The Executive's Guide to Information Technology, Second Edition

The Executive's Guide to Information Technology is a sophisticated and comprehensive guide to running a cost-effective, efficient, and business delivery-focused corporate Information Technology (IT) unit. Eschewing the theoretical for the practical, the book gives managers the guidance they need to handle any problem effectively. It provides specific policies, approaches, and tools for each critical IT management function, from application management to vendor management.

IT management experts John Baschab and Jon Piot provide the techniques IT managers and executives need to accurately assess their current operations. Further, they offer a step-by-step improvement plan designed to raise productivity and service levels while reducing costs significantly. The authors begin by examining the symptoms and causes of waste, inefficiency and underperformance in typical IT departments before offering in-depth analysis of each operational area of IT management. They present current and emergent best practices for transforming the department into a world-class service organization.

Packed with prescriptive advice and hard-earned insight, this comprehensive resource is organized into stand-alone chapters that provide quick access to important information when managers need it.

Designed to help IT managers and top executives get the most out of their departments, their budget and themselves, the book covers such topics as: managing the department, establishing leadership roles, assessing the organization, costmanagement, project demand management, operations management, infrastructure planning, vendor selection and management, technical standards setting, investment evaluation, and productivity and quality measurement programs.

With The Executive's Guide to Information Technology, IT managers will understand the main sources of waste in their departments, identify major management issues, learn and implement critical steps toward improvement, and manage more effectively. The book will help managers improve their performance and stature within their organizations by providing the tips and tools to overcome typical areas of friction and miscommunication between IT departments and other business functions. Executives will understand how to work effectively with the CIO or IT director, as well as provide constructive management input to the IT function, achieving the best return on their IT assets.

About the Authors

John Baschab began his career with a degree in MIS from the University of Alabama. He received the prestigious Seebeck award for achievement in computer science. John continued his career in the IT department of BellSouth and in the technology and finance department of computer hardware and software manufacturer, Intergraph Corp. After receiving his MBA with honors in behavioral science from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, John worked as a technology consultant to Fortune 500 companies in the Chicago office of Booz-Allen & Hamilton. Along with Jon Piot and John Martin, John cofounded Impact Innovations Group, a $100mm privately held IT services firm. Impact was acquired in 2005 by Technisource, where John is currently president of Technisource Management Services. He is also an adjunct professor of management information systems at Southern Methodist University.

Jon Piot received his degree in computer science from Southern Methodist University and joined Andersen Consulting, developing computer applications and providing technology-consulting services to Fortune 500 companies. Jon continued his career as vice president of DMACS International, a software company whose international software rights of Fox Software products were later acquired by Microsoft. After receiving his MBA from the Harvard Business School, Jon joined the information technology strategy group of management consultancy Booz-Allen & Hamilton. Jon is a cofounder of Impact Innovations Group, a $100mm privately held IT services firm. The company was acquired in 2005 by Technisource, where Jon is currently president of the Technology Solutions Group.