The Information Edge

By N. Dean Meyer and Mary E. Boone

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0771551134
• ISBN13: 9780771551130
• Release Date: January 1989
• Publisher: Forkner Publishing Company, Incorporated
• Length: 406 Pages

Customer Reviews

Little known gem

I recently finished reading Nicholas Carr's controversial "Does IT Matter?" (ISBN 1591394449). Carr's book make some valid points about the state of IT, but seemed to fall short when it came to describing how to rectify problems. This book, written nearly a decade earlier, does describe how to rectify the problems Carr cited. In fact, it is almost as though the authors wrote this book in anticipation of Carr's book!Meyer and Boone clearly outline how to employ information technology to achieve competitive advantage. Their approach is based on value-added benefits, how to identify them, and how to implement the right systems to attain them.This book comprises fifteen chapters divided into five parts. Part 1 introduces terms and definitions that will be used throughout the book, as well as the concept of value-added benefits. If you assume the information is too fundamental and skip this part you will probably approach the rest of the book with an imprecise understanding of terms and concepts. Part 2 is a collection of cases and ideas that address basic business processes, and how the value-added benefits are derived in each domain, which include: selling, marketing, operations, HR, finance, rolling out products, and negotiations. Each scenario is realistic and well developed. The conclusions, ideas and benefits are both realistic and compelling. There are no gaps in logic or required leaps of faith here.Part 3 covers information tools at the executive/senior management level. Like the preceding chapters, this one provides context, key benefits, and an approach to attaining benefits. Also like the preceding chapters, this part of the book uses cases and examples from real life.Up to this point the authors have proposed a concept and gave examples of how this concept can be applied, making a compelling case. In Part 4 the concept is transformed into an actionable implementation plan. There are four steps, (1) planning for strategic systems, performing a value-added needs assessment, measuring benefits, and adopting the value-added perspective. There is no consultant voodoo here - the steps are clearly articulated, reinforced with examples, and are supported with facts and numbers. Three of the four appendices expand this material by providing needs assessment and measurement interview guides, and expected values.If you've read Carr's book cited above and are at a loss as to where to start resolving IT deficiencies, read this book. Next, visit the author's web site (paste the ASIN number, B0002EUOU0, in the search box on this page and select all products), and also explore the following other books by Mr. Meyer: "RoadMap: How to understand, diagnose, and fix your organization" (ISBN 0964163527), "The Building Blocks Approach to Organization Charts" (ISBN 1892606178), and "The Internal Economy: How to Apply Market Principles within Organizations to Make Sense of Budgeting, Rate-Setting, Project-Approval, and Accounting Processes" (ISBN 1

Structuring my knowledge on information

I have only read the first two chapters, but this book has already structured my own knowledge on information systems and benefits more than I could have asked for. At the moment I am working on an information analysis for a customer and I have been looking for ways to simplify the presentation of potential benefits in cost-displacement and value added to my customer - and Eureka! I have found it!