Book Description
Dealing with the management of information technology (IT) as it is being practiced in organizations today, the emphasis of this book is on the current material that information systems executives find important; its organization is around a framework that readers new to the information can understand. In this 7
th edition, discussions include the rising societal risks of IT, new sections on digital convergence, messaging, and instant messaging, and a revised discussion on wireless technology. The topics of outsourcing and and information security have been updated and enhanced. Information Systems Management in Practice continues to merge theory with practice through real-world case examples.
Topics include leadership issues, the CIO’s responsibilities, uses of IT, information systems planning, essential technologies, managing operations, systems development, decision-making, collaboration, and knowledge work.
An excellent reference resource for anyone employed in the information technology sector of business, especially managers of and executives in those departments.
Customer Reviews:
Review by Grad Student.......2007-07-19
This was my textbook for a graduate class in Information Systems and I enjoyed the book very much. The first chapter is a great introduction to show where the world of IT is and how we got there. Also the case studies are worth the price alone since they take real world corporations and offer insight into the improvements/mistakes they have made. Up to date also b/c it covers modern topics such as SOA and ESB.
IS Myths Revealed.......2007-01-05
Until I studied this book as part my BEng(Hons) curriculam, I was considering that the Innformation Systems as a dumb subject and often relating MIS to the IS. After reading this book there is shift in my paradigm. Barbara starts this with brief history on IS and its strategic importance and goes on explaining the concept of group support and decision support systems. Its a valuable asset for any IS practitioner or a studying professional. I felt certain chapters like networking and database should not part of this book as the IS is more of a concept rather than implementation. However I rate this as highest since this is the best book I have ever seen in the IS engineering.
From a network administrator's perspective.......2004-05-18
I read this book as part of my first course in a Ph.D.-MIS program. I thought it was a great overview and history of MIS, and provided insight into alternative IS management styles and strategies. The case studies were relevent, current, well written and interesting. I recommend this book for all network and systems administrators. It gives insight into what thought processes should be occurring at the CIO and IS manager levels.
Great paperweight, good consolidation of other people's work.......2002-10-20
This book provides various sources of information but no analysis by the book's authors. It is a patch work of case studies, excerpts, and paraphrasing of other texts to which I hope the original authors are getting paid royalties for.
Some of the diagrams are simplistic, others are useless. More than half of them are from other sources.
The book seems to formulate points of interest (e.g. traditional, evolving, and present-day IT roles) without providing analysis of why and how this affects future trends in IS management.
I had to write a review after reading nebulous fluff like, "Being a manufacturer, LifeScan has instituted quality processes." (which successful company doesn't) or "Way back in 1964,..." (not just back, but WAY back). When you do read something of slight interest it is almost always followed by something like, "so says Mr. so-and-so, in this-paper-that-he-wrote." (e.g. pp. 126-127 whenever "Rayport and Sviokla" is mentioned - 4 times in about 1 page of text and in every paragraph - the authors are paraphrasing a point Rayport and Sviokla made)
I'm truly amazed this book is this bad after five revisions. The authors seem to have the right information, but they really need to provide their own insights and analysis. And also have my high school english teacher review it to cut the fluff out.
Ideal for learning about IS management.......2002-08-18
I bought this book for my MSc in Analysis, Design and Management of Information Systems and I consider that it was extremely helpful. The chapter about the perspectives of IS and the role of the CIO are very interesting. In the chapter about Information Systems Planning, they included lots of concepts related to strategy, linking IS Planning with six different approaches/techniques: Stages of Growth, Critical Success Factors, Competitive Forces Model, Value Chain Analysis, Internet Value Matrix and Linkage Analysis Planning. The chapters about managing systems development are really instructive also. I strongly recommend the book for those IT practitioners whom are seeking a managerial position. It is very useful to managers and strategists as well.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent book with excellent examples.......2007-06-22
You come across very few people in life
a) who know what they are doing
b) who can teach others with good examples
c) who do not have any vested interest in sharing the knowledge.
The authors of this book come under this category. Not only they seem to have worked on many best of breed SOA projects, they have a very good ability to impart this knowledge. They discuss the pros and cons of all the options and let reader choose what is best for his/her situation.
This book seems to have the right mix of technical, management and business knowledge about SOA. Like many business oriented books it does not limit itself to discussing the organizational challenges and project management aspects. Like technical books, it does not limit itself to web services. This book opens your mind to the real IT landscape in today's organizations, particularly its heterogeneity. It opens your mind to thinking how SOA can connect these heterogeneous systems and make them productive. I have really enjoyed reading this book after completing my architect certification.
