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

by David Scott (Author) "Business is increasingly sophisticated..." (more)
Key Phrases: active business environment, cloaked criticism, content management policy, New Orleans, Users Group, Enlightened Organization (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Prior to initiating any major systems implementation or business change, David Scott should be required reading for the whole team." -- Thomas Faulhaber, Editor and Founder of The Business Forum Online - Boston, MA

Product Description
I.T. Wars provides a clear path to proper alignment of technology and business, in achieving best results and ongoing returns. The true challenge is in bringing diverse groups of people together from the business and technical realms, in defining needs and making true delivery of solutions. The Business-Technology Weave is an approach that turns everyone and everything into a responsible forward edge. It includes considerations of people, knowledge, communication, corporate culture, attitudes, relationships, content (information), infrastructure, applications, needs, and expectations. It comprises missions with specific beliefs, values, and standards in service to security and growth. The Weave clears political impairments, helps to dismantle protectionism and jealousy, and breaks down departmental “silos.” It opens the way to a future that you define – in preventing the alternative: future’s imposition on you.

What are the liabilities in today's environment of e-mail, blogs, IMs, downloads, and portable data? Consider: What is being done 'in the name of your domain'? How best to manage content, in avoiding a glut of information? How can staff best utilize the power of the utilities that are delivered to their desktops? What are the new scales of disaster planning, preparedness, prevention, and recovery? What is your organization’s role in contributing to the surrounding public safety – in securing your own? I.T. Wars begins with a patient, comprehensive exposure of today's environment and challenges, with equal attention to the Business and IT reader. Whether your organization is public, private, government agency, or association you share in the same concerns: You need a business-driven technology strategy, as well as a business serving one. Now you can develop a vision and pragmatism strong enough to qualify for discussion, planning, and achievement of the best business-technology outcomes.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 420 pages
• Publisher: BookSurge Publishing (March 2, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1419627635
• ISBN-13: 978-1419627637
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #267,882 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Aligning Technology to Business; Solutions to Coming Challenges; Fresh Perspectives and Understandings, May 5, 2006

By	GaryG - See all my reviews

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.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Organization Savvy in a Box, June 1, 2006

By	Roni Bangali Babu "Bangali Babu" (Arlington, VA United States) - See all my reviews

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.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An interesting view on the split between Business and IT, April 24, 2007

By	Matt Garcia "Kaffee" (Whitewater, WI USA) - See all my reviews

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.