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

By David Scott and David Scott

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... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1419627635
• ISBN13: 9781419627637
• Release Date: June 2006
• Publisher: BookSurge Publishing
• Length: 420 Pages
• Weight: 1.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.0" x 1.1" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

Managing the Weave

Managing the "weave" between business and technology is no easy feat. This book provides excellent application to everyday challenges IT managers encounter while following a common sense approach. Just a few of the concepts covered in this book include: 1. Teaching the significance of "selling" your ideas to those in charge to jumpstart change 2. Stressing the importance of a proactive IT department 3. Dealing with criticism within the context of the IT setting 4. Recognizing that the threat of an electromagnetic pulse could stifle the world as we know it All of these topics and many more are presented in a logically progressing, fundamental concept building order that is easily understandable and applicable to both ends of the business and information technology spectrum. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has business/I.T. interactions on a regular basis.

How Management and I.T. Can Coexist

I.T. Wars was a very comprehensive book, illustrating how beneficial it is for management and IT to work together. Though at times a little bit too repetitive for my taste there was a lot of good information to be gained by just reading the book. Communication is one of the topics addressed throughout the book. It makes sense to address this topic due to collaboration being a significant part of any business. In addition to communication David Scott also pointed out how problems arise and the best ways to overcome those problems. Mr. Scott addressed change as being the inevitable and something that should not be feared. In the first few chapters in the book he points out that it is important to first address where you/your company is. Before any problems can be solved you should know where you are so that you can take the proper steps to move forward. One of those steps is to educate your employees. In addition to educating your employees, Mr. Scott also addressed actual understanding of your employees and the classifications that they can fall into. He makes good points about speaking to people in terms that they may understand. Overall I found his book to be very insightful and beneficial to read.

An interesting view on the split between Business and IT

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.

Organization Savvy in a Box

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.

Aligning Technology to Business; Solutions to Coming Challenges; Fresh Perspectives and Understandin

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.