Useful at an architectural level but not at a development level.......2007-01-10
May be I was expecting too much out of this book, it provides good categorization of different types of services and the roadmap - however I feel it lacks some details on the technical implementation part as to what tools/technologies/standards are ideal to implement this architecture.
Again, may be my expectation was not realistic.
No nonsense, practical advice.......2006-11-03
Frankly, I thought SOA was just a bunch of marketing hype until I read this book. The authors begin by clearly explaining of the kinds of problems SOA is trying to solve, and how other architectures tried and failed (or partially succeeded) to solve these problems. In fact, you don't get a definition of SOA until chapter 4, which is a good thing. The advice and strategies are well-reasoned and practical. The organizational roadmap seems to be unique among SOA books, and is clearly derived from experience. The case studies highlight the kinds of tradeoffs each organization had to deal with, along with lessons learned. Finally, I found this book to be very readable and interesting.
Honest and insightfull.......2006-05-31
This is a great introduction to SOA. The authors focus on the fundamentals of SOA, displaying both wisdom and honesty as they discuss the structure of an SOA, its essential and optional elements, strategies for SOA introduction (from technical and organizational points of view), SOA oriented project management techniques, success (and failure stories), etc.
The book is refreshing in the way that it avoids the vendor induced hysteria associated with new technologies choosing instead to calmly and objectively discuss the fundamental forces driving SOA adoption: federation, heterogeneity, agility, reuse.
Additionally, the authors display a healthy dose of independence as they discuss the merits and lack thereof of over-hyped technologies such as Enterprise Service Buses and BEPL systems. This is clearly a book written by people who have actually built SOAs, as opposed to sit on WS-* committees or implement SOA related junkware.
Excellent overview.......2006-04-19
This book was an excellent broad overview of the technology related items associated with an SOA adoption. It is a good read for an IT manager or architect that is more concerned with the bigger picture. This book, combined with a book that has more of a business oriented slant, such as Service Orient or Be Doomed or Service Blueprint make a great combination for enterprise architects interested in the potential of SOA.
Average customer rating:
- For beginners
- Informative, but.....
- Great learning tool
- I would definately buy this again!
- Highly Recommended
|
Using Computers in the Law Office (West Legal Studies Series)
Brent D. Roper
Manufacturer: Cengage Delmar Learning
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Similar Items:
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Legal Research And Writing for Paralegals
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Ethics and Professional Responsibility for Paralegals
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Basic Contract Law for Paralegals, 5th Edition
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Tort Law for Legal Assistants (The West Legal Studies Series)
-
The Litigation Paralegal: A Systems Approach (Textbook & Workbook)
ASIN: 1401809421 |
Book Description
This book teaches the myriad computer skills legal assistants need in order to help make law offices and other legal organizations run smoothly. From case management and docket control software to litigation support software and legal timekeeping and billing, this is the definitive book on computer usage for legal professionals. Readers also will find that this teaching tool becomes a handy reference manual in the professional setting.
Customer Reviews:
For beginners.......2007-05-12
I purchased this book for a class (legal technology) which turned out to be as remedial as this book. While I believe it could be very useful for someone who is not used to navigating a computer, it really insults the intelligence of those of us who have grown up with technology. This book does have a few useful tips that clarify certain aspects of Concordance and other legal programs, but I find it easier to explore an unfamiliar program on my own without the tedious step-by-step process Roper uses in his lessons.
Informative, but............2006-11-07
I purchaed this book for a Paralegal class. I had two very bad experiences with the book. First, the first copy I received had no Appendix in it, so I had to send it back. It was unfortunate, as I needed the Appendix to do an assignment. Secondly, the software that was provided was expired when I tried to load it into my laptop to do homework. I called the publishing company and they promised to send me a new disk; two weeks later and I still have not received it.
I will keep it as a reference source, but I hope that another book will be written for future students. If you do not need it for a class, PLEASE look for another book.
Great learning tool.......2005-03-24
I bought this book for a legal assistant class and I enjoyed it. I learned a lot. It's hard to learn computers from a book - but not this one. The book comes with software and has tutorials and exercises that accompany the software. My class also liked the fact that there are tons of practical applications for how computers are actually used by practicing paralegals and legal secretaries in the book. Also, when it comes to litigation support - one of the most difficult legal computer applications to master - it was fantastic. It comes with three different litigation support programs, including Summation. Summation is fairly involved to learn and the book, tutorials, exercises and software did a good job of teaching this to me. I am confident now in my ability to do basic litigation support. The chapter on using the Internet to do legal and factual research was also excellent.
