Manager's Guides to Computing Books - Page 5

Measuring ITIL: Measuring, Reporting and Modeling - the IT Service Management Metrics That Matter Most to IT Senior Executives

Randy A. Steinberg

Amazon Price: $24.95 List Price: $24.95 Usually ships in 2 to 4 weeks By: Trafford Publishing Amazon Marketplace: 1 new & used starting at $22.45

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Industries & Professions -> MIS
Subjects -> Computers & Internet -> Business & Culture -> Manager's Guides to Computing
Subjects -> Computers & Internet -> Computer Science -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

How do you measure and report your ITIL processes? Which ITIL metrics matter the most to Senior Executives?

Finally, there is a book that shows you how! This is not a theoretical treatise, but a practical guide that shows you the operational metrics to use and how these can be calculated into Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Critical Success factors (CSFs) that resonate with Senior Management. In this book you will learn about:

Defining and building a comprehensive ITIL metrics program; Which metrics are the most important and how to calculate them; Dealing with staff resistance to a metrics program; Tips and suggestions for what to do if inadequate tools and reporting exist; Suggested work plan for how to build your metrics program step-by-step.

In addition, this book contains a helpful CD with a helpful IT Service Management modeling tool that covers all 10 ITIL processes. Simply enter your key operational metrics and the KPIs and CSFs get automatically calculated!

This is a comprehensive guide for building any ITIL metrics program with all the information you need in one place.

"Finally, someone tackled the mystery of ITIL metrics and put it all in one place!"

"No theory here…this gives us the real metrics we can easily go after…"

"A fantastic addition to our ITIL reference library and our IT Service Management solution set!"

Growing Up Digital: The Rise of the Net Generation

Don Tapscott

Amazon Price: $18.00 List Price: $20.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: McGraw-Hill Amazon Marketplace: 58 new & used starting at $0.01

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> General AAS
Subjects -> Computers & Internet -> Home Computing -> Internet -> General AAS
Subjects -> Computers & Internet -> Business & Culture -> Culture

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 43 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Future Schlock 1 out of 5 stars.
6 of 8 people found this review helpful.

As a long-time net user AND baby boomer, I found much of what Tapscott says completely wrong, be it his unscientific conclusions regarding the so-called "N-Gen" (his own invention, which I find so distasteful and misleading that I'll not use it from now on), his predictions for the future, or his dim view of the technological abilities and intelligence of the boomers.

For example:

1. He assumes that boomers will always remain behind the young when it comes to using the net. There is endless talk of the growing percentage of youthful net users, while ignoring (and thereby discounting) any corresponding growth in boomers using it. He mentions more than once that because youth "assimilated" the net whereas boomers had to learn to use it, youth has an advantage in that respect. (I suppose that some kid raised in a car and thereby "assimilating" how to drive would have a great advantage over all of us dummies who had to learn by taking driver's ed, too.) Now, I don't know how technologically adept or otherwise he might be, and some allowance must be made for the time the book was written (1998), but nowadays I've got news for him: It ain't that hard!!!

2. He stereotypes boomers as being one-dimensional and ignorant; only youth is imaginative, unselfish, open-minded and resourceful. He predicts either a terrible clash between the generations or (in the unlikely event that the boomers wake up in time to cede control to youth) something of a utopia run by the young. It's funny, but a lot of people from that generation that I've encountered hardly fit that profile (and yes, I'm talking about people online)...and I never thought I was all that closed-minded (though I'm sure his advocates would disagree after reading this). Besides, isn't youth traditionally more imaginative, etc., etc.? What proof does he have that this generation won't turn out as all the others have? It's called "growing up." (And I don't mean that it's a 100% good thing!) And he contends that in that generational clash the young will have the advantage, having mastered the greatest tool for mass communication ever: the internet. Evidently the boomers will still be sending telegrams and will thereby be left behind.

