XML: A Manager's Guide (Addison-Wesley Information Technology Series) [Paperback]

Kevin Dick (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0201433354 | ISBN-13: 978-0201433357 | Publication Date: October 13, 1999 | Edition: 1st

Extensible Markup Language (XML) is revolutionizing Web content, electronic commerce, and enterprise computing. As with most technology revolutions, the concept behind XML is deceptively simple--to provide a standardization for specifying the meaning of information exchanged over networks. However, the implications for such a capability ripple throughout the entire field of distributed computing. Organizations, applications, and individuals can communicate far more effectively if they agree on the structure and meaning of information. XML was specifically designed to facilitate such communication over the Internet. Its rapid adoption is taking Web content beyond page layout, e-commerce to a new level of sophistication, and enterprise software into an era of true interoperability. This book serves as a concise guide for technical managers, as well as a starting point for developers interested in taking advantage of XML. It uses clear explanations of XML essentials as a foundation to demonstrate how this technology can substantially benefit your organization. Designed to let you access exactly the information you require, this book clearly delineates different paths through the chapters based on your needs, provides executive briefings for every chapter, and includes fast-track summaries of major points in the margins. XML: A Manager's Guide consists of three sections. The first section explains the need for XML, introduces fundamental XML concepts, and describes how combining XML with related standards forms a new paradigm for information exchange. The second section analyzes the tools, processes, and staff you will need to deploy applications that effectively leverage the power of this paradigm. Finally, the third section discusses a portfolio of XML applications relevant to both enterprise software development organizations and independent software vendors. 0201433354B04062001

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Amid the technical hoopla over the Extensible Markup Language (XML), many managers and executives find themselves scratching their heads and wondering what the new language means to them. In XML: A Manager's Guide, author Kevin Dick offers an executive summary of this exciting new technology that focuses on the big picture.

This book is a quick read, partly due to its bulleted format. Frequent topic headings and accompanying blurbs in the margin for each make it easy for even hurried readers to pick up the key concepts quickly. However, the author doesn't cut any corners in describing the basic nature of XML and its associated standards and tools. The first part of the book is devoted to this high-level tutorial and includes useful diagrams and code examples that nonprogrammers can easily understand.

The most instructive part of the book comes in the second half. Here, the author illustrates some of the ways XML can be useful in the real world and does a great job of demonstrating the wide-reaching applications of XML. Five example applications for enterprises and five more for vendors are presented in miniature case studies. Here the reader will see how XML can be used for workflow, data integration, distributed protocols, knowledge management, and more. --Stephen W. Plain

Topics covered: XML standards background, Document Type Definitions, schemas, XLink, XSL, XSLT, development tools, associated standard status, XML application examples.

From the Inside Flap

Purpose of This Book

Extensible Markup Language (XML) is an exciting new technology for exchanging structured information over intranets, extranets, and the Internet. As with many new software technologies, information flows into the developer community first. This flow starts electronically with e-mail lists, newsgroups, and technical Web sites. Then technology references, developer guides, and tutorials appear on bookstore shelves.

After developers use a technology to create some inspiring prototypes, the computing press usually latches on to the trend. Articles hail it as the solution to a wide variety of application development problems. Executives take notice of the press coverage. They may even hear about internal "skunkworks" projects. Quickly, they want assessments of how the technology will affect their organizations.

Managers get caught in the middle. They are at an information disadvantage when it comes to assessing the benefits of the technology and managing its use. On the one hand, developers are pushing from the bottom to use the technology on projects. On the other hand, executives are pushing from the top for formal technology planning. Unfortunately, information resources targeted specifically at managers are usually extremely limited. Therefore, managers must often resort to a time-consuming process of scanning volumes of developer-oriented details and dissecting executive summaries to synthesize a manager's perspective.

XML: A Manager's Guide, addresses this problem for XML. It delivers:

An introduction to XML technology and tools at a level that will allow managers to communicate with developers without having to become one. Information about the processes and people managers will need for successful XML projects. Inspiration for how to deliver value through XML, including an analysis of market adoption and the types of applications where it offers the most benefit. Who Should Read This Book

Obviously, this book targets managers. More specifically, it targets software development managers in (1) information systems (IS) organizations within enterprises and (2) product development groups within software vendors. To a great extent, the needs of these two different managerial audiences intersect. They both need a basic understanding of the technology as well as guidance in the tools, processes, and people necessary for success. They do differ in the types of XML applications relevant to their organizations, and this book accommodates the difference.

