to contain the final BS7799 / ISO17799 nomenclature, explains current best practice in managing data and information security and gives a clear action plan for attaining certification. It is an essential resource for directors and senior managers in organizations of all sorts and sizes but particularly those with well-developed IT systems and those focused on e-commerce.

Topics covered include:The need for information security and the benefits of certification; Information security management, policy and scope; Risk assessment; Personnel security; Physical and environmental security, Equipment security; Security controls; Controls against malicious software; Exchanges of software, the Internet and e-mail; Access control; Housekeeping, network management and media handling; Mobile computing and teleworking; Systems development and maintenance; Cryptographic controls; Compliance ... Read more

Book Description

Maintaining a focus on preparing students for all levels of the office environment, this text focuses on the technological changes currently taking place.It is designed to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for success in the workplace, and to develop communication, human relations and time and stress management.This text was formerly named Office 2000: Technology & Procedures. ... Read more

Book Description

Open source software is considered by many to be a novelty and the open source movement a revolution. Yet the collaborative creation of knowledge has gone on for as long as humans have been able to communicate. CODE looks at the collaborative model of creativity -- with examples ranging from collective ownership in indigenous societies to free software, academic science, and the human genome project -- and finds it an alternative to proprietary frameworks for creativity based on strong intellectual property rights.

Intellectual property rights, argues Rishab Ghosh in his introduction, were ostensibly developed to increase creativity; but today, policy decisions that treat knowledge and art as if they were physical forms of property actually threaten to decrease creativity, limit public access to creativity, and discourage collaborative creativity. "Newton should have had to pay a license fee before being allowed even to see how tall the 'shoulders of giants' were, let alone to stand upon them," he writes.

The contributors to CODE, from such diverse fields as economics, anthropology, law, and software development, examine collaborative creativity from a variety of perspectives, looking at new and old forms of creative collaboration and the mechanisms emerging to study them. Discussing the philosophically resonant issues of ownership, property, and the commons, they ask if the increasing application of the language of property rights to knowledge and creativity constitutes a second enclosure movement -- or if the worldwide acclaim for free software signifies a renaissance of the commons. Two concluding chapters offer concrete possibilities for both alternatives, with one proposing the establishment of "positive intellectual rights" to information and another issuing a warning against the threats to networked knowledge posed by globalization. ... Read more

Book Description

" Whether by design, accident or merely synchronicity, Checkland appears to have developed a habit of writing seminal publications near the start of each decade which establish the basis and framework for systems methodology research for that decade." Hamish Rennie, Journal of the Operational Research Society, 1992 Thirty years ago Peter Checkland set out to test whether the Systems Engineering (SE) approach, highly successful in technical problems, could be used by managers coping with the unfolding complexities of organizational life. The straightforward transfer of SE to the broader situations of management was not possible, but by insisting on a combination of systems thinking strongly linked to real-world practice Checkland and his collaborators developed an alternative approach - Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) - which enables managers of all kinds and at any level to deal with the subtleties and confusions of the situations they face. This work established the now accepted distinction between ‘ hard’ systems thinking, in which parts of the world are taken to be ‘ systems’ which can be ‘ engineered’ , and ‘ soft’ systems thinking in which the focus is on making sure the process of inquiry into real-world complexity is itself a system for learning. Systems Thinking, Systems Practice (1981) and Soft Systems Methodology in Action (1990) together with an earlier paper Towards a Systems-based Methodology for Real-World Problem Solving (1972) have long been recognized as classics in the field. Now-Peter Checkland has looked back over the three decades of SSM development, brought the account of it up to date, and reflected on the whole evolutionary process which has produced a mature SSM. SSM: A 30-Year Retrospective, here included with Soft Systems Methodology in Action closes a chapter on what is undoubtedly the most significant single research programme on the use of systems ideas in problem solving. Now retired from full-time university work, Peter Checkland continues his research as a Leverhulme Emeritus Fellow. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Really worthwhile
This book is a gem. The basic concepts of systems, hierarchies and emergent properties are developed from the methodologies of physical and social sciences in chapter 3, and makes for fascinating reading. I'm currently writing a master's thesis on it! =)

If you're studying management of information systems or something similar, you are probably sick and tired of overly theoretical approaches to the subject which seem to be just excuses for academics to publish rubbish (eg. structuration, actor network theory, etc). This book may save you from a nervous breakdown.

Where it all began...
Well, since I've been on a bit of a 'systems' binge lately, I might as well review this old gem...