I would definately buy this again!.......2005-03-18
This book is essential for anyone working in a law office. Computers are used in nearly every aspect of working in a law firm. The book is huge - nearly 700 pages - and it covers every main type of program used in a law office. It comes with software, and lots of exercises and I thought it was very easy to read and straight forward. It covers hard topics like litigation support and Access databases in a way that I could understand without totally going over my head. The book covers both entry level and advanced topics. For example in the word processing chapter the Word tutorial had 7 lessons that got progressively more difficult, starting with basic word processing and ending with mail merges and creating tables of authorities.
Highly Recommended.......2005-03-14
I think this is a fabulous book. It comes with demonstration versions of 5 legal software programs including three litigation support programs, a time and billing program and a case management program. There were a number of in-depth, hands-on exercises for each program, so I really got to learn about each type of program by using it. Also, although I have used Access, Word, Excel and Powerpoint before, I liked the fact that there were in-depth exercises for learning legal applications for each of these programs. This is a very practical book.
Average customer rating:
- most forms not customizable
- The Paper Office
- Book not received
- Very handy book for students and early career psychologists
- Get this while studying for licensure!
|
The Paper Office, Third Edition: Forms, Guidelines, and Resources to Make Your Practice Work Ethically, Legally, and Profitably
Edward L. Zuckerman
Manufacturer: The Guilford Press
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Similar Items:
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Getting Started in Private Practice: The Complete Guide to Building Your Mental Health Practice (Getting Started)
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Essentials of Private Practice: Streamlining Costs, Procedures, and Policies for Less Stress
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Twelve Months to Your Ideal Private Practice: A Workbook
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Building Your Ideal Private Practice: A Guide for Therapists and Other Healing Professionals
ASIN: 1572307692 |
Book Description
This popular manual provides the clinical, financial, and legal record-keeping tools that every psychotherapy practice needs. It is ideal for new practitioners who want to hit the ground running and for seasoned pros who want to overhaul their paperwork and risk-reduction procedures. Provided are methods for documenting informed consent, treatment planning, and progress; advice on fee structures, billing, and marketing; tips on joining managed care panels and communicating with MCO reviewers; recommended online resources; and much more. Special features include 60+ forms and handouts/m-/in a ready-to-use, large-size format/m-/which may be duplicated directly from the book or from the accompanying CD-ROM.
Customer Reviews:
most forms not customizable.......2007-09-27
I got this to upgrade the earlier edition I had bought during grad school. Now I am starting my private practice and wanted updated versions of the forms. I now find out most of the forms (some of the most important ones) in this new edition cannot be customized, they only give PDF versions in the CD, so they are basically unusable! I cannot insert my own header as the form recommends I do and at the bottom it says it is taken from Paper Office. This is infuriating. I feel cheated. I am sure the info in the book is good, but why would they do this with the forms? This seems to me like a step back from previous edition I had and it is a misrepresentation of what the book has to offer. SO beware not all the forms are customizable therefore useless, unless you want to copy the content onto word and reformat it.
The Paper Office.......2007-08-23
This book is proving to be very helpful for my practice. It arrived in excellent condition. I am very pleased.
Book not received .......2007-05-13
I would love to review this book, if Amazon had sent it to me. I have spent fruitless hours trying to reach Amazon to tell them that the book has not arived but their voice mail system has been down and their web site has no place for consumer complaints. I guess Amazon thinks they are perfect.
Jo Nanson
Very handy book for students and early career psychologists.......2007-01-11
This book has come in handy several times. It is especially useful for writing informed consents, and for creating many of the documents you don't realize you need until it is too late!
Get this while studying for licensure! .......2006-01-28
I purchased this book while studying for my national and state licensing exams. As many other reviewers have noted, this is an excellent resource. Reading this book in between session provided me with a healthy break from the rigours of studying, while orienting me to thinking about the procedures and forms I needed to be developing for my practice once licensed. There is a wealth of information that could be a bit overwhelming as you are glowing over your new shiny license number and wondering what you need to do to get your clients into your practice. Using the strategy of tackling a form a day was also very helpful for me. This book will go a long way to helping you create a sound set of ethical and effective business practices that was probably not covered at all in your graduate training.