Even within these two audiences, managers differ significantly in their individual backgrounds and managerial goals. Different managers will require different levels of detail for each of the three basic XML topics in the preceding list. To a certain extent, the level of detail required correlates with job responsibility.

Technology planners and project managers will find this book most useful. Executives may find it useful to read portions of this book, but they will probably want to skip much of the detailed information. Application designers will find it a useful overview of XML technology and may find it provides some high-level inspiration. However, they will definitely want to acquire a more technical resource such as a developer's guide. Organization of This Book

The organization of this book allows you to either read all the chapters sequentially or pick and choose the chapters that you find most interesting. All chapters after Chapter 1 begin with an Executive Summary section. After reading this section, you can decide whether you need the details provided in the rest of the chapter. You may also quickly skim these details by using the Fast Track paragraph summaries, which appear in the margins. This book has seven chapters:

Chapter 1--The Internet Crisis: Exchanging Information. Motivates the need for XML by examining the requirements left unfilled by existing Internet technologies. Chapter 2--XML Basics. Introduces fundamental XML concepts at a level that enables you to understand XML application without going into the details necessary for you to develop such applications. It has a Technical Summary section at the end that helps you refresh your memory about basic XML concepts. Chapter 3--Related Standards. Gives an overview of standards and emerging standards closely related to XML, including an analysis of their benefits and some simple example code. It also has a Technical Summary section at the end. Chapter 4--XML Tools. Analyzes the types of tools necessary to build applications that use XML and mentions some of the leading vendors of such tools. Chapter 5--Processes and People. Analyzes the software development processes and staff necessary to deploy XML applications. It uses three general application categories to abstract common process and staff requirements. You will probably want to concentrate on the category that matches the applications you plan to build. Chapter 6--Five XML Applications for Enterprises. Presents an architectural overview of five XML applications important for enterprises and discusses the benefits of using XML in these applications. Chapter 7--Five XML Applications for Vendors. Presents an architectural overview of five XML applications important for vendors of software products and services and discusses the benefits of using XML in these applications.

As you can see, the last three chapters focus on the needs of project managers, enterprise technology planners, and vendor technology planners, respectively. If you don't fall into the primary audience for one of these chapters, you may wish to read only the Executive Summary.

There is a Glossary at the end of the book that defines many of the XML and general Internet terms used in this book. You will find it helpful if you come across an unfamiliar term or simply want to refresh your memory of its definition. The first time a word defined in the Glossary appears, it is set in color. Terms specific to XML appear in italics, while general Internet terms appear in plain typeface.

0201433354P04062001

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Pearson Education; 1st edition (October 13, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201433354
• ISBN-13: 978-0201433357
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,757,182 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Publisher's View of the Book, December 10, 1999

By 

Gary M. Gillette - See all my reviews

This review is from: XML: A Manager's Guide (Addison-Wesley Information Technology Series) (Paperback)

We've been evaluating XML for over a year now and have done some pilot XML projects in our publishing environment. During that time, I've been looking for a book to clearly explain basic XML principles, how all the elements of XML fit together, and what managers need to know in anticipating a move to XML. This book does that and does it well. I would recommend it to all the non-techie types out there that need a good foundation to launch XML solutions.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No other XML book is so clear and so focused, April 27, 2000

By 

Paulo C. Rios Jr. (Europe) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: XML: A Manager's Guide (Addison-Wesley Information Technology Series) (Paperback)

While there are so many people talking about XML, there are not so many good books about it in the market. Most of them are simply obscure. It makes hard for decision makers to see all the potential behind this technology. This book takes a light but conceptually deeper approach. It goes into sufficient detail to make most other books looking too thick. This clear, focused and intelligent little book will open new doors to you. Some managers may even end up knowing a lot more than their own experts and consultants.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars well-organized, comprehensive overview of the buzzword, XML, January 11, 2000

By 

Katsuya Oba - See all my reviews

This review is from: XML: A Manager's Guide (Addison-Wesley Information Technology Series) (Paperback)

This is the most comprehensive and concise book of XML I've ever read. It doesn't not remain just a simple reference of the XML grammar or specification, but provides a good overview of XML from the high-level, Manager's, viewpoint. Especially, Chapter5, Processes and People, Chapter6, Five XML Applications for Enterprise, and Chapter7, Five XML Applications for Vendors are the hearts of this book. The author gives us clear and extensive prospects of what XML is good for and how your applications would be powered with XML.