Business Technology: A Guide for Midsize and Small Business [Paperback]

Michael W Johnson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 15, 2009

It wasn't that long ago when business technology was limited to a fax machine and a photocopier, but the last ten years have revolutionized the way business is done. These changes have created challenges and opportunities for every American business. In Business Technology, Michael W. Johnson explains that though large corporations have huge technology departments dedicated to solving complex problems and building new ways to market and sell their products, that today small business can compete and win, thanks to the newest advances in business technology (hardware, software, and communications). Small business can now do everything a big company can, including: Using technology to cut costs on everything from payroll to copier paper. Using social networking to acquire new customers and retain existing ones. Outsourcing technology support to save time and money. Using CRM systems to determine which customers are profitable customers and which are not. Using Integrated Business Systems to significantly improve the quality of operations. Using video conferencing to save on travel costs... and more! Most of all, what a small business needs is good advice. That's where Michael W. Johnson and his new book Business Technology can help. In it, he outlines the opportunities the technological revolution offers and describes the technologies used by technology savvy companies to effectively operate and grow their business. And he does it in a way that anyone can understand. Business Technology is not a book for technical people. It is a book for business people who want to know how to use technology to make their business become more efficient and more profitable.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Business Technology covers the gamut of technology focusing on smaller businesses to help businesses make the right technology decisions.
--forewordreviews.com/reviews/foreword-reviews/business-technology-a-guide-for-midsize-and-small-business/

Michael W. Johnson brings readers a highly informed read, making "Business Technology" an absolute must for any business who wants to keep up with the curve. --midwestbookreview.com/sbw/nov_09.htm

About the Author

Michael Johnson has held a number of senior positions in business technology functions including Director of Technology for a large multinational company. He holds a Bachelors from New York Institute of Technology and an MBA from Columbia University Graduate School of Business. He has in-depth knowledge of financial systems, application and web development, and data & document management from over 15 years of professional experience. He has served in the role of Infrastructure Liaison and a Global Technology Solutions Partner. He also has practical experience in the operations of small businesses as the owner of a bar and lounge in Barcelona, Spain and a small record company in NYC. He currently provides technology consultancy services to businesses and non-profit organizations.

Product Details

• Paperback: 258 pages
• Publisher: WAIN Technologies LLC (December 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0615299210
• ISBN-13: 978-0615299211
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,563,651 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michael Johnson has held a number of senior positions in business technology functions including Director of Technology for a large multinational company. He holds a Bachelors from New York Institute of Technology and an MBA from Columbia University Graduate School of Business. He has in-depth knowledge of financial systems, application and web development, and data & document management from over 15 years of professional experience. He has served in the role of Infrastructure Liaison and a Global Technology Solutions Partner. He also has practical experience in the operations of small businesses as the owner of a bar and lounge in Barcelona, Spain and a small record company in NYC. He currently provides technology consultancy services to businesses and non-profit organizations.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly relevant for non-Profit organizations!!!!, September 16, 2009

By 

Carmen Peyra "Carmen" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Business Technology: A Guide for Midsize and Small Business (Paperback)

In our small but very international Non-Governmental, Non-Profit Organization a great deal of the work flow and work functions depend on our Information Technology. However due to the nature of our world, things tend to be less efficient and our technical environment was no exception. I searched for a book to help us out with optimizing our non-profit and I looked into this one. The title really caught my eye as I felt our nonprofit could benefit by understanding how for profits use technology.

What a find! I have to confess that I was surprised at how well written it was, specially, I thought, for a technology book. But the author was correct when he said that it was not written for techies. I was hooked. Then, as I went on to absorb the contents it became clear to me that we had a tremendous amount of opportunity to operate more efficiently. Most notably was learning about advances in collaboration (we do a lot of cross-country collaboration) and document management tools. An added bonus was the chapter on Marketing Technologies. I found out how much more advantage we could take from the internet to make our organization more visible and engaged.

I was simply not aware of the myriad of possibilities in our reach, how much we could simplify our systems, increase the efficiency, and keep track, in detail, of every single one of our operations. We have opened a door into the cyber world that we did not know existed. This book has been a life savior for us.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's About Time, September 9, 2009

By 

Felix Fermin "Fman" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Business Technology: A Guide for Midsize and Small Business (Paperback)

I am a small business owner and while the wine/food business is normally not the type of enterprise where "technology" is front and center I have made mistakes in the past and was looking for a new perspective. After reading this book the term "business technology" has taken on new meaning. In short, technology is not so much about technological things, of course there are tangible things that are technological, but more importantly technology as it is to me now is much more than that. Technology has come to mean enlightened working...applying big business concepts in small business settings, driving operational efficiencies, expanding services while cutting costs, and connecting my business with customers and suppliers in new ways I never knew.

Having come from the corporate world I knew there were insights that could be applied to small business, I just had no idea these insights could be so succinctly and easily put together in such a relevant way. My business will never be the same now that I have these insights. I am recommending this book to everyone I know who is in business for themselves. I consider it indispensable reading for the small business in the 21st century. This book has now become my right-hand man, and I plan to continue to use it as a reference guide.

It is an easy to read book, without all the 'techno-talk' that usually would turn me off to these kinds of books. In fact, I think it's the first of its kind out there and I expect it will be very popular among those who understand that whether you own a flower shop, restaurant, bicycle store, small factory, public relations co., distribution co., medical clinic, or any other small enterprise, doing business and making a profit will depend on your ability to understand and leverage technology for your business.

I think the author definitely gets it and I absolutely praise this book.

5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute must for any business who wants to keep up with the curve, November 10, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Business Technology: A Guide for Midsize and Small Business (Paperback)

A modern business that doesn't embrace technology is a foolish endeavor. "Business Technology: A Guide for Midsize and Small Business" is a guide to embracing the newest aspects of technology to best improve one's small business through integrating the latest technologies of the twenty first century into the mix. Outlining the most vital of these technologies, Michael W. Johnson brings readers a highly informed read, making "Business Technology" an absolute must for any business who wants to keep up with the curve.