Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Pages: 154
•
Trim: 6¼ x 9½
978-1-4758-2211-3 • Hardback • May 2016 • $70.00 • (£54.00)
978-1-4758-2212-0 • Paperback • May 2016 • $35.00 • (£30.00)
978-1-4758-2213-7 • eBook • May 2016 • $33.00 • (£25.00)
Christopher McCay is the director of Information Technology at Brailsford & Dunlavey, Inc.
Preface
Introduction – IT: The Black Box
The Dimensions of the Box
1 - History of IT
2 - Talking Tech
What's in the Box?
3 - What Do the Organization and IT Want From Each Other??
4 - Communicating With the Organization
5 - What Numbers to Watch?
The Walls of the Box
6 - Hardware
7 - Software
8 – Networks
9 - Help Desk
How do We Build the Box?
10 - Project Management & Methodologies
11 - Process Improvement
12 - Risk Management
13 - Vendor Management
14 – Security
Who Holds the Box?
15 – Staffing & Teachable Moments
Your Personal Box
16 - Living a Digital Life & IT Consumerization
17 - Future Watching
Closing the Box
Conclusion
McCay, director of information technology at Brailsford & Dunlavey, Inc., takes readers on a delightful, insightful journey through the world of information technology (IT) by highlighting technology and its importance. The author’s strong IT background gives him an interesting perspective on how technology can and should be appreciated and utilized. McCay begins the expedition with a brief history of computers and technology before delving into extensive IT language and communication with IT professionals. He uses humor and plainly written, common analogies to bridge the IT–end user gap by creating visualizations and comparisons and warns IT professionals to scale back on their 'tech-speak' to the outside world. His book addresses all aspects of IT, thoroughly describing hardware components found in computers and mobile devices. In the software discussion, McCay explains operating systems, application software, and the explosion of app development. He also examines the importance of the help desk, an often unappreciated role in an organization, and glamorizes the position and emphasizes its appeal to any job seeker. This book is a simple, informative look into the IT world, containing a wealth and breadth of knowledge from the industry.
Summing Up:Recommended. All readers.
— Choice Reviews