3. He mentions that the young have some nebulous advantage in that they espouse so many different points of view, while boomers (there's that stereotyping again) see everything in black and white (I'm not kidding, that's exactly what he says at one point). Not surprisingly, he offers absolutely no proof for either of those assertions. As someone who's spent most of his life finding shades of gray in everything, I think he's confusing the word "different" with "differing," blissfully ignorant of the possibility that all of those contending viewpoints might result in nothing but cacophony.

4. His insights on the young seem to mostly stem from those kids he's spoken with on less than a handful of websites. Evidently he thinks that these websites provide a completely scientific sampling of that generation. Believe me, there ain't no such animal! I'm happy for those sites in that they were frequented by a very nice segment of the younger generation (though even here, some things--like the continuous protestations of teenage males that they would never, ever even think about visiting a porn site--seem somewhat disingenuous, to say the least), but I've been to many sites and participated with many from that generation who, I assure you, were hardly the little angels he's making everyone out to be (and I'm certainly not saying they're all bad, either...but these are rather sweeping generalizations, proof that HE thinks in black and white, anyway).

5. His usual, completely unscientific, means of arriving at a proof of one of his theories is to first introduce it, then to provide some truly scientific though barely related evidence (a chart that shows internet growth or something), and finally to submit a few quotes from his kids to bolster his standpoint. None of this, of course, proves anything, and I'm quite certain that anyone with a professional background in statistical analysis could easily rip his logic to shreds.

6. He sees the net as the road to the truth, and the new generation as particularly discerning of it. Yet everyday I find another hoax in my email, many of them passed on to me by gullible youngsters.

All of which amounts to his own utopian view of youth, a somewhat curmudgeonly distaste for the opinions and abilities of the boomers, and a blatant force-fitting of his transparent opinions (and, in the end, that's all they are) upon the actual, both slimly provided and barely relevant, facts.

It doesn't surprise me at all that younger people have given the book so many positive opinions on here; they're being told what they want to hear. What does surprise me is how few people have seen how poorly constructed his arguments are (regardless of how true or false his conclusions may be). What does that say about the ability of this new generation to discern the truth with a critical eye?

If the proof is in the pudding, keep in mind the year this was published: 1998. That was almost a decade ago (as I write this), long enough for a good part of that generation to come of age, long enough to begin to see some of his sweeping changes, long enough for many of his predictions to have come true. Where are they? People are talking about the book on here as if it were just published and he's showing us the world as it will be 10 years from now. He IS!...only that "10 years from now" is NOW!

Editorial Review:

This text offers an overview of the N-generation, the generation of children who in the year 2000 will be between the ages of two and 22. This group is a "tsunami" that could force changes in communications, retailing, branding, advertising, and education. The author contends that the N-generation are becoming so technologically proficient that they will "lap" their parents and leave them behind. The book also demonstrates the common characteristics of the N-generation, acceptance of diversity, because the Net doesn't distinguish between racial or gender identities, and a curiosity about exploring and discovering new worlds over the Internet.

Information Rules: A Strategic Guide to the Network Economy

Carl Shapiro, Hal R. Varian

Amazon Price: $25.08 List Price: $38.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Harvard Business School Press Amazon Marketplace: 134 new & used starting at $2.50

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Industries & Professions -> MIS
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Management & Leadership -> Management
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Management & Leadership -> Strategy & Competition

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 70 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

In a marketplace that depends so thoroughly on cutting-edge information technology, can classic economic principles still offer any real strategic value? Yes! say Carl Shapiro and Hal Varian. In Information Rules, they reveal that many conventional economic concepts can provide the insight and understanding necessary to succeed in the information age. Shapiro and Varian argue that if managers seriously want to develop effective strategies for competing in the new economy, they must understand the fundamental economics of information technology. Whether information takes the form of software code or recorded music, is published in a book or magazine, or even posted on a website, managers must know how to evaluate the consequences of pricing, protecting, and planning new versions of information products, services, and systems. The first book to distill the economics of information and networks into practical business strategies, Information Rules is a guide to the winning moves that can help business leaders-from writers, lawyers, and finance professionals to executives in the entertainment, publishing, and hardware and software industries--navigate successfully through the information economy.

