Information Ecology : Mastering the Information and Knowledge Environment
by Thomas H. Davenport & Laurence Prusak
Table of Contents
Preface and Acknowledgments
1 Information and Its Discontents: An
Introduction
2 The Illusion of Control: Our Information Past
3 The Best of All Worlds: Information Ecology
4 Information Strategy
5 Information Politics
6 Information Behavior and Culture
7 Information Staff
8 Information Management Processes
9 Information Architecture
10 Connecting to the Company: Information and the Organization
11 Information and the Outside World
12 Implementing Information Ecology
Notes
Index
Reviews
Synopsis
Thomas Davenport proposes a revolutionary new way to look at information management
which takes into account the total information environment within an organization. Citing
examples drawn from his own extensive research and consulting, including such major firms
as AT&T, American Express, and IBM, Davenport illuminates the critical components of
information ecology, providing a quick assessment survey for managers to see how their
operations measure up.
A
reader from Austin, TX , January 11, 1998
Useful and informative book with new insights
I found this to be a useful and informative book with new insights, especially in the area
of developing a holistic view of an information enterprise. Most previous books seem to be
limited to just MIS departments and ignore the fact that managing information is not
something that just happens in a vacuum. I also found the diagnosis section to be useful
and grounded in real work versus the "blackboard" consulting suggestions that
sometimes comes from academics whose ideas are not grounded in real world experiences.
A
reader from Dallas, Texas , September 5, 1997
Good theme but more buzzwords and bull than practical advice
I was disappointed by this book. While its central thesis (that MIS should include human
and political considerations, not just technical ones) is valid and needs championing, I
found the text repetitive, lacking in clear advice, and full of buzzwords used to restate
the obvious. Mr. Davenport is clearly an expert on how to run MIS at large companies.
Unfortunately, I found it difficult to glean applicable lessons from his book.
