Review of "Business Intelligence Success Factors: Tools for Aligning Your Business in the Global Economy," by Olivia Parr Rud

Review of

Business Intelligence Success Factors: Tools for Aligning Your Business in the Global Economy, by Olivia Parr Rud, ISBN 9780470392409

Four out of five stars

 While the content is valuable, it has also appeared in many other books, articles and videos. The basic premise is that the old command and control structure of a CEO examining the data and issuing directives to be followed is no longer an effective way to run a company. Very few companies are unaffected by events in other countries, it is more a case of degree than it is of existence.

 Many of the topics are taken from other disciplines and applied to the execution of global business. For example the mathematical concept of chaos, positive and negative feedback loops and the structure of the human brain are all examined in some depth. The mathematics and science is kept to a minimum, so nearly everyone will be able to comprehend the points being made.

 The most significant points are based on human nature and the necessity of taking other people seriously when they are being serious. Listening with the goals of understanding, empathy and improvement is a task that is not practiced enough. The importance of trust up and down an organization are also key to getting people to the point where they are willing to do more than fill up a chair and a position in the organizational chart until they can retire.

 Reality is a powerful and sometimes neglected force in the world. In this book, realities that have always been present, such as change, that have now become even more important, are described and explained in ways that all can understand. Reading this book will not solve all of your organization’s problems, but it will increase you chances of solving some of them.