Business Systems Books

The simple fact is that the sun always shines somewhere. When times are tough at home, there is some country where business opportunity is best! This book shows how to have a successful business locally and also how to expand it abroad.

Capitalists are seen as little more than wealth seekers -- rarely as humanitarians. But the creation of wealth and the innovation and technological advancement that comes with it is the clearest and most effective way to better the human condition.

I recommend this book to anyone that plans to implement SAP.
Very clear writing and excellent for managers as well.
I do not like the cover but this is something else.
Rita Olson

Sap upgrade techniques are commonly confusing, with the concepts challenging: that's why college-level collections and courses strong in SAP systems needs UPGRADING SAP. The software system needs constant upgrading between releases and here's the manual to provide a complete review of the entire upgrade process, including descriptions of all processes and tools. College-level collections with SAP instructionals shouldn't miss this.

I bought this book used and except for the "quality used book" stickers permanently stuck to it, it is great. It's a 2003 edition that I paid a lot less for than if I'd bought it new and it's helping with the class I needed it for. So all's good!

I would highly recommend this book for anyone going into the business world. It addresses how to communicate with your boss, with your peers, and even how to interview. Scot addresses typical situations like not meeting deadlines, needing more resources on a project, etc... and how to ask for what you need. In communicating with a boss you want him to know things are under control and you can do the job. With a peer you want him on your side as a team player, so you may want to appear helpless. It even shows you the spacing and how to format letters and write memos. I love how this book shows you how to take a weak sentence and make it more direct. I've read many of these types of books but this one addresses all the business communications. Excellent Book!

I think this is a criticial book to read prior to other Usability volumes. Wiklund was ahead of his time and now it shows. It's divided into sections each highlighting a different company, a different team (e.g., software development, telecommunications) - I just focused on the section relevant to my current interest - and learned lots of real-world "we've been there - here's how it happens." Although each chapter author writes a bit differently, it all flows just fine. Don't forget to read Wiklund's Intro chapter. Ultimately, Deborah Mayhew's 1999 book helps you put Wiklund's chapters into nuts-and-bolts practice. An important book to re-read and show to newcomers.

Wondefull!! Autistic!!

As a programmer who's always had to deal with UNIX but never spent the time to formally learn it, this book is a godsend. It is focused on likely tasks, not on the estoeric possibilities of UNIX. As a result, if I need to do something, it's very likely in the book and easy to find at that!

This book is the best one (and I've tried them all), for every system administrator. It has a very broad scope, yet goes into good detail on each subject (unlike some books which just tease you with descriptions and definitions, but have no real substance). Bravo.

Review: Values-Driven Change: Strategies and Tools for Long-Term Success by Ken Hultman, Ph.D.

As a consultant in the field of organizational development and change, I look for books that are accessible and practical, yet have a solid theoretical foundation. Dr. Hultman's, volume offers a perfect balance of solid scholarship and utility.

His exposition of "values in organizations" is, to my mind, extraordinary for its clarity, precision, depth and passion. It bears the mark of a scholar who has distilled the essence of his discipline.

Both the seasoned consultant and the novice will benefit from this theoretical background in at least two ways. The most obvious benefit is that it will lead to a more informed, conscious and skillful use of the real-world tested tools and instruments, so generously supplied in this volume. Second, his explanation alerts the newcomer and reminds the veteran practitioner of the centrality of values in the conceptualization and planning of any OD process. Lest you forget, dismiss values at your peril!

Without missing a beat, the author shifts from exposition to a user-friendly "how-to" style in describing the deployment of tools and instruments. I found especially helpful his hierarchical presentation and application of these devices, according the practitioner's focus upon "personal," "team," "organizational," and "multi-level" needs and objectives. In the aggregate, the instruments reflect a comprehensive and integrated approach to values clarification and transformation.

Values Driven Change is a valuable addition to the literature on "values in organizations." It is an excellent text for undergraduate and graduate students in various disciplines and a welcome addition to the consultant's library where it will be found at the desk in use, rather than on the shelf.

"As every Human Resources professional is well-aware the alignment of an organizations policies, procedures, systems and structures with business strategy is critical but not sufficient. Ken Hultman provides tools, techniques and methods for addressing the alignment of values.

Consultants, HR professionals, and managers will find practical approaches for discussions grounded in reality and directly relevant to work of individuals, groups, teams, and the entire organization. Additionally, Ken has identified the myriad of values-based issues that impede organizational change and offers clear and cogent tools for recognizing and embracing the resistance."

Leslie Yandle, SPHR

The authors leave no stone unturned regarding video communications. This book covers everything from the 26 pound picturephone launched at the 1964 New York World's Fair, squeezing video over the equivalent of 100 telephone lines, to the current and future uses of mobile video transmitting over invisible digital wireless high speed technologies.

I found the book to be well thought out and written in a concise, comprehensive way, replete with historical reference to the subject, technical analysis and implementation guidelines and resources. Though highly technical on many levels, I also found it to be well grounded and relevant to businesses, individuals and real world applications of video communications.

It's 2005! Where are all of those picturephones that we were promised back at the 1964 World's Fair at Flushing Meadow, New York? Authors James R. Wilcox and David Gibson, have done an outstanding job of writing a book that answers the preceding question; as well as, discussing today's video communication tools and the applications that are built upon them.

