Business Intelligence for the Enterprise

Customer Reviews:

Useful because it's non-technical.......2006-02-19

I think most IT people would agree that technology efforts, especially those in the area of BI, are first and foremost people efforts. This book focuses on the cultural and social aspects of BI, which are the bedrock for starting and finishing a perpetually useful initiative. This is highly recommended reading for anyone, regardless of experience, who wonders how so many BI projects can fail, and how to help make their own projects succeed.

Good for managers, too generic to be used by DW developers.......2005-03-26

The author is an IBM veteran who spent more than 20 years in the sales and product support divisions, except for a short period in a company specialized in Data Warehousing, so he naturally puts in this book a lot of his experiences and he also describes the history of BI in terms of architectures and technologies.

I had the impression that the target audience is mainly made by managers involved in BI projects, on either sides (vendors, consulting companies, customers).

One obvious comment from an Italian like me is that, like with many other books written in the US, the average size of the projects described in this book is rather large compared to what we are used to, and could only be applied to a handful of companies here in Italy.

The best feature of the book is the large number of real life examples that it contains. This can be a real help for a manager of a company who doesn't know the risks connected with BI projects and wants to learn from the many (and sometimes very costly) errors made by other people and companies in similar situations.

Under this aspect the book contains a lot of common sense and is a good reading, but don't look in it for innovative contents or for clear explanations of key technologies, buzzwords and project methodologies.

In most cases the book is limited to describe different situations (usually problematic), and to give some advise, without really delving into technical details.

Often I saw the author asking himself several questions about the typical problems that are encountered in a BI project, but then I couldn't find the answers.

Although there are no references to specific products, in more than one occasion it seems that the fact that the author comes from IBM comes to the surface, like when he prefers the "single provider" approach versus the "best of breed" (Chap. 4), or when he talks about the qualities of the mainframe as opposed to distributed environments (chap 7).

In conclusion, is this book worth reading? I have to say that whenever I read a book about BI and Data Warehousing I can't avoid comparing it with the books from Mr Kimball, which I consider the absolute reference in the field. This might not be fair, but it makes sense, since our time is limited, to read only those books that add something new to what we already know.

In this case the answer is yes, but only for a specific target, i.e. managers of companies who are about to start their first BI project. The rest of the project team would probably find most of the information in this book not very useful.

A thoughtful and thought-provoking book about BI ..........2003-07-10

The tji-Boston reviewer is dead-on correct that this is a frank discussion about BI. Biere will help you to think about BI, and he will help you to think clearly.

Business Intelligence for the Enterprise is written for the customer. The author is a sales guy, who works for a vendor (IBM - Good Grief!), AND he has written a book for the customer. Why?

He is obviously interested in seeing Enterprise BI succeed.

This book will help you think through sales hype, and move closer to success. In a certain sense, it is a book written to help business people like you deal with sales people like Mike Biere. Ironic? Yes. And no.

A perspective like this doesn't come from being slick and clever (goodness knows there is an endless array of slick and clever sales people.) Rather, it comes from making a mature commitment to one's working life, which Biere has obviously done.

It is as important for the C-level IT professionals to read as it is for their C-level bosses and colleagues. Needless(?) to say it is also an important read for those who are going to do the actual work of implementing the BI strategy.

Read this book, but only if you are willing to spend some time thinking....

For once -- a business book about technology and a MUST READ.......2003-06-27

......

If you:

- are tired of the increasingly unintelligible hype around corporate IT

- need to get your feet on the ground about how to apply IT for creating business value

- want to understand business intelligence for what it can really do for your organization (as opposed to what the product vendors tell you)

then read this book.

I've been in the software industry for twenty years, and this is one of those rare, honest books that speaks from long experience and with a welcome disregard for technical faddism and ivory tower theory.

This book is needed because the idea of "information at your fingertips" at most companies is still just that: only an idea. Instead, most organizations still operate inefficiently and clumsily from "islands" of information scattered about in everything from spreadsheets to CRM systems to mainframe COBOL programs whose authors have long since retired.

Even companies that have spents millions of dollars to correct this state of affairs have failed. Why?

This book is about making information available across the board, why you would want to, and how to give your technology of choice "traction" and an impact on the bottom line.

This is done from two perspectives: the technical and the human side.

The author is refreshingly frank in describing corporate IT disasters, and does an excellent job of exposing the human side of where they go wrong down in the trenches. Anyone who has been anywhere near an overbudget, underperforming, or ultimately worthless IT project (this should include most people in corporate IT by now) will read with a smile of recognition. Others should read before you spend: there is a lot of money and heartache to be saved. By demonstrating in everyday language that the hardest part to manage is human expectations, Biere performs a real service to the industry that is usually neglected, and gives managers, end users, and even vendors much insight on where to be proactive.

