Books that Influenced my Thinking: The Social Life of Information

Aug 01, 2012 by Thomas Redman

Readers may know that I started my work in data quality while at Bell Labs.  After we had a couple of practical successes with AT&T units, we decided it was time to do some fundamental thinking about data (Anany Levitin and Chris Fox, now at Villanova and James Madison, respectively led most of the work described here).  The first thing we needed to do was get a good definition of “data.”

Books that Influenced my Thinking: Data Model Patterns

Jul 25, 2012 by Thomas Redman

Long time readers of my posts here know that I’m reviewing the books that most influenced my thinking about data and data quality management.  This week’s book is Data Model Patterns, by Dave Hay.   In the interest of full disclosure, I had the opportunity to work with Dave on a client engagement some years ago, long after I’d read Data Model Patterns.  He and I have become close personal and professional friends.

Books that Influenced my Thinking: Beyond Reengineering

Jul 18, 2012 by Thomas Redman

Long time readers of my posts here know that I’m reviewing the books that most influenced my thinking about data and data quality management.  This week’s book is Beyond Reengineering by Michael Hammer.

Books that Influenced my Thinking: The 48 Laws of Power

Jul 11, 2012 by Thomas Redman

Long time readers of my posts here know that I’m reviewing the books that most influenced my thinking about data and data quality management.  This week’s book is The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene and Joost Elffers.   It’s the nastiest stuff I’ve ever read and is required for anyone serious about data quality management.

Books that Influenced my Thinking: The Trouble with Computers

Jun 27, 2012 by Thomas Redman

Long time readers of my posts here know that I’m reviewing the books that most influenced my thinking about data and data quality management.  Today’s book is Tom Landauer’s The Trouble with Computers.

The book was published in 1995.  In the preceding years, people such as Stephen Roach, Chief Economist at Morgan Stanley and Paul Strassman, formerly of Xerox, had…

Books that Influenced my Thinking: Mary Parker Follett Prophet of Management

Jun 13, 2012 by Thomas Redman

Long time readers of my posts here know that I’m reviewing the books that most influenced my thinking about data and data quality management.  Today’s book is Mary Parker Follett Prophet of Management.

Books That Influenced My Thinking: Future Perfect

May 30, 2012 by Thomas Redman

As those who follow this space will know, I’m reviewing a series of books that I view as classics – books that profoundly influenced my thinking.  Up today is Stanley Davis’s Future Perfect.  It came out in 1987 and, in scanning through it as I write this review, is like a postcard from the future.

Books That Influenced My Thinking: Management

May 23, 2012 by Thomas Redman

As those who follow this space will know, I’m reviewing a series of books that I view as classics – books that profoundly influenced my thinking.  Up today is Peter Drucker’s Management:  Tasks, Responsibilities, and Practices.

Books That Influenced my Thinking: The Goal

May 09, 2012 by Thomas Redman

If we took a poll, I bet that more people would cite The Goal as the most influential book on quality of all time.  Devotees might note the importance of Goldratt’s theory of constraints as the feature they liked best.  But most would cite its readability. Over three million copies have been sold.