Managing Knowledge Security: Strategies for Protecting Your Company's Intellectual Assets [Hardcover]

Kevin C Desouza (Author), Kevin C. Desouza (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 28, 2007

Managing Knowledge Security is a comprehensive reference guide detailing how to secure both the physical and intangible assets owned by a business. Citing international examples such as Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, Google, Boeing, and Amazon, the author covers all aspects of knowledge protection, from employee retention strategies to physical security. Knowledge managers, security professionals, general managers, information systems managers, and competitive intelligence professionals will find the book of immediate relevance, as will members of the defense, national security, and government intelligence agencies.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book is your best bet to galvanize your team and your organization. This is must reading for CXO's in every firm. If you read one management book this year, this is the one to read and to act on - immediately!" Mike Williams, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Parsons Brinckerhoff "While reading this book I was actually scared - our intellectual property is in many cases unprotected and this book is doing a good job by showing how important this issue is to the senior management of any company. A must read..." Roshan D'Silva, Chairman and CEO, Myzus "Desouza has taken a difficult issue and dealt with it in a comprehensive manner. A must read for all CEO's and those involved with the strategic direction of the company." Robert H. Buckman, Chairman of the Executive Committee - Board of Directors, Bulab Holdings, Inc., Retired CEO, Bulab Holdings, Inc.(Buckman Laboratories) "Insightful...Desouza offers a business-friendly realistic strategy for a security manager." Professional Security "Intellectual assets will form the basis for wealth creation... Managing Knowledge Security is concerned with the disciplines of managing and protecting these intellectual assets." CIPD Journal "A comprehensive reference work that details how to secure both the physical and intangible assets owned by a business." e.manager, March 2008

About the Author

KEVIN C. DESOUZA is Research Associate with the Center for Research in Information Management, University of Illinois, Chicago. He lectures widely on topics in e-commerce, data warehousing, data management, and computer-based training, and has served in various managerial and technical capacities with organizations worldwide.

Kevin C. Desouza is on the faculty of the Information School at the University of Washington and is a Senior Strategic Advisor to the Engaged Enterprise.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 200 pages
• Publisher: Kogan Page; 1 edition (August 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0749449616
• ISBN-13: 978-0749449612
• Product Dimensions: 1 x 6.5 x 9.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,656,139 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How to ensure that intellectual assets are secured...and remain secure, November 27, 2007

By 

Robert Morris (Dallas, Texas) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Managing Knowledge Security: Strategies for Protecting Your Company's Intellectual Assets (Hardcover)

In the preface, Kevin Desouza explains that in addition to demonstrating how organizations are vulnerable to breaches in security, he details how most breaches can take place without the use of sophisticated technological mechanism. "My goal is writing this book is simple, but salient: to help organizations realize that their core resources - intellectual assets - are under constant attack, and that protecting this resource is as important as any other strategic agenda. Organizations that take necessary steps to protect their knowledge will thrive in today's competitive environment, often at the expense of their less-prepared foes."

Readers will especially appreciate Desouza's skillful use of two reader-friendly devices in Chapters 2-6: "Possible causes of security breaches" and "Preventive measures." He provides a checklist for each when exploring protection of intellectual assets at the level of employees (Chapter 2), the human aspects of technical security breaches (Chapter 3), the nature of intellectual asset security when engaging with external entities (Chapter 4), the nature and dimensions of physical security (Chapter 5), and protection of intellectual assets during crises (Chapter 6). Then in the final chapter, Desouza focuses on seven strategic considerations that must be carefully thought through when devising a viable security program for intellectual assets.

All are critically important and best identified within his narrative, in context. However, I do not hesitate to suggest that Desouza offers the best single source I have yet encountered for decision-makers in any organization (regardless of its size or nature) that currently fails to protect its security effectively both internally and externally, especially now when its core resources - its intellectual assets - are under constant attack.

Those who share my high regard for this book are urged to check out Creating New Wealth from IP Assets co-authored by Robert Shearer and other members of the National Knowledge & Intellectual Property Management Taskforce as well as Paul Goldstein's Intellectual Property: The Tough New Realities That Could Make or Break Your Business, Alexander I. Poltorak and Paul J. Lerner's Essentials of Intellectual Property, Carla O'Dell's The Executive's Role in Knowledge Management, and If Only We Knew What We Know: The Transfer of Internal Knowledge and Best Practice co-authored by O'Dell and C. Jackson Grayson.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Human-Side of Security Strategies, August 21, 2007

By 

Yukika Awazu (Waltham, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Managing Knowledge Security: Strategies for Protecting Your Company's Intellectual Assets (Hardcover)

"Managing Knowledge Security: Strategies for Protecting Your Company's Intellectual Assets" (by Kevin C. Desouza) is an eye-opener. Unlike books that talk about technology-based security strategies, the book spots a human-side of security strategies. Desouza asks readers to think about the most important assets that companies have to protect and claims that technology is not always a solution to secure those important assets. For example, the most important assets for a company can be senior executives. Desouza asks companies whether they have a back up plan, if their executives are down. Desouza also explains a case that how companies end up to compromise their knowledge assets through conversations made by careless senior executives at the airport. Desouza explains these cases by using illustrative examples from his experiences as a competitive intelligence officer. In addition to these examples, each chapter explains the factors that may contribute to security breaches and provides actionable strategies. The book covers security strategies from internal employees to strategic alliances. This is a must-read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Smart people will read this book..., August 12, 2007

By 

B. J. Burns "Beryl Burns" (Lancashire, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Managing Knowledge Security: Strategies for Protecting Your Company's Intellectual Assets (Hardcover)

This is another informative publication by Kevin C Desouza. I really like this book, and in my opinion it is a contemporary classic in the making. This text is passionately written with clarity and brevity providing readers with a concise and comprehensive overview of the major issues concerning the complex processes of securing intellectual assets. This book spurs debate and stimulates critical thinking. Its strengths are its connection to real life scenarios plus the possibility to use it as a serious platform for discussing business practices. Crammed with spot on insights and excellent advice, this is an important book and delivers valuable lessons to the reader. It would be of extreme interest to both CEOs, directors and managers of companies (for obvious reasons) and to academics to whom I would recommend adopting it to use in a wide range of courses. An excellent book...there is a definite need for a thoughtful book of this type. It is worthy of recognition and deserves a lot of credit - it's a must read!