Book Description
Systems Thinking, Systems Practice "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 Systems Thinking, Systems Practice 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.
Customer Reviews:
A classic that is very relevant today.......2007-06-13
I originallay read (and wrote a paper about) Checkland's ideas in 1990 whilst I was studying for my MBA. Then his ideas seemed revolutionary, insightful and impractical. Re-visiting his book nearly 20 years on little has changed in my view of its content, but the world has moved on and what seemed impractical now appears possible.
I would urge anyone involved in creating modern systems based on distributed and dynamic principles to study Checkland.
Checkland's masterpiece.......2004-10-23
When I first read this book I thought it to be revolutionary, ahead of it's time (as others have) and insightful. Despite the fact that Checkland has in large moved away from the ideas and the model of this book - to me it represents the original vision of SSM (soft systems methodology) more so than his later books. Checkland presents a history of systems thinking in the book then goes onto to discuss the need for a new approach - that of SSM. With extreme elegance of style Checkland delivers a long and stinging critique to Hard Systems thinking and presents a coherent and thoughtful argument for his own version SSM. Further he creates a platform for real world problem solving that is useful and interesting. A lot of his ideas have appeared in American texts (like the fifth discipline for example) and rarely are they credited or made use of in that regard. This book is a good place to start exploring the real world of problems with but I would highly recommended that before you go to his two other books you start here. This in my opinion has not been bettered in any systems context to date and I am not sure it ever will or could be. Having said that you really do need to read it and find out for yourself. Be warned it's not for those who want to be challenged in their thinking - especially those of you who don't like the qualitative stuff.
Really worthwhile.......2004-07-02
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..........2002-07-12
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.
Customer Reviews:
It's a top pick .......2007-09-08
The first edition of PRACTICE OF SYSTEM AND NETWORK ADMINISTRATION covers modern IT methodology, and this updated second edition provides a revision of four major areas of knowledge relating to system administration, reviewing key elements of successful network systems, how to build and run reliable services, building data centers and addressing security issues, and more. It's a top pick for any library serious about catering to advanced web programmers, computer professionals, and students of network administration - as well as for practicing administrators.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
Awesome!.......2005-02-08
The Practice of System and Network Administration shows you how to become a great SA.
This is no 'for dummies' book.
The Practice of System and Network Administration is a great guide.
Awesome!.......2004-10-11
I agree with some of the worse reviews: This book addresses all the touchy-feely stuff not found in other manuals.
That, however, is what it's for (It's plainly stated on the book! Read the friendly Meta-Manual!) and it
is in fact a wonderfully lucidly written cornucopia of information in that field. It also is delightfully platform-independent, even if it is perceivable that the authors have a UNIX background (but which Sysad doesn't?).
It's a simple fact that Sysads get other things wrong more often than the tech stuff: Communicating changes, seeing it all from the user's POV, negotiating (yes, they deal with salary, too), saying "yes" so that it isn't understood as "yes to all"; saying "no" so that it isn't understood as "fsck you!".
That's why we're often hated as arrogant BOfHs. This manual endeavours to fix that, and it just might succeed.
A Mentor in a Book.......2004-08-30
The book market is flooded with books that will tell you all about the technical details of administering various software products and operating systems. Their scope is usually limited to whatever technical product is being written about and they become outdated as quickly as the technology becomes outdated. This book is very different. It gives guidelines in a very readable, coaching style, that can be applied to many different aspects of the System Administration trade.
I have been a System Administrator for a few years now, but this book clarifies many of the issues that I work with daily. It's like a having a mentor on my bookshelf that I can pull down and consult for advice. I especially like the whole section of seven chapters dealing with different aspects of management. These chapters should be mandatory reading for every SA -- and their bosses.
The book is written in a very readable style and has many useful and insightful real-world examples that show that the authors have been around and learned a lot on the way. The book is worth reading just for these examples. I read the book from cover to cover.
I first heard about this book when I attended a seminar Tom Limoncelli
taught at the 2003 LISA conference titled "Time Management for System Administrators: How to Keep from Going (More) Crazy". Many of the topics in the seminar are covered in detail in the book.
If you're a system administrator, you should read this book.
Best book in its class........2002-11-11
If you are looking for a fundamentals book on Unix or Windows 2000 operating systems, go elsewhere. This book is completely about the methodologies for architecting, running and maintaining your IT data center. It's the best book in its class hands down.
