Customer Reviews

I.T. Wars: Managing the Business-Technology Weave in the New Millennium

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Where was this book 20 years ago when I started out? This book tells you how to get your business and technology people into the same boat and rowing in the same direction. While reading it, I bought copies for some business counterparts. The chapters dealing with change management and delivery are extremely insightful. This should be required reading on the eve of any major systems implementation or business change. If you're wrestling with Disaster Preparedness, worry no more - the answers are here. Content Management? It's finally discussed so everyone can understand it. Day-to day business/IT security is addressed too. The chapter called "Turning the Crank" is great - you can get your IT department's daily support to business totally optimized - not just desktop stuff, but configurations; you can map your supports directly to business process for purpose of total reliability. If you have trouble with miscommunications, or erroneous expectations - poor business technology outcomes - you need this book. If you just want to make things better - and optimal - this book is it. It starts slow, establishing and building upon fundamentals, and then assembles the structure and methods for a solid business-technology partnership. There are lots of things here that I never considered - such as total understanding of "where you are" before you can craft a route to where you're going. Even when encountering things that I thought I already knew, I found myself saying, "I know that - or DO I?" There are so many insights and layers beyond the obvious - this book will generate lots of positive discussion in your organization! All I can really say is, thank you Mr. Scott. Gary Griesmyer, President, Auto-Office Access.

You could well call this book `Chief Technology Officer (or IT Director) in a box.' It's also `Tech-savvy business leader in a box.' I've never run across a consolidation of so much information, and such a comprehensive, common-sense treatment, for modern business. Our organization was well-served by this book - much of what we were doing was actually activity that seemed to be working at cross-purposes. Many areas of our technology support to business were simply off-center, and we can see now that many necessary supports were even non-existent. We actually go back to this book as a reference when various technical-business discussions begin. I carry it to meetings and find myself flipping through it to augment the content of our discussion. Another important aspect of the book is that it really grounds you for further research on important areas, so that you can tweak and tune them to your organization's size and expectations. This book is like a portal - to a whole new vista in getting your supports in order, and in getting your knowledge and comfort in order so that you can take your business into the future. Highly, highly recommended.

IT Wars by David Scott was an eye opening view on the business world as it is seen by the Internet Technicians' versus the typical business persons'. The multiple perspectives of every different kind of person involved in the business and IT professions give the reader an idea of what it is like when the Business-Technology Weave is weakened by a lack of communication, understanding or regular upgrades.

Throughout IT Wars you learn a great deal about management, changing markets, effective leadership, personality types, and maintaining the integrity of a business through the cooperation of Business and IT. Without the cooperation of both IT and Business, the potential system failures could create mass chaos for employees, government, and customers alike. This is why it is important for all systems of a business to work together.

When there is a problem between business and IT, the problems can escalate to the point of business expenses and perhaps even, business or network, failure. IT Wars discusses the many problems, and solutions, which can help a business, become successful. The expenses incurred may be frustrating in a business, but it is necessary in order to ensure there are proper security levels in IT, and that there is a future growth potential in the business. Business and Information Technology people are the two of the most important aspects of a business and it is imperative to maintain a strong communication between the two.

Mr. David Scott's book "IT Wars: Managing the Business-Technology Weave in the New Millennium" is a decent book that covers almost all aspects of both project level efforts and daily business interactions between the Business side of companies and the "back office" IT functions that provide the backbone support of any modern organization. Although much of Mr. Scott's writings are directed primarily at the technology sector, much of the project management and coordination factors that Mr. Scott discusses could be applied in almost any business or project environment. Communication, observation, self-analysis, goal-setting, problem-solving, etc. are all aspects of modern business and human life in general that each and every person should strive to perfect in their business and personal lives.

One of the primary concepts that I found quite relevant to my business and personal lives, that Mr. Scott covered throughout this book, was the concept of "change as a continuum" or the simple fact that change is a process and not a destination. Too often, people(companies) begin to make changes to their lives(business) based on some external pressure; but once they have implemented the change or the external pressure has been removed, they stop the process altogether or revert back to old habits and go about business as usual. Treating change as a milestone in this manner will often set people(companies) up for future disaster, in the event that some peraonal tragedy(or catastrophic disaster or security breach) occurs. As with any muscle, the "change muscle" requires constant workouts to maintain proper tone and balance.

One complaint that I do have for this book is the seeming repetition of topics at times. Although I cannot specifically point to any particular passage that is replicated more than one place in the book, there were many instances in the book where I felt I had already read the material and did not gain any additional insight.

All-in-all, I found the book to be quite enjoyable and informative.

I.T. Wars: "Managing the Business-Technology Weave in the New Millennium" by David Scott. This is a very interesting book, while combining all the business and technology tasks, in the end almost all the business activities realized in a company are supported by the I.T. department. Making the all the tech specialist essential for the company.

Some of the most interesting chapters were: Delivery - Project By Project, Business and IT: Who Does What, Why, and When?, Managing People in the Wave - The Challenge to IT. All these chapters are concerning the importance of IT in today's business world. The one thing that I especially liked was a view to managing those around you: Those you work on: people in the IT reporting to you, those you work with: Co-workers and those you work for: your supervisors. Every person in all these categories is essential and has their own responsibilities in the IT process.

I.T. Wars by David Scott is an intriguing book that aims to bridge the divide between business and technology people within the workplace. He illustrates how both groups are in the same boat and must work together to conquer the many challenges that arise from the ever-changing world of technology.

Change is a continuum, and managers must be fully prepared to effectively plan for, implement, and support projects that will affect the business as a whole. Scott emphasizes the need for communication among several key groups of people, including IT, Business, and the end user.

Scott also provides insight into numerous other issues faced by business. The book teaches us how to effectively manage personnel, maintain the integrity of a company's security, the importance of a disaster recovery plan, how to deal with negativity, how to effectively give criticism, etc. The book is written in a way that's easy for any business professional to understand, no matter what their role is in the business. It's an easy read that's definitely worth the time.

Managing the "weave" between business and technology is no easy feat. This book provides excellent application to everyday challenges IT managers encounter while following a common sense approach. Just a few of the concepts covered in this book include:
1. Teaching the significance of "selling" your ideas to those in charge to jumpstart change
2. Stressing the importance of a proactive IT department
3. Dealing with criticism within the context of the IT setting
4. Recognizing that the threat of an electromagnetic pulse could stifle the world as we know it
All of these topics and many more are presented in a logically progressing, fundamental concept building order that is easily understandable and applicable to both ends of the business and information technology spectrum. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has business/I.T. interactions on a regular basis.

I.T. Wars was a very comprehensive book, illustrating how beneficial it is for management and IT to work together. Though at times a little bit too repetitive for my taste there was a lot of good information to be gained by just reading the book. Communication is one of the topics addressed throughout the book. It makes sense to address this topic due to collaboration being a significant part of any business. In addition to communication David Scott also pointed out how problems arise and the best ways to overcome those problems.

Mr. Scott addressed change as being the inevitable and something that should not be feared. In the first few chapters in the book he points out that it is important to first address where you/your company is. Before any problems can be solved you should know where you are so that you can take the proper steps to move forward. One of those steps is to educate your employees.

In addition to educating your employees, Mr. Scott also addressed actual understanding of your employees and the classifications that they can fall into. He makes good points about speaking to people in terms that they may understand. Overall I found his book to be very insightful and beneficial to read.