Technology Paradise Lost: Why Companies Will Spend Less to Get More from Information Technology

Rating:
Summary: New perspective on the realities of software development
Review: Eric Keller really hits home with both facts and anecdotal evidence supporting his claims that there is a shift happening in the IT industry. HIs claim is that through a combination of outsourcing, project and asset management companies both on the buying and selling sides of the IT fence will spend less to get more.

The book is organized as you would expect. The first few chapters cover current problems in the industry with quality and project failures. Though the outlook is gloomy most chapters end with a 'survival guide' which gives some pragmatic advice to avoid the pitfalls and problems mentioned in the chapter.

The second part of the book lays out a set of IT spending and management paths. The path he would have you go on is the 'path to profits' which reduces and optimizes spending through outsourcing and intelligent use of local resources and assets.

The book is definitely in the same league as The Mythical Man Month, The Decline and Fall of the American Programmer, and the Rise and Resurrection of the American Programmer. I can't say if it's better or worse, but I'm not sure it's relevant. If you enjoyed any of these source works you will enjoy and learn from this book.