High Tech, High Hope: Turning Your Vision of Technology Into Business Success: Turning Technology Vision into Business Success (Upside) - Hardcover

Franson, Paul

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 047123981X ISBN 13: 9780471239819

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, 1998

Synopsis

Crucial coverage for managers looking to separate technology reality from fantasy.

Few beliefs are more deeply held by business executives than their faith in technology. They believe that technology alone has the power to increase productivity and competitiveness, lower costs, reduce head counts, and increase profits. High Tech, High Hope is a rosetta stone for managers who need to separate fantasy from reality. The book explores the technology strategies emerging from prominent companies and consultancies in different industries, and includes insight and analysis to help managers understand important trends and applications. There are a number of case studies included, illustrating what companies have done right––and what they have done wrong. The experts and companies featured include Paul Saffo, Institute of the Future; Larry Ellison, Oracle; and Bill Davidow, Mohr–Davidow Ventures.

Paul Franson (St. Helena, California) founded Franson, Hagerty & Associates, a public relations firm for the high tech industry whose clients include LSI Logic, 3Com, Silicon Graphics, Hewlitt Packard, and Hitachi. A freelance writer since 1995, he has written articles for Upside magazine, The Financial Times, and PC Computing.

About this title

About the Author

PAUL FRANSON is the founder of Franson, Hagerty & Associates, a public relations firm for the high–tech industry. His clients have included LSI Logic, 3COM, Silicon Graphics, Hewlett–Packard, and Hitachi. Mr. Franson′s numerous articles have appeared in such publications as Upside, Inc., The Financial Times, Dividend, Electronic Business, Marketing Computers, and PC Computing.

From the Back Cover

Faced with a bewildering array of technology options and increasing obsolescence in many parts of their organizations, today′s business decision makers are in a tough spot. They need help determining which latest technology will work for their businesses and what high–tech strategies will solve their companies′ problems. Business managers today need help separating hype from reality; more importantly, they need to know what has worked well for others in the same situations.

High Tech, High Hope is the first book to provide a critical analysis of several top American firms that have carefully injected a range of new technology strategies into their businesses. You′ll find how such leading firms as Chrysler, Boeing, Federal Express, 3M, Hallmark, and Owens–Corning have supercharged their businesses by applying a cocktail of new technologies.

This authoritative and accessible reference delivers accurate and thoroughly up–to–date coverage of how managers have applied technology solutions across their businesses. From operations and purchasing to marketing, sales, and customer support, High Tech, High Hope helps managers who are trying to get up to speed with some of the smartest solutions applied today.

What technologies are currently available? How have they been applied successfully? What are the costs? The learning curve? How well do they integrate with other crucial systems in my organization? And do these new technologies really lead to a more efficient, productive, and most of all, profitable business?

To help answer these crucial questions, High Tech, High Hope features the invaluable insights of some of the world′s leading technology strategists and thinkers, including Bill Gates of Microsoft, Louis Gerstner of IBM, Lew Platt of Hewlett–Packard, FedEx CIO Dennis Jones, and noted analyst Gideon Gartner. Sharing their unique perspectives and offering sound advice, they explain what works, what doesn′t, and what lies ahead, covering such issues as the Internet, a new generation of software applications, and ever more sophisticated networking technologies.

High Tech, High Hope gives you an insider′s view of the various technology strategies that have been seamlessly incorporated into some of the world′s most successful companies, and helps managers develop real action plans for supercharging virtually every part of their organizations.

Comprehensive and timely, High Tech, High Hope is indispensable for executives, managers, and entrepreneurs who need to understand and adopt important technology trends in a real–world context to help boost their businesses.

"Paul Franson has given us the best and most complete account of life inside the new technology–driven corporation. With example and example, department by department, Franson shows how this transformation has been accomplished. High Tech, High Hope is the premier best practices book on the new enterprise." ––Michael S. Malone Coauthor, The Virtual Corporation.

"Franson is an old hand in Silicon Valley, and his experience and expertise really show in High Tech, High Hope. This book delivers practical advice on the strategic use of today′s cutting edge information technologies." ––Paul Saffo Director, Institute for the Future.

"Franson′s book is a fascinating look at the pervasive role of the computer in business and how the technology is accelerating these changes. He really has his arms around the technology revolution going on in business today. In his new book, he has chronicled how computers are dramatically changing the way the business world works." ––Bob Henkel Editorial Director, CMP Media, Inc.

"High Tech, High Hope takes an insightful look at how managers are developing their businesses in a highly competitive world that is changing at web–speed." ––George Sollman President, CEO and Founder, Arabesque Communications, Inc.

From the Inside Flap

Faced with a bewildering array of technology options and increasing obsolescence in many parts of their organizations, today′s business decision makers are in a tough spot. They need help determining which latest technology will work for their businesses and what high–tech strategies will solve their companies′ problems. Business managers today need help separating hype from reality; more importantly, they need to know what has worked well for others in the same situations. High Tech, High Hope is the first book to provide a critical analysis of several top American firms that have carefully injected a range of new technology strategies into their businesses. You′ll find how such leading firms as Chrysler, Boeing, Federal Express, 3M, Hallmark, and OwensCorning have supercharged their businesses by applying a cocktail of new technologies. This authoritative and accessible reference delivers accurate and thoroughly up–to–date coverage of how managers have applied technology solutions across their businesses. From operations and purchasing to marketing, sales, and customer support, High Tech, High Hope helps managers who are trying to get up to speed with some of the smartest solutions applied today. What technologies are currently available? How have they been applied successfully? What are the costs? The learning curve? How well do they integrate with other crucial systems in my organization? And do these new technologies really lead to a more efficient, productive, and most of all, profitable business? To help answer these crucial questions, High Tech, High Hope features the invaluable insights of some of the world′s leading technology strategists and thinkers, including Bill Gates of Microsoft, Louis Gerstner of IBM, Lew Platt of Hewlett–Packard, FedEx CIO Dennis Jones, and noted analyst Gideon Gartner. Sharing their unique perspectives and offering sound advice, they explain what works, what doesn′t, and what lies ahead, covering such issues as the Internet, a new generation of software applications, and ever more sophisticated networking technologies. High Tech, High Hope gives you an insider′s view of the various technology strategies that have been seamlessly incorporated into some of the world′s most successful companies, and helps managers develop real action plans for supercharging virtually every part of their organizations. Comprehensive and timely, High Tech, High Hope is indispensable for executives, managers, and entrepreneurs who need to understand and adopt important technology trends in a real–world context to help boost their businesses.

Edition details

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
• Publication date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 047123981X
• ISBN 13: 9780471239819
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 296