But this is not a collection of anecdotes. CIOs, CEOs, IT professionals, and beginners will gain a lot from the industry retrospectives, overviews of categories of tools, and the workbook approach for grasping the human side and the technical side at once. The author provides thinking and homework that MUST be done before even considering an expenditure, and asks the questions that even the most expensive consultants won't ask for you.

Because the author is with IBM, you might expect the book to promote IBM products. Not so. Mr. Biere manages to name almost no products, and yet covers the tools available comprehensively.

And college computer science professors: put this book in your curricula -- give your students a healthy dose of the "real world" before sending them out into it.

Book Description

You go online to buy a digital camera. Soon, you realize you've bought a more expensive camera than intended, along with extra batteries, charger, and graphics software-all at the prompting of the retailer.

Happy with your purchases? The retailer certainly is, and if you are too, you both can be said to be the beneficiaries of "customer intimacy" achieved through the transformation of data collected during this visit or stored from previous visits into real business intelligence that can be exercised in real time.

Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence for e-Commerce is a practical exploration of the technological innovations through which traditional data warehousing is brought to bear on this and other less modest e-commerce applications, such as those at work in B2B, G2C, B2G, and B2E models. The authors examine the core technologies and commercial products in use today, providing a nuts-and-bolts understanding of how you can deploy customer and product data in ways that meet the unique requirements of the online marketplace-particularly if you are part of a brick-and-mortar company with specific online aspirations. In so doing, they build a powerful case for investment in and aggressive development of these approaches, which are likely to separate winners from losers as e-commerce grows and matures.

* Includes the latest from successful data warehousing consultants whose work has encouraged the field's new focus on e-commerce.
* Presents information that is written for both consultants and practitioners in companies of all sizes.
* Emphasizes the special needs and opportunities of traditional brick-and-mortar businesses that are going online or participating in B2B supply chains or e-marketplaces.
* Explains how long-standing assumptions about data warehousing have to be rethought in light of emerging business models that depend on customer intimacy.
* Provides advice on maintaining data quality and integrity in environments marked by extensive customer self-input.
* Advocates careful planning that will help both old economy and new economy companies develop long-lived and successful e-commerce strategies.
* Focuses on data warehousing for emerging e-commerce areas such as e-government and B2E environments.

Customer Reviews:

DW & BI, el futuro del comercio electrónico........2001-11-08

Por fin se empieza a relacionar el comercio electrónico y las tecnologías de los sistemas de información basadas en el Data Warehouse (Business Intelligenece).
En este magnifico libro se muestran los conceptos básicos que confluyen en la actualidad en el mundo de los negocios electrónicos, siendo los pilares el comercio vía WEB y los entornos de BI.
Recomiendo el libro a todo aquel que desee preveer el futuro del E-commerce cuando la simbiosis con el DW sea completa.

Up and Running With DB2 Udb Ese: Partitioning for Performance in an E-Business Intelligence World (IBM Redbooks)

Average customer rating:

Up and Running With DB2 Udb Ese: Partitioning for Performance in an E-Business Intelligence World (IBM Redbooks)
IBM Redbooks
Manufacturer: IBM.Com/Redbooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0738429309

Average customer rating:

Might have been ok for exam before revision

Less than I hoped

Worst book ever

It is what it is... which is not very good

Warning! This is not an exam primer!

Microsoft Small Business Specialist Primer & 70-282 Exam Preparation Guide (featuring Windows Small Business Server 2003) (Harry Brelsford's SMB)
Beatrice Mulzer , and Harry Brelsford
Manufacturer: SMB Nation Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Advanced Windows Small Business Server 2003 Best Practices

Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 Administrator's Companion (Pro-Administrator's Companion)

Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 Unleashed

Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003 Administrator's Companion (Pro-Administrator's Companion)

Windows Small Business Server 2003 Best Practices (Harry Brelsford's SMB)

ASIN: 097485803X
Release Date: 2005-07-22

Product Description

All New and Revised. Second Printing. Completely reformatted with updated contect (crisper and additional test questions, etc...). Photos and much more!!! Features Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003 (SBS) Use the world's first book to profile Microsoft's new Small Business Specialist partner program to "get on the train" and improve your station in life as a small-medium business (SMB) consultant focused on Windows Small Business Server 2003 (SBS). This book tells you all you need to know to become a Small Business Specialist! All of the prerequisite certification exams and the sales assessment are covered in an "exam cram" format to help you "FAST PASS" your testing requirements. Special emphasis is placed on the 70-282 "Designing, Deploying, and Managing a Network Solution for a Small- and Medium-Sized Business." Dont delay use this SMB and SBS networking book to increase your financial net worth TODAY! This book is used by Microsoft in its' Small Business Specialist Hands On Lab, also used by Best Buy and other major Microsoft partners for internal training. SMB Nation uses this book for its' worldwide HP/Microsoft learning workshop tour.