Book Description
Transactional Information Systems is the long-awaited, comprehensive work from leading scientists in the transaction processing field. Weikum and Vossen begin with a broad look at the role of transactional technology in today's economic and scientific endeavors, then delve into critical issues faced by all practitioners, presenting today's most effective techniques for controlling concurrent access by multiple clients, recovering from system failures, and coordinating distributed transactions.
The authors emphasize formal models that are easily applied across fields, that promise to remain valid as current technologies evolve, and that lend themselves to generalization and extension in the development of new classes of network-centric, functionally rich applications. This book's purpose and achievement is the presentation of the foundations of transactional systems as well as the practical aspects of the field what will help you meet today's challenges.
* Provides the most advanced coverage of the topic available anywhere--along with the database background required for you to make full use of this material.
* Explores transaction processing both generically as a broadly applicable set of information technology practices and specifically as a group of techniques for meeting the goals of your enterprise.
* Contains information essential to developers of Web-based e-Commerce functionality--and a wide range of more "traditional" applications.
* Details the algorithms underlying core transaction processing functionality.
Customer Reviews:
A wonderfully written book on an important topic.......2004-12-22
Database concurrency control and recovery is one of pinnacles of computer science. An amazing collection of models, theoretical results, and implementation techniques enable thousands of users to simultaneously pound on a large database implemented on unreliable disks and networks, with full confidence that their data will be correctly stored. This book tells how this miracle is accomplished.
I teach database systems and also do research on databases, including systems-level refinements to concurrency control and recovery algorithms. This book has been invaluable to me in understanding the three major aspects of concurrency control in databases: the beautiful theory, the carefully constructed algorithms, and the specifics of the practice.
When this book first came out two years ago, I read most of it over a period of an intense week. That was such an enjoyable experience, because the book is very well structured and written in a smooth yet careful style. The authors ensured that all required concepts were in place before introducing a new concept. And the prose just flows, rendering difficult concepts understandable through well-chosen examples.
Since then I have referred to this book often with specific questions that arose in my research. Each time, my question has been answered fully in the book.
Each chapter ends with a section entitled "Lessons Learned" which summarizes the key ideas of the chapter and just as importantly, states the practical application of each concept. Some concepts have not yet been realized in practice; the authors are up front about this and explain why.
Mike Tarrani's review does a good job of explaining the similarities and differences between this book and the other seminal book on transaction processing, by Jim Gray and Andreas Reuter. Both books have their place, and both should be on the shelf (and read by!) all those who want to understand transaction processing at a deep level. And I agree with Jim Gray who noted in his foreword to the Weikum/Vossen book that it is likely to become (indeed, has) the standard reference in this field.
Very Very Good.......2003-10-06
Exceptionally clear writing. Encyclopedic in its coverage of transactions. Anyone dealing with transactions (not just DB developers) would find this a very valuable resource. If you need a book on transactions, this should be your first choice.
A must for serious DB professionals.......2002-10-06
Tradicionally, the 'transaction' concept is always discussed at the RDBMS classes in the University. But this book goes FAR BEYOND this wide known implementation; with a solid math foundation (some math required, specially set theory and algorithms ) it shows you there are a lot of 'real-life' transactions that requiere some formal methods for defining their implementation.
This book has no discussion or topic regarding any comercial vendor technologies (specially databases), and I think this is very good. The Page and Object models for transaction processing are clearly explained. There's a very nice discussion concerning RAID technologies.
This is not an 'academic' book in all the sense of the word. It can help IT professionals to make better transactional system desing (databases, workflow,e-business,etc).
I would like some RDBMS vendors will include this kind of theory in their documentation....
Up-to-date ... sends an old friend into semi-retirement.......2002-07-05
Before this book was published my primary reference and personal favorite TP book was "Transaction Processing: Concepts and Techniques" by Jim Gray and Andreas Reuter. At over 1100 pages that book thoroughly covered the basics and drilled down into the nuances of transaction processing in a way unmatched by other books on the topic since it was first published in 1993.
This book changes that by going far beyond transaction processing. It starts with the same fundamentals as the older book, and even covers many of the same topics, such as concurrency control, but it addresses each topic from a much wider perspective. For example, the discussion of concurrency goes far beyond the issues of transaction processing as a middleware component. It extends into application, database and search issues. Another indication that this book is more up-to-date is the material on queue managers. While they are at the opposite end of the spectrum from transaction processing monitors, they are integral to any discussion of transactional information systems. More importantly, both transaction processing monitors and queue managers are used in modern enterprise architectures. Having both topics discussed in great detail is a major point in this book's favor.
