About This Book

The idea for this book came about during a lunchtime conversation between two of its authors. They were reminiscing about why the computer field was the only field in which one could become a manager, director, or even vice president without any computing experience. During this lunchtime conversation, we compared the computer field to such other professional fields as accounting, the practice and enforcement of law, and medicine.

Imagine that the town you live in is looking to hire a new police chief. Can you have confidence in the chief if he has never been a police officer? Furthermore, what if the prospective chief does not know how to use a gun and has no knowledge of proper investigation procedures? Extend this concept by envisioning a former McDonald's manager applying to be a partner at an accounting or law firm simply because he is a leader. The partners in the legal and accounting fields are leaders, but they also retain current knowledge of their professions and can argue a case or balance one's books. With relevant experience, the prospective police chief is a leader, too, and most likely remembers how to write a parking ticket and perform other cop-on-the-street duties.

Getting to the root of this problem cannot be done quickly. Unlike other fields, in the computer field you can have the title of architect but not necessarily know your job. The information technology field is constantly evolving and ever-changing. For the motivated, it requires long hours reading numerous books by the thought leaders of the industry. Even for the most diligent, the goal of achieving knowledge and enlightenment may never be fulfilled.

Many businesses are faced with such challenging problems as technology changing rapidly, employees with limited skill sets, smaller budgets, and less tolerance for failure. The only way one can be successful in this new order is to learn a new strategy. Today's businesspeople no longer have the opportunity to learn from their failures.

This book presents several provocative alternatives and serves as a leader, teacher, and guide to help you manage the chaos. It will challenge both the conventional and the contrarian's wisdom. This book is written by some of the brightest information technology thought leaders with the purpose of helping you create an agile enterprise using techniques learned on the battlefield of life.

Come to success.