Putt's Law and the Successful Technocrat: How to Win in the Information Age 1st Edition

by Putt (Author)

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ISBN-13: 978-0471714224

ISBN-10: 0471714224

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"Technology is dominated by two types of people: those who understand what
they do not manage, and those who manage what they do not understand."
—Putt's Law

Early Praise for Putt's Law and the Successful Technocrat:

"This is management writing the way it ought to be. Think Dilbert, but with
a very big brain. Read it and weep. Or laugh, depending on your current job
situation."
—Spectral Lines, IEEE Spectrum, April 2006

"It's a classic. It reads at first like humor, but one eventually realizes
that it's all true. The first edition changed my life. I loaned my copy to
a subordinate at IBM, and he didn't return it to me until he was my boss."
—Dave Thompson, PhD, IBM Fellow (retired), Member National Academy of
Engineering, and IEEE Fellow

"Putt's humor ranges from sharp to whimsical and is always on target.
Readers will be reminded of many personal experiences and of lessons in
life they wish they had learned earlier in their careers."
—Eric Herz, former IEEE executive director and general manager

"Anyone who thinks 'engineering management' is an oxymoron needs to read
this terrific book — then they will know."
—Norman R. Augustine, author of Augustine's Laws and retired Chairman & CEO
of Lockheed Martin Corporation

Putt's Law is as true today as it was when techno-everyman Archibald Putt
first stated it. Now, in Putt's Law and the Successful Technocrat: How to
Win in the Information Age, Putt is back with the unvarnished truth about
success in the modern, technology-driven organization.

As you learn the real rules of the technology world, you'll meet such
characters as the successful technocrat, Dr. I. M. Sharp. You'll find out
how he wrangles career victories from corporate failures, nearly
bankrupting the firm with his projects while somehow emerging the hero.
You'll also meet such unfortunates as Roger Proofsworthy, top-level
perfectionist yet low in the hierarchy, and come to understand how he
assiduously preserves his spot near the bottom of the totem pole.

Whether you work in business, IT, or are a freelance technocrat, you'll
want to study Putt's hard-won wisdom and laugh—all the way to the bank!

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"If you like Dilbert, you'll love 'Putt's Law and the Successful Technocrat.'" (Phil Windley's Technometria, March 14, 2007)

"...humorous at times, cynical at times, this book is a must read for those interested in understanding how some technocrats got up in technological hierarchies." (PerlMonks, December 29, 2006)

"The book remains an enjoyable and worthwhile read for anyone affiliated directly or indirectly with high-tech industry." (IEEE History Center Newsletter, November 2006)

"Although Putt's Law is an excellent read for those of us who grew up working in technology companies, it should be required reading in colleges and universities. I refer to both engineering and management programs." (Chip Scale Review, August/September 2006)

"...contemporary and apropos...Putt is a veritable fountain of wisdom." (Civil Engineering, July 2006)

"The book is clever and gently humorous…" (Computing Reviews.com, February 13, 2006)

From the Inside Flap

"Technology is dominated by two types of people: those who understand what they do not manage, and those who manage what they do not understand."
—Putt's Law

Early Praise for Putt's Law and the Successful Technocrat:

"It's a classic. It reads at first like humor, but one eventually realizes that it's all true. The first edition changed my life. I loaned my copy to a subordinate at IBM, and he didn't return it to me until he was my boss."
—Dave Thompson, PhD, IBM Fellow (retired), Member National Academy of Engineering, and IEEE Fellow

"Putt's humor ranges from sharp to whimsical and is always on target. Readers will be reminded of many personal experiences and of lessons in life they wish they had learned earlier in their careers."
—Eric Herz, former IEEE executive director and general manager

"Anyone who thinks 'engineering management' is an oxymoron needs to read this terrific book — then they will know."
—Norman R. Augustine, author of Augustine's Laws and retired Chairman & CEO of Lockheed Martin Corporation

Putt's Law is as true today as it was when techno-everyman Archibald Putt first stated it. Now, in Putt's Law and the Successful Technocrat: How to Win in the Information Age, Putt is back with the unvarnished truth about success in the modern, technology-driven organization.

As you learn the real rules of the technology world, you'll meet such characters as the successful technocrat, Dr. I. M. Sharp. You'll find out how he wrangles career victories from corporate failures, nearly bankrupting the firm with his projects while somehow emerging the hero. You'll also meet such unfortunates as Roger Proofsworthy, top-level perfectionist yet low in the hierarchy, and come to understand how he assiduously preserves his spot near the bottom of the totem pole.

Whether you work in business, IT, or are a freelance technocrat, you'll want to study Putt's hard-won wisdom and laugh—all the way to the bank!

From the Back Cover

"Technology is dominated by two types of people: those who understand what they do not manage, and those who manage what they do not understand."
—Putt's Law

Early Praise for Putt's Law and the Successful Technocrat:

"It's a classic. It reads at first like humor, but one eventually realizes that it's all true. The first edition changed my life. I loaned my copy to a subordinate at IBM, and he didn't return it to me until he was my boss."
—Dave Thompson, PhD, IBM Fellow (retired), Member National Academy of Engineering, and IEEE Fellow

"Putt's humor ranges from sharp to whimsical and is always on target. Readers will be reminded of many personal experiences and of lessons in life they wish they had learned earlier in their careers."
—Eric Herz, former IEEE executive director and general manager

"Anyone who thinks 'engineering management' is an oxymoron needs to read this terrific book — then they will know."
—Norman R. Augustine, author of Augustine's Laws and retired Chairman & CEO of Lockheed Martin Corporation

Putt's Law is as true today as it was when techno-everyman Archibald Putt first stated it. Now, in Putt's Law and the Successful Technocrat: How to Win in the Information Age, Putt is back with the unvarnished truth about success in the modern, technology-driven organization.