Personally I intend to keep my copy of the older "Transaction Processing: Concepts and Techniques" because it does cover some of the subject matter more deeply. However, this book has replaced it as my principal reference and if I had to choose between them this is the one I'd go with.
Book Description
The collected wisdom of Silicon Valley's leading IT experts that concisely addresses the most pressing issues facing IT professionals today.
Focuses on the business drivers that impact the IT function!
Explains the top ten measurements that are critical to IT success!
Shows how to set priorities when infrastructure costs are rising and resources are limited!
This is the practical survival guide for every CIO and IT manager who is fighting the battle to do more with less. Covers everything from budgeting and measuring, to planning, sourcing, and architecture. Each chapter is introduced with a real-life story that shows how the common themes that have emerged from each author's unique experiences are related. The critical skills that every IT manager needs to master are covered in detail with real-life insights and practical examples. Whether your IT organization is wrestling with outsourcing maintenance issues, or critical infrastructure problems, the solutions you need can be found in this book.
Customer Reviews:
CIO Reference Manual.......2004-08-26
As a CIO I though CIO Wisdom hits the nail on the head on many of the challenges and issues facing today's CIO's. Sound and practical advice from those actually performing in the job was quite refreshing to the theoretical approach found in many other books on this topic. I only wish that many of my customers (business line leaders and executives) would read this book to better understand the value of IT can bring to our organization.
My only critique is that some of the concepts discussed in the book where not fully flushed out when the author was talking about solutions. Of course there have been entire books written on some of the topics covered in CIO wisdom.
I was particularly impressed by the Communications, Governance, Marketing and the Business Intelligence chapters.
Superb compilation of knowledge & experience.......2004-06-21
The seventeen articles in this compendium represents contemporary and topical subjects, each written by a seasoned CIO. I was as impressed with the selection of articles as I was with the content because each topic is foremost on the minds of CIOs and senior IT managers today.
Among the articles I especially like are:
- The First 90 Days, by Mark Egan, which contains actionable plans that will get the new CIO (or other senior IT executive) quickly moving in the right direction.
- IT Organization, by Guy de Meester, in particular the challenges of centralization vs. decentraliztion, and organizational models in general. If this area is your focus I highly recommend additional reading: "Decentralization: Fantasies, Failings, and Fundamentals" (ISBN 0964163535) and "RoadMap: How to understand, diagnose, and fix your organization" (ISBN 0964163527), both of which go into great detail and provide an exceptionally effective approach.
- Governance, by Danny Maco, which is conspicuously missing in organizations large and small - or is often done incorrectly if done at all.
- Budgeting, by Bob Denis, Maureen Vavra, John Dick ... you'd think IT has this basic function under control, but sadly not. Read this article for excellent advice.
- The Metrics of IT: Management by Measurement, by Shel Waggener and Steve Zoppi. One of my favorite topics, and this team provides outstanding advice and keen insights.
Other articles are as well written, and span topics from architecture to strategic planning. Taken as a whole, this is a sourcebook that is filled with both knowledge and experience, and should be on the desk of every CIO, seasoned and new. I also recommend visiting the site that supports this book (paste the ASIN number, B0001EHNFK, into the search box for all products on this page). The site contains additional articles, news and other books in this series that CIOs, IT managers at all levels, and subject matter experts will find useful.
CIO Wisdom, Indeed !!.......2004-03-06
Truly, this is 'CIO Wisdom' - set down by CIOs and IT managers who deal day-to-day with information technology in perhaps the most challenging environment - Silicon Valley itself. As a 42-year veteran of the IT industry, I think this is the first time I've seen so much down-to-earth, practical and useful IT guidance in one place. The chapters are clearly and well-written. The authors get right down to the meat of the subject and provide practical suggestions for improving IT delivery.
If the book has a weakness, it is that there is so much specific information here that it will likely take multiple readings to glean all of it.
I think this book should be required reading for all CIOs ... and if you really want to start something, get a copy for everyone on your IT staff!
Putting Offerings into Right Perspective.......2004-03-03
Although this book is primarily targeted to IT-leaders or those who intend to become one I'm sure this book is also highly valuable for all CEOs and Marketing and Sales VPs of startup companies who are tarketing established corporations. This book will give them guidance to put their offerings into right perspective by giving insights about CIO's success strategies and challenges. And the structure of the book makes it easy and enjoyable reading for busy executives - from the first foreword to the last chapter.