Checkland's book was the first to introduce the differentiation between 'soft' and 'hard' systems analysis. Soft analysis is much more akin to a general, somewhat philosophical approach to the methodology whereas hard analysis is the development of usable engineering models.

First off, this book is actually two books - the first is a fairly long paper that neatly sums up the systems approach over the 30 years it has been explored. The consensus? Things looked really promising at the beginning but unfortunately the approach simply got hung up on the very thing it was trying to escape: science's current preoccupation with reductionism. That is, the hard systems approach attracted the most attention and it quickly succumbed to the very trap it sought to escape starting with its use of rigidly-defined symbols right up to the detailed diddling with mathematical models that, similar to earlier approaches, did not model reality at all due to assumptions and oversimplification.

Checkland is much more interested in the soft approach and he consistently laments the fact that systems methodology is not being taught even though it holds so much promise to solving many of our pressing problems. The overview presses this point home and should be required reading for anyone in management or engineering.

The second section, the original book with a few revisions, is still very relevant. Checkland's focus, soft systems, never was given a chance given our preoccupation with reductionism. Given the recent failures of reductionism, particularly the genome-mapping fiasco, cast systems theory in new light.

Checkland starts out with an excellent overview of the history of science from a (mostly) philosophical perspective. This very readable overview leads directly into his discussion of the history and early development of systems theory. He then focuses on systems methodology (soft systems theory) with some general applications.

The approach is very readable and should be easily understood by anyone - in fact, Checkland stresses the importance of having a wide base of knowledge to help solve real-world problems and points out that much work has been done by people who 'migrated' from other fields. Smuts, one of the pioneers, was actually a politician and only wrote a systems book after losing an election...

It is unfortunate that there are no references to Robert Rosen here since his work, more of a 'hard' approach to systems theory, fully supports Checkland's ideas. In fact, there is a lot of material that should be included as 'backup' for why the systems approach is important as a new direction away from reductionism. Perlovsky's work in cybernetics, Jopling's recent work on self-knowledge, Prigogine's work in thermodynamics and even Kauffman's attempts in biology now point to hypotheses that are only compatible with a systems methodology.

This book, as mentioned above, should be required reading these days. Certainly for anyone contemplating management or engineering it is a very important reference. In fact, the book could basically be used in high-school with a bit of help from Weinberg's systems books. For those looking for more application-specific information I recommend von Bertalanffy's original, Rosen's work, and perhaps a side helping of Weinberg and Gharajedaghi for more ideas. ... Read more

Book Description

Business Intelligence describes the basic architectural components of a business intelligence environment, ranging from traditional topics such as business process modeling, data modeling, and more modern topics such as business rule systems, data profiling, information compliance and data quality, data warehousing, and data mining. This book progresses through a logical sequence, starting with data model infrastructure, then data preparation, followed by data analysis, integration, knowledge discovery, and finally the actual use of discovered knowledge. The book contains a quick reference guide for business intelligence terminology. Business Intelligence is part of Morgan Kaufmann's Savvy Manager's Guide series.

* Provides clear explanations without technical jargon, followed by in-depth descriptions.
* Articulates the business value of new technology, while providing relevant introductory technical background.
* Contains a handy quick-reference to technologies and terminologies.
* Guides managers through developing, administering, or simply understanding business intelligence technology.
* Bridges the business-technical gap.
* Is Web enhanced. Companion sites to the book and series provide value-added information, links, discussions, and more. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Essential Reading for BI Professionals
This book is a must read for any business or information technology (IT) professional who is involved in data warehousing and business intelligence (BI) projects. As Director of Education for The Data Warehousing Institute (TDWI) I'm intimately involved in the learning needs and processes of BI professionals. I firmly believe that the future of BI depends on better integration of technology with business at a human level. Business leaders must become more IT-savvy, and IT leaders must become more business-savvy. David Loshin's book is a fine start for both groups. You'll gain an understanding of business intelligence, business management disciplines, data warehousing, and how all of the pieces work together.

As a speaker at conferences and seminars I frequently challenge IT people to become more business savvy. My recommendation -- read David Loshin's "Business Intelligence: The Savvy Manager's Guide" first. Then read a BPM book, a CRM book, a supply chain book, and so on. If you're working in IT and have data warehouse or BI responsibilities, I make the same recommendation to you.

The proof, however, is in the practice. At a recent TDWI conference (San Diego, November 2003) this book sold out within the first few days of the event -- before Loshin had even arrived at the conference to teach a class. The Savvy Manager's Guide was among the top-selling books at this event and the first the be sold out.