E-Mail: A Write It Well Guide--How to Write and Manage E-Mail in the Workplace

Janis Fisher Chan

Amazon Price: $14.95 List Price: $21.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Write It Well Amazon Marketplace: 17 new & used starting at $11.95

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Management & Leadership -> Management
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Personal Finance -> General
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Personal Finance -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 13 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Excellent Resource 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

As the author of an English reference guide/workbook, I think this book is exceptionally helpful to everyone needing to send out professional e-mails. E-mail has just about replaced informal memos and even reports. Therefore, we all need to learn how to convey the right tone, present a professional image, get our messages across clearly, learn the etiquette of e-mail, and avoid the pitfalls and hazards that e-mail technology poses. The author provides excellent, relevant examples and lays the material out in a logical, easy-to-understand fashion. I highly recommend it to individuals, HR departments, and training professionals.
Jane Straus
Author of The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
and
Enough Is Enough! Stop Enduring and Start Living Your Extraordinary Life

Editorial Review:

The book is the updated version of E-Mail: A Write It Well Guide. In today's fast-paced, competitive business environment, everyone needs to communicate clearly and use time productively. E-Mail: A Write It Well Guide is a user-friendly book that is filled with guidelines, tips, and tools. Discover how to write professional e-mail that gets results, makes better use of e-mail time, and avoids problems that can be costly. The book includes questions and exercises. The updated version includes a section on using instant messaging and handheld devices. Used by individuals, corporations, and trainers, this is a must-have for anyone who writes e-mail at work.

Subject To Change: Creating Great Products & Services for an Uncertain World: Adaptive Path on Design (Adaptive Path)

Peter Merholz, Todd Wilkens, Brandon Schauer, David Verba

Amazon Price: $16.49 List Price: $24.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: O'Reilly Media, Inc. Amazon Marketplace: 45 new & used starting at $8.83

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> General
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> General AAS
Subjects -> Computers & Internet -> Home Computing -> Internet -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 17 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

To achieve success in today's ever-changing and unpredictable markets, competitive businesses need to rethink and reframe their strategies across the board. Instead of approaching new product development from the inside out, companies have to begin by looking at the process from the outside in, beginning with the customer experience. It's a new way of thinking-and working-that can transform companies struggling to adapt to today's environment into innovative, agile, and commercially successful organizations.

Companies must develop a new set of organizational competencies: qualitative customer research to better understand customer behaviors and motivations; an open design process to reframe possibilities and translate new ideas into great customer experiences; and agile technological implementation to quickly prototype ideas, getting them from the whiteboard out into the world where people can respond to them.

In "Subject to Change: Creating Great Products and Services for an Uncertain World," Adaptive Path, a leading experience strategy and design company, demonstrates how successful businesses can-and should-use customer experiences to inform and shape the product development process, from start to finish.

Start Your Own Computer Business: Building a Successful PC Repair and Service Business by Supporting Customers and Managing Money

Morris Rosenthal

Amazon Price: $13.45 List Price: $14.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Foner Books Amazon Marketplace: 30 new & used starting at $11.87

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Small Business & Entrepreneurship -> Entrepreneurship
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Small Business & Entrepreneurship -> New Business Enterprises
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Small Business & Entrepreneurship -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 26 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A refreshingly harsh perspective on starting a computer business 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

What I liked about it:

I really like the brutal honesty that Rosenthal brings to the book. The curse of many "Start Your Own..." books out there is that they take an overly rosy outlook on starting something that, in reality, is a challenging and often less-than-rewarding experience, just to sell more books. This becomes apparent right from the start, with the first sentence of the book being: "Do you need your head examined?"

I also appreciate that the book is written for the beginner who is starting a business from scratch. For example, a good chunk of time is taken to explain the process of buying wholesale to make sure his readers realize that it's tough for non-established businesses to get what they need to succeed right off the bat. Because of this small business focus, I found many useful nuggets throughout the book that I feel will benefit me in my venture. In particular there is one section in which he mentions that direct mailings can be a successful marketing technique, but only if used to target businesses that are big enough to have a few computer systems, but small enough top not have a full-time IT staff. He emphasizes starting small and working your way up to bigger and more complex undertakings as you gain experience and money, which is in line with the approach I'm taking to start my business.