CIO Wisdom review.......2004-02-26
As with many books that collect articles or papers, the organization is topical not a continuous sequence, although there seems to be some consideration given to precedence of topics.
I especially found value in the chapters on Communication, Governance, Architecture, the Value of IT, Metrics and the Cates article regarding Line of Business orientation.
There are some inconsistencies between articles, and minor editing errors.
Book Description
You have what it takes to be a CIO. Do you have a strategy for getting there? Now you do.
"Gregory Smith has written the definitive work on how to achieve leadership success in IT. This well-written and carefully researched book is a must-read for any IT professional with aspirations toward the top IT spot. Years from now, seasoned IT leaders will be crediting Smith's book with playing a role in their success."
—Martha Heller, Managing Director, IT Leadership Practice, Z Resource Group, and cofounder, CIO Executive Council
"Wow! Put all the tips, advice, and strategies in this book to use now. The road to the top is rarely straight—follow Gregory's advice and the path will reveal itself to you!"
—John R. Sullivan, CIO, AARP
"While most professions have a distinct road map to the top, there is no standard career path to becoming a CIO. Smith addresses this unique challenge and provides aspiring CIOs with encouragement, advice, and essential skills based on years of his own and other CIOs' cumulative experience -- an important effort for the profession that Smith's fellow members in the CIO Executive Council embrace and applaud."
—Mark Hall, General Manager of the CIO Executive Council
"Teaching students what a CIO really does has been tough. We've had to choose between anecdotal treatments based on trade press articles and integrated academic frameworks that offer little in the way of lived experiences. Greg's book fixes that. By organizing interviews with leading technology executives, trade press reports, and his own experiences as a CIO, he provides an organized and comprehensive view of the job and its important role in modern organizations."
—Fred Collopy, PHD, Professor and Chair of Information Systems and Professor of Cognitive Science, Case Western Reserve University
Customer Reviews:
Great Book for Aspiring CIOs and IT Leaders.......2007-08-10
This book serves as a great roadmap to becoming a top IT leader, because it covers the entire spectrum of topics that one should either know or be aware of in his or her quest to become a CIO. Many IT publications may provide articles on some of the topics covered in the book (such as how to manage expectations with your staff), but this book is unique in a number of ways:
1) It is written from first hand knowledge and experience. Every topic, ranging from Methodologies, to IT Governance, to Contract Negotiation includes a "What Did I Do to Prepare?" section, where Gregory candidly recounts examples of things he did in those categories.
2) Every section of the book provides recommendations and advice for aspiring CIOs.
3) Some topics (such as learning golf for business purposes) may not have been obvious for aspiring CIOs. Topics such as learning golf for business is rarely, if ever, in trade magazines.
4) All of the information in the book is well referenced, and there are very interesting statistics gathered from impressive sources.
I actually just finished taking a Graduate level course taught by Gregory himself using this book. I can say that Gregory is a very knowledgeable, experienced, candid, and friendly guy, and the information in the book and the tone of this book demonstrates that.
With his advice and the tips from this book, I have already made a few improvements to my personal IT career path. I feel that most people's IT careers can benefit, too, with the advice from a solid mentor and tips from this book. I highly recommend this book!
Very helpful with lots of insight.......2007-01-10
I'm not too sure about current CIOs, but this book proves to be very informative and concise for a junior IT executive like me aiming for the top IT post. Unlike some IT books which focus on stories and leaving you to ponder how you can relate to them, this gem of a book addresses key issues and tells you straight to the point what CIOs of established companies feel and how they react to these issues. In addition, Smith has given his own input and experience in the form of easy-to-follow guidelines which anyone can put to use immediately.
I'm glad I did not miss this book.
Excellent career guide!!!.......2006-09-26
When I was offered the job of CIO, I only had 1 week to prepare for the interview. I purchased this book immediately based on the exerpts that I read on line. What an amazing and helpful book. Mr. Smith's pointers and recommendations helped me tremendously! It assisted in preparing me for the interview and even though I am now working as a CIO I still review it. I liked his points on the IT Governance Structure document - somthing that I plan to put in place here, I also read with interest his tips on the first 100 days in the job. I also like the statistical data that were included in each chapter. What was also particularly helpful were his personal experience. I like how the book gives direction to aspiring CIOs and new CIOs. I highly recommend this book.