Read this book. You'll be glad that you did!

Great Business Intro
This book provides a great introduction to the technical aspects of building a business intelligence program. The book is aimed at both technical and business client managers, and provides enough insight without getting too bogged down in the technical details. I would suggest that anyone undertaking a BI project should use this book as a guidebook. ... Read more

Book Description

An analytical assessment of the phenomena of ASP. Introduces frameworks for customer ASP economics, ASP services definitions, ASP technologies, ASP architectures, ASP ecosystems, ASP value propositions, ASP investment decision processes, and others. Softcover. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Packed with information for a wide range of readers
This book is essential reading for all stakeholders in an ASP scenario:providers, clients, and investors/venture capitalists. The reasons for this bold statement are:

- PROVIDERS:Chapters 3 (Understanding ASP), 5 (Network Computing and ASP Architectures), 8 (ASP Security Services), and 10 (ASP Enabling: Requirements and Fulfillment) cover the critical success factors that the ASP needs to ensure, as well as gives a good overview of what it takes to frame a value proposition to potential clients.

- CLIENTS:Chapters 2 (Why Companies Outsource), 3 (Understanding ASP), 6 (ASP Types and Services), and 7 (Managing ASPs) show what to expect from an ASP, how to determine if outsourcing to one makes business sense, and how to effectively manage an ASP after the contract is signed.

- INVESTORS/VCs: Chapters 1 (The History and Evolution of Outsourcing and ASP), 2 (Why Companies Outsource), 4 (Taxonomy for ASP Economies), 9 (Strategic Analysis of ASP Types), and 11 (The Future of ASP) make a compelling case in favor of investing in an ASP, and how to properly evaluate proposed business models.

To be sure there is a lot of overlap of material that will be of interest between and among the stakeholders cited above, but the chapters I cited will be the ones that each should read first.What makes this book so valuable is the panoramic view of the ASP industry, and the level of detail that each topic is given.The author knows his stuff, and, more importantly, knows how to clearly communicate it.

If you are among the stakeholder groups cited above this is the single most informative book on the topic to date.

Excellent book on hosted applications
Well structured and excellent all round book on hosted applications covering: the motivations for outsourcing; what application service providers (ASPs) are all about; ASP types, services and techologies used. Also good sections on ASP security and strategic analysis of ASP types. Writing quality is good. The author knows his subject and text is well edited. Overall, a very useful guide to what the ASPs are all about and a comprehensive introduction into the challenging world of the ASPs.

ASP's best communicator!
A wonderfully thorough examination on one of the most important themes facing tech-companies today!This book has it all; economics, strategic marketing processes, lucid observations and an incredibly learned analysis.I am stunned.Factor is hands down the world leader in ASP knowledge and a prophet in sizing up its future importance in the tech world.Read it! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Exceeded my expectations!
I love the format. This format is very powerful because I can go right to the problems that are relavent to my company and review the suggested solutions. The suggested solutions are based on a lot of experience in the Data Warehouse field from a number of experts, not just one person. You can glean many good ideas from this book.

I have found this Sid Adelman book to be just as useful as his first book,"Data Warehouse Project Management", written with Lorissa Moss.

Good Perspectives on Tough Topics
I enjoyed this book. We all hear about tough issues, but this book goes further and offers insightful opinions and sound advice. The format of the book makes it very easy to read. It's an interesting peek into the tough little realities that lurk inside data warehousing projects. ... Read more

Book Description

This book prepares readers for the challenge of integrating the technology resource. In order to understand the industry today, one must understand the ways companies align, partner, and communicate through technology to grow their business. Managing the Information Technology Resource presents a set of powerful tools to ensure users' understanding of the strategies, tactics, and operational endeavors CIO's employ to assimilate technologies across the firm. “Examples in Action” boxes highlight real-world company examples in each chapter, lending a practical feel to the book so readers can see how this material relates to the actual workforce. Seven sections illustrate the critical topics inherent to IT in today's firm—Alignment, Partnership, Technology, Human Resources, Governance, Communications, and Metrics. Emphasis is placed on the tactical and operational role of the CIO. For anyone involved with IT in a company.

Reviews (1)

A must read!!
I got a lot out of the book and found it extremly helpful in my career. So many items can be taken directly from the book and applied to your job.