Customer Reviews:

Might have been ok for exam before revision.......2007-06-16

I just passed the test today after studying this book. The exam is no longer based on SBS alone, and most questions 60% could not be answered by this book.

I did like the style though.

It was probably ok for the earlier test.

Less than I hoped.......2007-05-29

I purchased this book with the hope that it would help me prepare for the 70-282 exam. Actually, it appeared to be more of a topic over view for someone who has a great deal of experience with SBS 2003. I found that the author rambled a lot and left major gaps in the necessary information. There were a lot of references to material that was never explained, other than to plug two other books that he had written which supposedly had the answers. I didn't buy them because I felt the organization here was so poor. In addition, he provides case studies as quiz material, and the content involves questions on materials not covered in the text.

The other major problem is that this book is outdated. It doesn't cover SBS 2003 R2, nor does it handle Vista. As a result, some of the guidance is simply wrong now.

I finally purchased another book which has been very helpful in learning SBS 2003. I will go back through this book later before taking the exam, and hopefully it will be helpful then.

Worst book ever.......2007-04-30

This book is useless for the exam and useless for learning SBS 2003.
Could have put the whole book in less than 25 pages.
I would give negative star if I could.

It is what it is... which is not very good.......2007-03-11

The book does what it says... sort of. It is a prep guide. So there is some content that preps you... sort of.

The first chapter is probably the gayest first chapter I have ever read in any book... ever. It the "lets get excited!" chapter. The writer speaks down to you as if this simple exam is going to be the biggest accomplishment of your life and you will magically make "tons of money" once you get finished. If I was 16 years old, I would have loved it.

The worse part about the book is that none of the chapters have anything to do with preparing you for the test. The end of chapter quiz's, however, do.

They give you good questions and then good explanations as why the correct answer is correct. However, let me reiterate, It is a complete waste of time reading anything outside of the end of chapter quiz's. They are full of stupid jibber-jabber and contain absolutely NO useful information... I mean NONE. I challenge you to find one answer to any of the end of chapter quiz's that was even remotely discussed in the chapter that the quiz is for.

Warning! This is not an exam primer!.......2006-09-14

I was very disappointed with this book. Unfortunately, at the time, it was the only book out there that claimed to be geard toward the SBS exam.

Specific issues I came across were:

* They are very loose with terminology to the point of being vague, or ambiguous.
* They give detailed information (like telling us what the text mode of server installation does as opposed to GUI mode) but fail to mention if this knowledge is necessary for the exam.
* Many of the "sample" questions have no basis in what was covered in the previous chapters.
* The sample questions aren't even samples, as they were (by their own admission) written by someone who didn't take the exam and then edited by someone who did take it so as to remove any questions that were too much like the real thing!
* The phrase "We can't emphasize enough the importance of exact terminology" appears two pages after they give the definition of "MMC" as "Multimedia Command Set"! (It's "Microsoft Management Console".)
* In chapter 10 we are told that "top students. . . Selectively pick which topics are important and which are not [and] Have an innate sense to anticipate what content will be tested and what content will be ignored". Funny. I thought that's the kind of information I expected to find in this book.

The book was useful to me to get quickly familiar with SBS 2003, but it was certainly not the determining factor in my passing the exam. Microsoft's own online, free training was more informative.

Business & Legal Primer for Game Development

Average customer rating:

Best book Ever
AMAZING
Great Background Information
Amazing resource...

Business & Legal Primer for Game Development

Manufacturer: Charles River Media
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1584504927

Book Description

Business is an important part of making games and the legal aspects have also become significant. Business and Legal Primer for Games explores the major legal and business issues involved in game development with a particular focus on starting a business. The book contains practical introductory sections on business and legal problems that members of the development community are often confronted with. These problems include business structure, contracts, employment law, taxation, and IP. Those seeking to start their own game development company will receive invaluable information regarding getting started, basic business operations, marketing, licensing intellectual property, and exit strategies. Business and Legal Primer for Games is the ideal starting point with any who has ever wanted to start a game business and an excellent reference of information for those who already are involved in game development.