More credible than informative.......2006-09-07
The information contained in this book are not exactly revolutionary. You want to be a CIO? Get an MBA from top notch school, be technically proficient, get project management experience, work on large scale projects, get experience with large scale budgets, and work on your soft (communication and interpsonal) skills.
What sets this book apart from other books with similar title is the source of its information. They are from CIOs and recruiters who have experience placing CIOs.
Too often, many books on becoming a CIO are based on guesses and speculations of the authors who do not have full comprehension of the topic. The author of this book purposely do not use his own conclusions, he merely gathers information and analyze them in an objective fashion.
If you want to read a book on becoming a CIO based on a solid research and survey of relevant professionals, then this book will provide credible, albeit common sense, suggestions.
Upcoming CIO.......2006-09-01
My first CIO book and this made me more excited to get my first CIO position. Good format, excellent recommendations and in-depth knowledge of the CIO position.
You gave good feedback on how to improve skill sets of managers looking to become the next CIO. I like the detailed recommendation you gave to get there but some of the graphics need improvement. Overall, I'm very satisfied with the book and i'll work on my network and hopefully find that mentor I've been looking for all these years...Greg you're on my list!!!
Book Description
Balances the technical and managerial aspects of data communications. The goal is to strike a balance between understanding how networks operate and how to successfully apply them.
* "Real Life" examples used throughout the text. The use of networks has become more complex over the past few years. The text contains dozens of examples in Management Focus Boxes that shows how real organizations are using telecommunications and networking.
* Coverage of all the important topics in data communications is included in the text. The critical technology and/or network management issues are covered.
* Network Protocols coverage--TCP/IP.
Customer Reviews:
The First Networking Book I owned.......2005-11-27
This was the first networking book I bought when I was still in school. The book is good and helped me setup my first network at home. I am writing my review today even though they already moved up two more editions.
Excellent for the Newbee.......2003-01-26
I had to get this book because of college. It is a great book for anyone trying to understand basic concepts. It is very easy reading and keeps you interested. I would not recommend it for anyone who has a good understanding of communcations and networking.
Decent but Outdated.......2002-11-30
The layout of this book could have used some work, and I understand the later editions do a better job, but it nevertheless provided a foundation of networking and datacomm principles. The material is out of date, so since there is a newer edition out, I would recommend it over this edition.
This is my 2nd review..........2002-01-31
Well, I must confess... I wrote my first review BEFORE reading any other reviews. Wow - after reading the others, I started thinking "I MUST HAVE BEEN READING A DIFFERENT BOOK!" Well, that is exactly the story. My review is of the 7th edition and I specifically went looking for the grammatical errors and the packet-switching complaints and all the other complaints, one-by-one. You know what? HOOEY!! All the problems others speak of in the 6th edition have been corrected and improved upon! This is a good book! I liked Mr. Nagle's review and the only negatives he mentions were mere weaknesses that have been beefed up. So, I still say this is a book that you'll find useful if you read it. If you want to peruse it, looking for tips and tricks on setting up your own network, then I say this is NOT the book for you - I'd look for the networking for dummies. (I'm not trying to be flipant, either. Those books only have the tips of the icebergs and are great for perusing - kinda like a cliff's notes.)
I say you will like the improvements over whatever the 6th edition missed (or messed up).
FANTASTIC!! If you buy one book, make it this one!!.......2002-01-31
I just finished a graduate course using this book as the textbook. At first I thought "Hmmmph - another OSI Layer book." What I learned is that it is very current, going into Blue tooth, Internet II, and all the latest Wireless protocols, too. Like consider the multiple Gigabit networking architectures, including optical and copper. This is "one for the shelf" of every do it your selfer wanting to learn and it reads like a "how to" manual that you'll use. Whether you want to learn, bone up, or be the one who has all the right vocabulary at the drinking fountain - this is a book you should give a chance to. It surprised me and I manage a significant IS dept. I think you will consider it a value-added addition to your library!
Books:
- Integrity Selling for the 21st Century: How to Sell the Way People Want to Buy
- Interest Rate Models - Theory and Practice: With Smile, Inflation and Credit (Springer Finance)
- International Economics: Theory and Policy (6th Edition)
- Introduction to Materials Management (5th Edition)
- Managing for Dummies, Second Edition
- Managing Innovation, Design and Creativity
- Marketing Management (12th Edition) (Marketing Management)
- Marketing Management (12th Edition) (Marketing Management)
- Marketing Research Essentials
- Mathematics for Economists
Books Index
Books Home
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