I was lucky enough to study under Dr. Luftman during the fall of 2003 at Stevens Insititute of Technology in NJ. Dr. Luftman is very insightful and truly understands the needs for aligning Business and IT. Dr. Luftman engages on a regular basis all of the top CIOs in the NYC market. Besides this book, I recommend Dr. Luftmans other book "Align in the Sand". Another great work.

I guarantee after reading the book you will truly understand what it takes to make your IT group a Value Center rather than a Cost center. ... Read more

Book Description

This book is the story of how four busy executives, from different backgrounds and different perspectives, were surprised to find themselves converging on the idea of narrative as an extraordinarily valuable lens for understanding and managing organizations in the twenty-first century. The idea that narrative and storytelling could be so powerful a tool in the world of organizations was initially counter-intuitive. But in their own words, John Seely Brown, Steve Denning, Katalina Groh, and Larry Prusak describe how they came to see the power of narrative and storytelling in their own experience working on knowledge management, change management, and innovation strategies in organizations such as Xerox, the World Bank, and IBM.

Storytelling in Organizations lays out for the first time why narrative and storytelling should be part of the mainstream of organizational and management thinking. This case has not been made before. The tone of the book is also unique. The engagingly personal and idiosyncratic tone comes from a set of presentations made at a Smithsonian symposium on storytelling in April 2001. Reading it is as stimulating as spending an evening with Larry Prusak or John Seely Brown. The prose is probing, playful, provocative, insightful and sometime profound. It combines the liveliness and freshness of spoken English with the legibility of a ready-friendly text. Interviews will all the authors done in 2004 add a new dimension to the material, allowing the authors to reflect on their ideas and clarify points or highlight ideas that may have changed or deepened over time.

* Brings together well-known thought leaders on the importance of narrative and storytelling for organizational success
* The book's easy to read, engaging style of storytelling makes you feel part of the conversation
* Only book that includes personal stories and perspectives from Larry Prusak and John Seely Brown ... Read more

Book Description

Today's accounting students must know how to develop, audit, and use accounting systems so the information contained within them can then be used by managers and decision makers.This textbook teaches students how to perform this role with Microsoft Access as the database tool. ... Read more

Book Description

Praise for Executive’s Guide To Web Services

"Finally, a very readable book about how Web services operate in the real world.This is a must-read primer for all C level executives who want to understand how Web services are fundamentally changing how enterprises integrate, collaborate, innovate, and dominate."
–Peter Dupre, Chief Technical Strategist, Edgewater Technology, Inc.

"Following along the brilliant analytical path that he blazed with the release of his first book on IT, Business Darwinism: Evolve or Dissolve, Marks, with coauthor Mark Werrell, continues to observe, digest, analyze, and clearly explain the latest trends in IT innovation. The Executive’s Guide to Web Services is a must-read companion for any IT manager, technology innovator, or corporate executive committed to successfully navigating through the maze of technology change. With this book, Marks and Werrell deliver a timely and valuable analysis of an important IT innovation at the ideal moment–just as the necessary confluence of technology, standards, and industry acceptance is starting to make the Web services vision a reality."
–Barry Zellen, CEO and Founder, TechnologyReports.net

"Marks and Werrell have captured the true essence of Web services in their provocative new book Executive’s Guide to Web Services. Their overarching emphasis on business issues over technology issues makes Executive’s Guide essential reading for any business executive looking for new sources of competitive advantage."
–David R. Brousell, Editor-in-Chief, Managing Automation Magazine ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Good, clear read
A good primer, clearly defined concepts and a writing style that cuts thru the jargon right to the point. Others have expounded the overall virtues of the book, I'll only echo the earlier review praising Chapter 2's definitions.

If you are an executive, senior manager, or just an IT professional looking for the "no BS" answer, and need a clear, concise overview of this sometimes complicated subject so you can make informed decisions on utilizing (or recommending) web services in your business, this book is for you.

Executive guide is right.
There is not enough detail here to make this book worth the money. Don't waist your time, there are many other books here that will fill in the details, this is not one of them.

Make Business Sense of Your Web Initiatives
Web-based initiatives can be as simple or complex as looking at the night sky. The technology choices from programming languages to servers to networks to security can be overwhelming. Add to the mix the types of Internet-based business systems desired and demanded by customers along with the ability to implement them and you can find a state of confusion and uncertainty.

Eric and Mark do a superb job of helping executives understand how to take realistic steps to solve the technology conundrum and how best to approach Web-based initiatives that will bring the greatest value to achieving business goals. Without such a book, this journey can be daunting.

The thought leadership presented in the book takes the reader from the application of innovative uses of current technologies to the leading edge of future applications and architectures; all compartmentalized into four phases of adoption.

