In short, this is a major piece of work. It runs to around a thousand pages. It is quite comprehensive as it comprises essays by authors from a range of specialties.
The Sections are:
– The Technology Manager & The Modern Context
– Knowledge for The Technology Manager
– Tools for The Technology Manager
– Managing The Business Function
– Strategy of The Firm
– Core Relationships for The Technology Manager
– Global Business Management
What is of interest to me is the HR aspect of work. That is, the motivations we have and the design of our jobs.
The questions that must be asked concerning the motivation of technical professionals are:
– what energizes particular behaviours
– what directs or channels these behaviours
– how the behaviours are sustained/altered
Two things of note:
– we must create the kinds of job assignments, careers & work-related conditions that allow professionals to satisfy their individual needs
– the organization designer’s job is to select the least-managerially demanding organization that best fits the “design criteria” appropriate to the situation & strategy
Now, the theories behind all this are:
– cognitive models of motivation:
– Maslow’s hierachy
– Herzberg’s 2 factor
– McClelland’s Theory of Needs
– motivation through design of work
– equity theory
– expectancy theory
– Hackman & Oldman suggest 3 task dimensions:
– skill variety
– task identity
– task significance (important)
– also: autonomy, feedback (weak in IT)
– socio-technical model of job design means that team covers breadth/depth/height of the work rather than individuals:
– depth of expertise
– breadth of functional tasks
– height of leadership activities
– importantly in all of this, the trust & confidence in manager is crucial
This tome certainly covers the full gamut of technology management issues. Issues such as:
– economics & finance
– marketing
– decision and simulation methods
– and so on.
In all quite comprehensive. For me, its almost a must to have as a ready reference
IT Considerations 
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