Round all of that out with some solid advice on business structure and accounting and you have a very useful book that really gives the budding computer guy a serious and practical look at what lies ahead for him and his business.

What I didn't like about it:

The same brutal honesty that intrigued me at first begins to seem more pessimistic as the book continues on. While I don't mind a spoon full of real life every now and then, the attitude began to hinder certain points the author was trying to make. At one point the word WRONG in all caps was packed into one short paragraph 6 times! Rosenthal has been through the ringer in the computer business and he isn't afraid to let you know it. The problem is, I think the author's sarcasm may turn off some people who are excited and enthusiastic about starting their own computer business.

The book goes into a bit of detail surrounding computer sales and commerce, which is not what I'm interested in doing. As such, I found about 1/4 of the book did not apply to me. This is no fault of the author's, as he was trying to cover as much ground as he could and he seems to have had extensive experience in commerce. He also went into the process of renting office space and hiring employees which again doesn't quite apply to me at this stage. But it will definitely apply to other readers, and his stories make the sections that don't apply to you an entertaining read none the less.

Finally, I didn't quite understand the purpose of the comic strips that were inserted at random places throughout the book. They attempted to illustrate some of the authors points in a humorous context, but served more as a distraction. In my opinion the author's anecdotes were much more entertaining than these poorly drawn comic strips. This, of course, is a minor detail, but one that kind of struck me as odd and out of place.

The final verdict:

Start Your Own Computer Business: The Unembellished Guide is a must read for anyone who is debating if they want to take their passion or hobby of tinkering with computers and turning it into a full-time, self-sustaining business. Morris Rosenthal does a great job at giving personal real-world examples of what you'll face as a business owner. The author doesn't sugar-coat anything and sometimes his approach can be harsh and off-putting. However, at it's core, Start Your Own Computer Business is a refreshing change of perspective from the normal "for dummies" type of books that are currently flooding the market, and will surely give any budding entrepreneur a sense of what it takes to be successful in this business.

Editorial Review:

From buying and selling PC hardware to product development and selling services, this book offers a realistic picture of making it on one's own. The book mixes practical advice and cautions with real-world anecdotes of successes and failures

The 2-Second Commute: Join the Exploding Ranks of Freelance Virtual Assistants

Christine Durst, Michael Haaren

Amazon Price: $10.19 List Price: $14.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Career Press Amazon Marketplace: 42 new & used starting at $8.63

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Job Hunting & Careers -> Guides
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Job Hunting & Careers -> General
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Job Hunting & Careers -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 67 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

yet another home / web based business manual 3 out of 5 stars.
3 of 7 people found this review helpful.

90% of what this book covers appears in countless other books for small and home based businesses. And, I'm not so sure that the other 10% is really so revolutionary because the concept of working remotely has been around for several decades now. The authors outstanding accomplishment seems to be giving what they believe to be a revolutionary new job category a catchy name. Still, if you've been living on a distant planet, you may find their mention of the basic components, requirements and legalese of starting a business helpful.

Editorial Review:

Virtual Assistants work from home, providing everything from administrative support to high-end consulting via email, phone and fax. Predicted to be a $130 billion industry by 2008, they don't commute, they set their own hours, and they get to spend time with their kids.

Based on the highly-successful Virtual Assistant training programs Chris Durst and Michael Haaren developed for the US Armed Forces and the US Department of State, The 2-Second Commute: Join the Exploding Ranks of Freelance Virtual Assistants brings you the knowledge without the classroom!

Training program participants have billed over $30 MILLION since our training programs started in 2002. Now YOU can learn from Chris & Mike, too, and start your own successful VA business!

The Official eBay Bible, Third Edition: The Newly Revised and Updated Version of the Most Comprehensive eBay How-To Manual for Everyone from First-Time Users to eBay Experts

Jim Griffith

Amazon Price: $16.32 List Price: $24.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Gotham Amazon Marketplace: 63 new & used starting at $5.49

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Industries & Professions -> E-commerce -> General
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Industries & Professions -> E-commerce -> General AAS
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Jim "Griff" Griffith, eBay’s official ambassador, presents the definitive sourcebook on all things eBay, for beginners to seasoned users alike.

