e-Business Intelligence: Turning Information into Knowledge into Profit

Rating:
Summary: A must read for any executive.
Review: As an OLAP suport analyst myself I read this book to get a bigger picture of the BI area. I was impressed with the overall presentation of the subject. This book has inspired several ideas of my own that should allow me to unlock hidden revenue opportunities for my company and my clients. This is a must read for any DB support personnel all they way up to CEO/CIO. BI is projected to be one of the hot growth areas in the next decade and I can see why. Allowing companies to become information democracies permits all level employees to have the power to make decisions based on fact -- not gut feeling. BI will be an essential tool in guiding an organization's strategy in the coming years. Now, if I could just get my managers to read it....

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Summary: The knowledge foundation of e-business
Review: As the CEO of a starting vertical B2B netmarket, I have read Mr. Liautaud's book with great anticipation, because I had read in the press that his company (Business Objects) has already done several interesting e-business data analysis implementations in both B2C and B2B environments. And indeed, the book was very useful in combining both full insight into the philosophy and methodology of modern data analysis (clearly showing how it has evolved from simple pivot table analysis to a complete exchange of information and indeed knowledge between trading partners, customers and suppliers), together with very clear and insightful business examples from all kinds of companies (and indeed even B2B netmarkets like Ventro). If you're not yet convinced that the pile of data you're sitting on is a true information and knowledge treasure, then this book is for you. If you already realise this, then this book will show you how to unlock that treasure.

Rating:
Summary: OK but Needs More Meat
Review: By and large, I found this book readable and informative as a primer. If you want to get an idea of what the E-intelligence buzz is about, this would not be a bad place to start. The case studies describing the use of E-intelligence and its results on the organization were enlightening. However, I found the text weak when it comes to quantitatively coming to grips with the issue of cost justification. Examples of the cost justification process contrasted with actual ROI results would be useful to some one needing to make an E-intelligence presentation to their management.

Rating:
Summary: Highly Recommended!
Review: Despite the stereotype of the great company run by a mercurial, charismatic dictator in the Steve Jobs mode, a number of cutting edge business thinkers argue that if you want your company to grow, you should introduce democracy into the management mix. One of those thinkers is author Bernard Liautaud, who, unlike most folks who theorize about business, actually owns a company, and a fairly significant one at that. His European software company, Business Objects, has annual revenues of more than $240 million. In his book, he explains why democracy is good for business. Companies that adopt his ideas, he says, will realize numerous advantages, including better communication between the company and the customer, more intelligent data about who buys products and why, and the discovery that you can sell data back to your customer. We [...] welcome this fascinating report from the horse's mouth about the growth and evolution of the democratic, intelligent, e-organization.

Rating:
Summary: Clear, comprehensive and inspirational
Review: Finally a great book that focuses on the most valuable asset of today: information. The author gives a very clear and comprehensive overview of how a company can get value out of information. It gives good insight in how leading companies achieve this today, and is also very enjoyable to read. The many examples are worked out very well, and give ideas how to start mining information and translate it into competitive advantage.

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Summary: He's at the Stanford U. Bookstore Feb 15 7pm (free)
Review: He's at the Stanford U. Bookstore Feb 15 7pm (free)

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Summary: My book for MD
Review: I am in a position of writting my Master's Degree in area of E-Business Intelligence. Since I've been doing it for the last two years I wanted to get a book to be really usefull. And I found it - Bernard's. I found in it the best examples from all over Europe which I need the most. It actually shows how to use company's data in the best way.

Rating:
Summary: Hundred of pages of bromides
Review: I cannot believe I was reading the same book as the other reviewers.

The book reads like a several hundred page marketing brochure chock full of commonplace, superficial thinking. Nowhere is there criticism of technology. Nowhere is there any thinking about the limits of this technology. Nowhere is there any insight on how to manage human beings so they use this technology intelligently.

In fact, in a perverse kind of way, the book describes technology in a way that you think the techology is more suitable to more stuctured, settled world of non-e business rather than the up for grabs environment of the e-business world.

Rating:
Summary: Not enough details to be useful
Review: I found this book to be very weak in details and concepts. It's easy to say that companies need business intelligence and throw around some very vague and general facts and examples. And that's what this book does. The case studies offer no details at all. If you've never heard of e-business or intelligence (basically if you've been living in a cave) then this book will introduce the topic at a high level. But if you're looking for more information you'd better look some place else. I know the author is the founder of Business Objects, but I just expected more from this book and was very disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Not enough details to be useful
Review: I found this book to be very weak in details and concepts. It's easy to say that companies need business intelligence and throw around some very vague and general facts and examples. And that's what this book does. The case studies offer no details at all. If you've never heard of e-business or intelligence (basically if you've been living in a cave) then this book will introduce the topic at a high level. But if you're looking for more information you'd better look some place else. I know the author is the founder of Business Objects, but I just expected more from this book and was very disappointed.

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