Customer Reviews:

Best book Ever.......2007-05-02

Superb book. Enormously Practical text. The best intellectual property law and game development book on the market. A very healthy read. may change your whole perspective on business, games and life.

AMAZING.......2007-04-30

This is one amazing book. It quite literally addresses every possible business and legal issue for the game industry. Not only that, the information in this book is applicable to really any software or software intensive company. A+

Great Background Information.......2007-01-19

If you are even thinking of forming a company in the computer gaming industry, or if you're an outside developer presenting a game to a company, here is a wealth of information. Of course, as one of the contributor says, 'if you have $10 million already and you are starting a game company, then you can afford to hire a lawyer to do all this work for you.' But just to double check the work he is doing you still should read this book.

This book really has two sections. First is about starting a company. This is on all the general business parts like creating a legal business entity, renting an office, hiring staff, product and market analysis, raising capital, etc.

But then comes the second part that is specific to the gaming industry, especially the intellectual property that you are creating as you define characters, the art aspects of how the game looks, and the contracts you will need to have in place with your developers or with a game distribution company if you use them.

There's another aspect that could fit under either of these two as they are not standard for most businesses but not restricted to games either, this includes selling internationally, paying international taxes and so on.

Basically, as the title of this book says, it's a 'Primer,' that is, a general introduction that will enable you to know what you're talking about but not enough to consider yourself an attorney.

Amazing resource..........2006-12-11

I am an attorney who only occasionally encounters intellectual property issues stemming from "gaming" in my practice. However, like most males my age, I'm fascinated by the video game industry, and in particular, video game development. I picked up this book to learn a little bit more about gaming issues--partly in the hopes of expanding my practice, partly in an effort to learn more about the industry--and ended up buying this primer on a whim. It turned out to be a great decision...not only does this book provide the astute, rock-solid legal analysis I would expect from a legal primer, it also gives an amazing and exciting inside look at the world of development.

The primer begins with a good-natured and insightful perspective on starting your own game company, winds its way through the trials of day-to-day business operations and ends up with some shared experiences from those who have "made it" in the world of video game development, including the co-founders of GameLab. In between, well-researched and easy-to-understand legal advice is dispensed on a wide range of pertinent topics, including intellecual property law, contract law, taxation and even the current state of law in virtual worlds.

In short, this primer is an affirmatively *enjoyable* read--a rarity among legal primers, as I can unfortunately attest--and a must-read for would-be developers and anyone else who wants to really understand the ins and outs of video game development. I plan on recommending it not only to my clients but to anyone who is even remotely interested in learning more about the gaming industry.

The Internet Business Primer: Exploring Business Opportunities on the Information Superhighway (Small Business Sourcebooks)

Average customer rating:

The Internet Business Primer: Exploring Business Opportunities on the Information Superhighway (Small Business Sourcebooks)
Wayne Allison
Manufacturer: Sourcebooks Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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A primer for archivists.(In review: books, video's other resources)(Organizing Archival Records: A Practical Method of Arrangement & Description for Small ... article from: Information Management Journal

Average customer rating:

Archivist book review

A primer for archivists.(In review: books, video's other resources)(Organizing Archival Records: A Practical Method of Arrangement & Description for Small ... article from: Information Management Journal
Michael E. Holland
Manufacturer: Association of Records Managers & Administrators (ARMA)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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ASIN: B00081XJPY
Release Date: 2005-08-01

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Information Management Journal, published by Association of Records Managers & Administrators (ARMA) on January 1, 2005. The length of the article is 1027 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: A primer for archivists.(In review: books, video's other resources)(Organizing Archival Records: A Practical Method of Arrangement & Description for Small Archives)(Book Review)
Author: Michael E. Holland
Publication: Information Management Journal (Refereed)
Date: January 1, 2005
Publisher: Association of Records Managers & Administrators (ARMA)
Volume: 39 Issue: 1 Page: 62(2)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Customer Reviews:

Archivist book review.......2007-09-25

Caution, I thought I was getting a 62 page book, but got a short review instead. Don't make the same disappointing mistake. The review is not worth six dollars in my opinion. A primer for archivists.(In review: books, video's other resources)(Organizing Archival Records: A Practical Method of Arrangement & Description for Small ... article from: Information Management Journal

Average customer rating:

Small Business Computer Primer
Robert B. McCaleb
Manufacturer: Dilithium Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0880560673

The Internet Business Primer (Small Business Sourcebooks)

Average customer rating:

The Internet Business Primer (Small Business Sourcebooks)
Wayne Allison
Manufacturer: Sourcebooks Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Management | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1570710651

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