Uncle Griff, Dean of eBay Education, brings us the latest on all things eBay with the only officially endorsed and authorized guide to this phenomenal auction site. The Official eBay Bible has sold more than 150,000 copies in previous editions and eBay today is bigger than ever, with 203 million registered users and 541,000 official eBay stores nationwide. The Official eBay Bible, Third Edition is fully revised and totally updated with all of the latest changes to the site, making all previous books on eBay obsolete.

Much more than a user’s guide, The Official eBay Bible, Third Edition includes the inspiring stories of real-life buyers and sellers, as well as tips and tricks on some of the powerful, but little-known aspects ofusing the site. This definitive sourcebook includes instructional plans for users of all levels, whether they’re running a small business through the site or simply enjoying it as a hobby. New features in the thirdedition include: a new streamlined organization, images of all the latest features and screens, and even more information for small-business owners. Packed with over seven hundred illustrations, The Official eBay Bible, Third Edition delivers the ultimate word on eBay, from an insider who has been there from the beginning.

Managing IT as a Business: A Survival Guide for CEOs

Mark Lutchen

Amazon Price: $25.05 List Price: $37.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Wiley Amazon Marketplace: 54 new & used starting at $10.60

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Management & Leadership -> Systems & Planning
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> General
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

"More than a survival guide for CEOs, Managing IT as a Business provides a framework for properly leveraging IT and does so in a concise, well-sourced, and eminently readable format. This book is a must-read for all successful executives!"
–Donard P. Gaynor
Former CFO, SVP-HR, CIO, and Reengineering Leader
The Seagram Spirits and Wine Group

"Mark Lutchen offers up some important guidance to the CIO on how to bring IT into the mainstream of the business and how the CIO can make the transition from tech guru and administrator to a full member of the executive team."
–Marinus N. Henny
Vice Chairman and CFO
Universal Music Group

"Mark Lutchen thinks like an operating executive. He recognizes that IT costs are a major line item in any corporate budget and that these costs must be viewed as a means to building a business rather than an end. He knows that this happens when CEOs and CIOs communicate effectively. That’s what Managing IT as a Business is all about."
–Kenneth Roman
Former Chairman and CEO
Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide

"Lutchen’s insights are practical and actionable. In fact, CEOs and other executives traversing the IT minefield will find no more authoritative guide than Managing IT as a Business."
–Paul Turner
Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
AMS

"Increasingly, CIOs are being asked to join the ranks of top management. In Managing IT as a Business, Mark Lutchen offers CEOs a powerful perspective on how to leverage IT as a strategic tool. For CIOs, he cogently addresses the leadership skills they need to be full and effective members of the business-strategy team."
–Glen Urban
Dean Emeritus and Chairman of the Center for eBusiness
MIT Sloan School of Management

Modeling Structured Finance Cash Flows with Microsoft Excel: A Step-by-Step Guide.Book & CD-ROM

Keith A. Allman

Amazon Price: $50.40 List Price: $80.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Wiley Amazon Marketplace: 42 new & used starting at $35.34

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Finance -> Corporate Finance
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> General
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

A practical guide to building fully operational financial cash flow models for structured finance transactions

Structured finance and securitization deals are becoming more commonplace on Wall Street. Up until now, however, market participants have had to create their own models to analyze these deals, and new entrants have had to learn as they go. Modeling Structured Finance Cash Flows with Microsoft Excel provides readers with the information they need to build a cash flow model for structured finance and securitization deals. Financial professional Keith Allman explains individual functions and formulas, while also explaining the theory behind the spreadsheets. Each chapter begins with a discussion of theory, followed by a section called "Model Builder," in which Allman translates the theory into functions and formulas. In addition, the companion CD-ROM features all of the modeling exercises, as well as a final version of the model that is created in the text.

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.