Wilcox and Gibson begin by examining videoconferencing. Next, the authors cover the use of video communication applications. Then, they detail instances in which organizations have leveraged video communication. The authors continue by making the business case for video communications. In addition, the authors next outline the evolution of broadcasting techniques, why there are different television systems in different parts of the world, and what those systems are. They also discuss digital encoding techniques. Next, the authors present a thorough discussion of codecs and the standards that define them. Then, they discuss another aspect of conferencing--audiographics conferencing. The authors continue by discussing the standards for conferencing over IP. In addition, they discuss ATM with regards to physical and data-link layer transmission systems. The authors also cover packet-switched networks in detail. Next, the authors cover how group systems accommodate multiple viewers in a single location. Then, they consider the process of implementing a conventional group-oriented video communication facility that is suitable for routine organizational use. The authors continue by examining how personal conferencing leverages a variety of distance-collaboration tools that are easily used at a personal computer. In addition, the authors provide tips for evaluating and buying personal conferencing systems. Finally, they predict the future of video communications.

With the preceding in mind, the authors have done an excellent job of presenting clearly and concisely the complex subject of video communication. So, perhaps, by the end of this decade, we will all have those picturephones that were promised 40 years ago.

The Virtual Workplace was carefully reviewed and compiled by the editors. It discusses a wide range of topics on the virtual workforce. It provides a source of ideas through analytical, empirical, and case-based studies and helps in advancing the understanding of "the virtual workplace in relationship to the new computer and communication information technologies, people and organizations in the world" (preface). The text will undoubtedly provide discussion for professionals and students in business management and sociology.

Human aspects from both employee and managerial viewpoints, economic issues, and settings including academic teleworkers and teams are all included.

A remarkably concise and clear intoduction to client/server application development with VB. A good first book to read before you get into the details of coding.

This book is what I've been looking for! It covers it all, from the Visual Basic environment itself to how to write a database application. Excellent examples and the language is very easy to read. Great book!

Vulnerability Assessment of Physical Protection Systems is a "must have" for anyone tasked with the protection of assets. What sets this book apart from any other on the market is the systematic way it approaches the issue of vulnerability assessment. Anyone knowledgeable of the subject knows the rigor that must take place to legitimately conduct a vulnerability assessment. It is not a simple process of touring a facility and throwing money and equipment at obvious weaknesses in the system. A systematic approach is needed in which you can actually quantify improvements made. This text provides the tools to do just that.

One of the strengths of this text is the approach it uses in dealing with the problem of vulnerability assessment. The book provides a step by step process in which to conduct such an assessment. The unique feature is the depth of the coverage. The methodology which is introduced and the process involved is state of the art. The process has been used for decades to protect our country's nuclear assets but, as pointed out in the book, the same process can be used to protect any asset. The methodology and approach to assessment are the same whether you are protecting nuclear assets or any other asset that is critical to your business.

This book is a follow up to my favorite security book, Design and Evaluation of Physical Protection Systems, which was published in 2001. I have been using that text in my classes continuously since it was published and have been very pleased. Students enjoy it and really learn something from it. This new book by Mary Lynn Garcia tackles the specific issues of conducting a vulnerability assessment and issues touched on in the early book, but not at the same level. As such, this text is an excellent follow up that adds some much needed detail to this process. This book builds on the earlier book. The methodology used is the same and a reader of the earlier book will appreciate how both books complement each other.

Another key strength to this book which sets it apart from all others in the field is the approach it takes to actually test the effectiveness of a physical security system. A major plus is how the author tackles both qualitative and quantitative approaches to test the effectiveness of the system. The key is testing. The author presents the methodology in a clearly understandable fashion and provides detailed explanations of all formulas and charts used. This is a very user friendly book, but one that has great depth.

I honestly feel this book will become an instant classic. It will become the benchmark by which other security books will be measured. It just takes the discipline of security to a new level and is an important addition to the libraries of anyone tasked with security.

Dr. Dennis Giever
Professor and Chair
Department of Criminology
Indiana University of Pennsylvania

The success of Design and Evaluation of Physical Protection Systems in 2001 by Mary Lynn Garcia as determined by the international security profession has induced a second book of equal statute from the author. This follow-up book Vulnerability Assessment of Physical Protection Systems provides an extension and amplification of the process of protection of assets for critical infrastructure. The security of assets whether they be financial, commercial, or national require physical protection systems that are comprehensive, robust and reliable. This 2006 publication provides the principles and concepts necessary to develop a comprehensive physical security system that is both robust and reliable. Mary Lynn Garcia has extended the approaches presented in the design and evaluation book to provide the reader with a detailed process of vulnerability assessment for the protection of assets. Again, a well-balanced account of theory and application of vulnerability assessment has been presented with a scientific methods approach.

A feature of the text is the step-by-step details for conducting the vulnerability assessment of a physical protection system applied to facilities and infrastructure. The process commences with data gathering, through an analysis phase, improvement in design, and finally concludes with the reporting process to principals in the organisation. Mary Lynn Garcia is to be commended for the structure and rigour of the presentation, with comprehensive description and discussion of the process of assets protection and assessment. There is no comparable book to Vulnerability Assessment of Physical Protection Systems on the international market and as such is at the leading edge of advanced security related texts for the serious consideration of asset protection.

I was personally pleased to see the section on analysis of the vulnerability assessment process in terms of both qualitative and quantitative analyses where the final decision on the quality of the effectiveness of the security can be assessed according to a recognised process. The analyses component certainly adds weight to the outcomes of the vulnerability assessment. A most useful set of appendices on threat and facility worksheets, data collection sheets, and penetration times and representative delays enhance the publication and offer additional significance of the book to security profession. Again, this book will be most valuable for a range of academic, managerial, and practitioner security professionals who have responsibility for the protection of assets in financial, commercial and national infrastructure facilities.

Dr Clifton Smith
Associate Professor, Security Science
School of Engineering & Mathematics
Edith Cowan University
Perth, Western Australia