Monday, January 12, 2009

The IT Consultant or The Great Population Spike and after Reflections on the 21st Century

The IT Consultant: A Commonsense Framework for Managing the Client Relationship with CD-ROM

Author: Rick Freedman

The IT Consultant presents a clear, organized, and common sense approach to the IT consulting process. Unique among books on the consulting business, The IT Consultant presents both the 'soft skills' of communication, facilitation, and presentation, plus a methodology for applying IT analysis skills to a client's business needs. By using comparisons with the services of familiar advice-givers such as doctors, lawyers, and architects, this book takes the mystery out of the consulting process and shows the prospective consultant that there is a defined methodology for providing advisory services. The enclosed CD-ROM enables readers to customize job aids for their own use.

Elaine Biech

Freedman shares his trade secrets to achieving a successful IT consulting career based on his vast personal experience. The IT Consultant offers a refreshing approach to the advisory relationship: understand your clients' business goals and develop a collaborative solution. A surefire strategy for success!

Computer Bulletin

The book is good value for money and easy to read. I would recommend it to anyone who is an IT consultant, or who is interested in this field.

Peter N. Van Zant

A must-read' for any IT professional services manager attempting to upgrade the consultive skill set of their organization. The lessons learned here have a direct, linear relationship to the growth potential of you consulting practice or professional services organization.

Peter C. Patton

Few consultants fail for lack of technical expertise, many fail for lack of relationship skills. This unique book is the cure for that problem.

Peter N. Van Zant

A 'must-read' for any IT professional services manager attempting to upgrade the consultative skill set of their organization. Rick has done an exceptional job of articulating transformation areas and has provided real world examples that your staff can apply in the marketplace. The lessons learned here have a direct, linear relationship to the growth potential of your consulting practice or professional services organization.

Mark Zemelman

The IT Consultant is not only an excellent guide for individuals wishing to grow from skilled technicians to consultants, but it reminds today's practitioners that consultants are trusted business advisors to their clients. Rick Freedman has produced a well-flowing read that talks about required skills and considerations for consulting, gives "how-to" examples, and leads the readers through his suggested approaches.

Jay A. Elder

The IT Consultant defines the skills necessary for IT consultants who want to launch their careers, while suggesting a framework for the IT consulting firm to adopt, evangelize, and practice for success. Rick recommends techniques and disciplines that I use to mentor and encourage my IT consulting team-disciplines that have helped make my career successful.

Howard Wilkens

The IT Consultant is a complete playbook for any consultant interested in improving their game. It demonstrates how a consultant can become recognized for delivering what the client really needs - answers to business problems. The processes presented here build on each other to guide the consultant through to a successful engagement. As I begin to plan for my next consulting engagement I will definitely have a copy of The IT Consultant on my desk to use as a blueprint.

Linda NeCastro-Pastel

Traditionally, those in the IT field have emphasized technical knowledge first and tend to reward these skills over the important communications that are really necessary. This is a refreshing and useful approach: business knowledge before technology. The IT Consultant provides valuable advice not only for those considering practicing IT consulting, but also for the IT industry as a whole.



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Book about: Einnahme des Sprungs: Das Bauen einer Karriere als ein Sehkünstler

The Great Population Spike and after: Reflections on the 21st Century

Author: Walt W Rostow

Midway through the eighteenth century, the rate of growth for the world's population was roughly at zero. Immediately after World War II, it was just above 2 percent. Ever since, it has fallen steadily. This new book, the latest offering from a distinguished expert on international economics, tells readers what this stagnation or fall in population will mean - economically, politically, and historically - for the nations of the world. This study asserts that the United States is not the "last remaining superpower" but the "critical margin" without whose support no constructive action on the world scene can succeed. Rostow takes the view that world peace will depend on our government's ability to assume responsibly this "critical margin" role.

Library Journal

Rostow (emeritus, Univ. of Texas at Austin), former consultant to the Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson administrations, discusses the stagnant world population growth since the end of World War II and the impact of this phenomenon on worldwide economics, politics, and international peace. As Rostow sees it, the decline in population growth in the industrialized world below "replacement levels" will fall to a zero level circa 2100, with the exception of southern Africa, and will have a major impact on employment, social services for a decelerating population, diminished work forces, and other population-related investments. His projections present significant challenges for developing countries, as well as those entering what he terms the fourth industrial age, and his argument that the United States should fulfill the role of "critical margin" to address these concerns will raise eyebrows among the powers inside the loop. This is a critical, thought-provoking work dealing with highly technical, macroanalysis of international demographics and economics and is recommended for major academic libraries supporting graduate curricula in these areas.Dale F. Farris, Groves, TX

What People Are Saying

Frank D. Bean
"Walt Rostow is always brilliant in discerning the 'big picture.' [Tis book] is no exception....An impressive tour de force in the scope and reach of its policy-relevant analyses, this book makes it clear that the United States abandons a world leadership role at its own peril." -- University of Texas at Austin




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