A great dissertation that is ahead of the pack in toning down the hype of Web Services while presenting a realistic view of the tremendous value that can be achieved.

A must read for anyone venturing into Web Services!
Given the wide spread industry hype surrounding Web Services, and the appearance that every software vendor has their own definition and perspective on what really constitutes a Web Service, what do you get - A whole heap of confusion!!

In tackling this confusion "Executive's Guide to Web Services," does a great job of explaining what Web Services are, and separating the business realities from the overblown hype. As such this book is recommended reading for anyone who is looking for a foundation upon which to really understand this emerging subject space.

In this book Marks and Werrell discuss:

- What differentiates Web Services from previous IT trends
- The concepts and standards that make Web Services possible
- The rational for using Web Services to increase organizational flexibility and agility
- Current and future business scenarios for reducing costs and increasing revenues
- How and where to begin using Web Services (as well as where not!)
- Predominant software vendors in the Web Services space, and their market positions

Overall the book avoids technical discussions, favoring a business centric perspective, from which strategic and tactical business considerations are examined. If you are looking for a guide on how to code your first Web Services program, this is not the book for you, this topics is left to the numerous implementation books already out there.

In this book you will find a solid Web Services foundation that will arm you with a good perspective on what Web Services are, as well as where and when to use them today. You will also gain the knowledge and understanding necessary to discern Web Services reality from hype - do not underestimate how valuable this knowledge is for early forays into implementation of Web Services!

Great job explaining Web Services
"Executive's Guide to Web Services" starts out by providing real world examples of how and where Web services are being used today (e.g. Dunn & Bradstreet, Dell etc). These examples are used as a backdrop from which Web services concepts are introduced. Chapter 2, "Standards, Concepts and Terminology" is without doubt the most readable and comprehensive Web services primer that I've yet to find - it's worth buying the book for this chapter alone!

CONTENT:
Using chapter 2 as a foundation, later chapters further explore what Web services are, and what they can (and can't) do for businesses. Key topics covered include:
o Web Service Adoption - Looks at the hype surrounding Web services and outlines what's really achievable today. Also, details what the authors refer to as the "Web services Adoption Lifecycle," which maps the likely adoption and business usage of Web services over the next 3-5 years.
o Where to Begin - A step by step analysis of how, where, and when to use Web services for your business.
o Strategic/Vertical Market Implications - The medium to long terms strategic implications of Web services adoption.
o Architecting for Competitive Advantage - A conceptual discussion of how Web services can be used to create a more agile and flexible infrastructure, which is more adaptive to the fluidity of today's market dynamics.

CONCLUSIONS:
Overall, "Executive's Guide to Web Services" does a great job of explaining what Web services are, where and when to use them, and how they can be used to improve internal and inter-company operating efficiencies. The book covers each topic comprehensively, and does a good job of explaining complex concepts in a plain, easy to understand language.
Whether you are only just beginning to look into Web services, or you want to gain additional insights into how your business should look to use Web services, "Executive's Guide to Web Services" will be a good choice.

Good Choice - Highly Recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

"Anyone who finds Data Warehouse Project Management has found for themselves a veritable gold mine, a wealth of wisdom and experience from some real pros . . . it is the most thorough and thoughtful work on data warehouse projects I have ever read." --From the Foreword by John A. Zachman
Data warehouse development projects present a unique set of management challenges that can confound even the most experienced project manager. Data Warehouse Project Management addresses these challenges and provides a comprehensive roadmap to managing every aspect of data warehouse design, development, and implementation. Drawing on their extensive experience in the field, Sid Adelman and Larissa Moss point to critical success factors, reveal the many pitfalls to watch out for, and offer proven solutions that will enable you to put a successful data warehouse project into place.
You will find in-depth coverage of such topics as:
Critical success factors and reasons for failures
Measuring results
Cost-benefit analysis
Selecting the right software and vendors
Roles and responsibilities of team members
Methodology, including rapid application development and parallel development tracks
Developing a logical and physical data model for smooth data integration
The important issue of data quality and how to cleanse dirty data from source files
At the end of each chapter, "A Cautionary Tale" warns you of potential problems, and a workshop enables you to practice what you've just learned. The book concludes with a comprehensive example that illustrates project planning and management in action, from determining milestones, schedules, and tasks to maintaining control when the project goes off course. An accompanying CD-ROM contains the workshops in electronic format as well as helpful templates and additional reading material. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Meeting Data Warehouse Challenges for the 21st Century!
Data Warehouse Project Management is an excellent tool for the challenging information systems field. This is a truly definitive book on data warehousing that emphasizes the way data warehouses should be developed and how a data warehouse impacts the entire organization...from the people who design and develop a data warehouse to the business people who need to interface with the developers of the data warehouse and to those who, on a daily basis, are involved in corporate decision making. And, if you are on the hiring side of the equation, you need to know what to look for when interviewing top talent. Using the "Data Warehouse Project Management" is a great method for learning while doing, especially if you dont' have the time to train employees in this discipline. As growth through technology changes the way corporations do business, Sid and Larissa highlight the importance of how a well defined and developed data warehouse can bring process improvement, productivity and innovation to the overall success of the organization.