As you learn the real rules of the technology world, you'll meet such characters as the successful technocrat, Dr. I. M. Sharp. You'll find out how he wrangles career victories from corporate failures, nearly bankrupting the firm with his projects while somehow emerging the hero. You'll also meet such unfortunates as Roger Proofsworthy, top-level perfectionist yet low in the hierarchy, and come to understand how he assiduously preserves his spot near the bottom of the totem pole.

Whether you work in business, IT, or are a freelance technocrat, you'll want to study Putt's hard-won wisdom and laugh—all the way to the bank!

About the Author

ARCHIBALD PUTT is the pseudonym of a man whose contributions in science, engineering, and R&D management are well known. He has served on government advisory committees, managed basic and applied research, and held executive positions in a large multinational corporation. He received his PhD degree from a leading institute of technology and has served as president of an international technical society. He is the author of numerous books and scholarly articles.

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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wiley-IEEE Press; 1st edition (April 14, 2006)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 182 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0471714224
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0471714224
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.08 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.14 x 0.6 x 9.21 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,593,921 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #4,355 in Lawyers & Criminals Humor
- #5,139 in Engineering (Books)

Customer Reviews:
21 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		74%
4 star		18%
3 star		8%
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Top reviews from the United States

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Mike

Hysterical, but fairly thin on content

Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2009

Verified Purchase

If you like Dilbert books and are in IT, you'll probably really like this. Even if you aren't but are a fan of Parkinson, Peter (it assumes you've read or are familiar with the Peter Principle), etc or even some of the more conventional management types like Taylor you'll probably find the book enjoyable and even mildly useful, though not as useful as the Dilbert books (which are surprisingly dead on most of the time) or, of course, nowhere near as useful as Taylor.

The book has some very humorous anecdotes designed to show how "competence inversion" exists in technological companies and how to get ahead. It's fairly vague on the second part. Well that is, except for the time-honored recommendation of passing the blame off to someone else or "Anyone else who can be blamed should be blamed". Putt's Ploy is good too - "If you must fail, fail big."

Recommended. If you've heard of the book, you're probably the intended audience. People outside IT, engineering, or Fortune 500 environments will likely be as baffled as those in these fields are amused.

Helpful

R. Brancazio

How to Succeed in Business With a Sense of Humor

Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2006

Verified Purchase

"Putt's Law" was recommended to me as a "fun read" by an old friend who toiled for many years in the computer industry. At first glance, the book seems to be primarily a collection of witty "laws" and whimsical situations describing life in the world of high technology. (My personal favorite: Putt's corollary to the famous dictum, "those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it" - i.e., "every time history repeats itself, the price goes up.")

I was pleased to discover that this book is as wise as it is witty. Its observations about the achievement of success in the world of high-tech business are right on target, and it is full of sage advice on how to survive and prosper as an engineer or manager. I would certainly recommend it as a useful guide to young men and women who are just entering the field, as well as to older readers who have seen it all. Thank you Archibald Putt, whoever you are!

4 people found this helpful

Helpful

RofowlinSC

What you the worker have to do to go climb the corporate ladder in a technical business.

Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2018

Verified Purchase

This book tells what goes on in the real world of products involving technical know-how. In many ways it applies across all business enterprises. Putt's Law and its corollary hit the nail on the head.

Helpful

Judy

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2018

Verified Purchase

Still priceless, should be required reading for all STEM majors.

Helpful

Justme

Anyone wanna buy a field emmission display?

Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2010

Verified Purchase

I have cherished the memory of those original Putt's Law Research/Development Magazine articles ever since the mid 1970's. Imagine my surprise and delight to discover that the Putt's Law techn-wisdom of the ages was revised, extended, and made widely available in this book. No pointy-headed PHDs; no dry analysis; no go-go pop psychology; no insufferable self-help tome here! Just real observations that bring simultaneous deep chuckles and bitter-sweet memories. Damn, ain't the unvarnished truth a hoot sometimes?

Helpful

Deus Ex Machina

Timeless classic on the lunacy of high-tech management.

Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2017

Verified Purchase

It must be taught as a course to STEM undergrad freshmen. Too bad that most won't heed it until midlife when a change of profession is out of question.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

George Z. Marootian

Some excellent insights...

Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2007

Verified Purchase

Not really what is was hyped to be, but VERY informative from my perspective being a technologist.

Helpful

S. R.

Good Book!

Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2007

Verified Purchase

I bought this for my husband, he thinks it is a great book. I even read soem ofit and found it hard to put down.

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

k47

Theme rings true

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 10, 2014

Verified Purchase

A fun read for someone with my fourty years both in technical engineering and management.
(Later adding) ..... However I found myself skipping and scanning beyond the first chapter as I wasn't very gripped by expansions of the basic theme.

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Putt's Law and the Successful Technocrat: How to Win in the Information Age 1st Edition

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