Keep the Joint Running: A Manifesto for 21st Century Information Technology [Paperback]

Bob Lewis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 5, 2009

Keep the Joint Running: A Manifesto for 21st Century Information Technology (aka the KJR Manifesto) radically redefines how IT should operate, in 13 highly practical, straightforward chapters. The KJR Manifesto debunks much of the long-held conventional wisdom ... such as the importance of treating end-users as "internal customers" and the desirability of running IT as a business ... that have encouraged working CIOs to isolate IT from the rest of the enterprise. It provides more sophisticated ways to approach what is usually handled simplistically - subjects like "best practices," process optimization, and metrics. And it demonstrates how human factors deserve more attention than any others for IT leaders ... and for that matter, for all business leaders ... who are serious about wanting to run high-performance organizations.

Product Details

• Paperback: 236 pages
• Publisher: IS Survivor Publishing (January 5, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974935433
• ISBN-13: 978-0974935430
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #383,585 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Management advice that transcends IT, February 1, 2009

By 

M. Carignan (Orange County, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Keep the Joint Running: A Manifesto for 21st Century Information Technology (Paperback)

I am probably not Bob's typical newsletter subscriber; I have been a CFO, a Controller, a General Manager and now a business owner. Although I have always been ultimately responsible for IT, I wouldn't call IT my "field". I stumbled upon one of Bob's newsletters 3-4 years ago and found it extremely insightful and well written. What really struck me, though, was how his newsletters applied to organizations as a whole, even though written for a narrower IT audience.

Over the years, I have collected his articles and refer to (and share) many of them again and again. With this book, Bob succeeds at bringing together a large body of work into a no-nonsense, indispensable reference for any manager looking for a leadership edge.

There are thousands upon thousands of books written about leadership. Some are good enough to warrant passing to a co-worker or boss after finishing it. This is one of those few books that you buy for your friends, co-workers or boss(es), because you don't want to give up your copy of it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Keep the Joint Running - Great Title, January 30, 2009

By 

J. Blair (Carefree, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Keep the Joint Running: A Manifesto for 21st Century Information Technology (Paperback)

A grizzled veteran gave me some great advice regarding the IT fads several decades ago: "those analysts who have not applied these techniques to real data are extremely optimistic about the results."

Bob's book is written from the perspective of my 'grizzled veteran." Since IT became a profession (Bob may argue whether it is a profession) there have been a string of "sure fire" solutions to all of the problems in the profession. The book "outs" a number of these and develops the needed skepticism for confronting the others.

Outcomes are what matter. As long as your techniques are simple, legal and ethical, focus on the outcome. Reading Bob's KJR book and essays will help you keep that focus.

John Blair

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you only read one book on IT management, this should be it, March 20, 2009

By 

Eric Kassan (Las Vegas, NV USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Keep the Joint Running: A Manifesto for 21st Century Information Technology (Paperback)

This book is like a breath of fresh air blowing away stale hyperbole. Way too many IT "experts" are really just experts at "talking/communicating/selling" and not executing. They sell good sounding ideas which they have no idea how to implement - they leave those details to their subordinates (or clients', if they are consultants). This book clearly shows issues with many "accepted best practices" and also shows straightforward solutions to the real problems.

For those who have not read Bob Lewis before, he expertly blends humor with concise, useful information resulting in a book that reads very quickly yet delivers real value.

The specific areas the book addresses include general management, metrics, processes, IT value, the "internal customers" metaphor, running IT as a business, decision making, and staff. I cannot recommend this book strongly enough.