Meeting Data Warehouse Challenges For The 21st Century
Data Warehouse Project Management is an excellent tool for the challenging information systems field. This is truly a definitive book on data warehousing that emphasizes the way data warehouses should be developed and how a data warehouse impacts the entire organization...from the people who design and develop a data warehouse to the business people who need to interface with the developers of the data warehouse and to those, who, on a daily basis, are involved in corporate decision making. And, if you are on the hiring side of the equation, you need to know what to look for when interviewing top talent. Using the "Data Warehouse Project Management" is a great method for learning while doing, especially if you don't have the time to train employees in this discipline. As growth through technology changes the way corporations do business, Sid and Larissa highlight the importance of how a well defined and developed data warehouse can bring process improvement, productivity and innovation to the overall success of the organization. Book Review By Dori Ann Neuman Enterprises, DANE

Lack any depth on how really set up a Data Warehouse
I am just starting a large scale Data Warehouse project. I hoped this book would give real insight to architect the solution - but I found the book weak and superficial - too much focused on the "usual" project team fluff

Great book !!!
This is a really valuable book. The pages contain a lot of useful tips and advices. The authors reaaly know about implementing DW.
Great book for anyone involved in managing and implementing DWs!

An excellent guide to DW project management
When I bought this book, I really had no high expectations : I did many DW project and knew project management methods.

This book provides the first complete coverage of (almost) any possible issues, risk and problem arising in a DW project. It also, provides some guideline about how to manage them.

The book goes well beyond Kimball (in the project management area) and provides many useful tools in the CD-rom

A really good investment if you consider it will directly affect your DW project cost ! ... Read more

Book Description

No other health information management book covers health care practice in such a wide variety of settings. From ambulatory care to long-term care, from dental practice to veterinary practice, from home health care to health care in correctional facilities, The second edition of Comparative Heath Information Management provides a comprehensive survey of current health information practice. Each chapter includes didactic aids as well as opportunities for more in-depth analysis of subject matter to enhance learning. ... Read more

Book Description

In a simple, straightforward manner, this book covers the essential concepts for database processing. Technically accurate and readily understandable discussions are the result of the author's many years of experience in the field and writing about it.Chapter topics include the fundamentals of the relational model, structured query language (SQL), data modeling, database design, and database administration.For future business professionals—in accounting, finance, and production—who will develop personal databases or who will participate as a member of a team that is developing larger databases. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great introductory book, horrible price
This is by far the best introductory database book I have ever read or used.

Pro
It is written in very clear English.
It covers the basics of database design very well.
It is not overly technical.
One of the best treatments of normalization I have ever seen.
The exercises at the end of each chapter are well thought out.

Con
The book cost way too much ($60) for an introductory textbook.
The use of the term "theme" was changed to "topic" in the 2nd edition. The editing was faulty and the book only defines topic but used both theme and topic. Not a big deal if you used the first edition and know they mean the same thing but it is confusing to students when the book uses the terms interchangably without defining theme.
This is not a reference for database programmers. If you already understand ERD's and normalization don't buy this book it is meant to be an introduction to database basics not a shelf reference.

I like that the does not cover a lot of history. If you want to know a lot about Codd and the evolution of the different normal forms this is not the book for you. If you want a good introduction to databases for a non-technical class this is the best book you will find in my opinion.

not good enough
this book costs entirely too much.it's also far too short (too few pages).perhaps it should have been printed on less expensive paper to reduce costs.it does not go into the details of sql commands.for this much money, it should.i have to caffeinate myself whenever i need to read this boring tome...

Don't buy book from CollegeBookDirect com!
The book was great. But CollegeBookReview gave me an used book when it said new. So don't buy books from 'em. Hope they go out of business! ... Read more