The E-Business Workplace: Discovering the Power of Enterprise Portals

In their extraordinarily informative Introduction, the authors explain that the contemporary workplace is "industry-specific, role-based, and personalized....What we mean by industry-specific is fairly obvious: information, applications, and services accessible through the workplace are relevant to an appropriate industry." as for "role-based and "personalized", they require a bit more definition which the authors then provide. They correctly assert that marketplaces "are becoming increasingly critical components of the e-business economy." They are "business hubs" on the Internet through which companies can buy, sell, or trade goods, services, and information with current business partners or with new customers or suppliers. In their fine book, the authors examine "the ramifications of workplaces for businesses of all kinds and provide insight into how most effectively to exploit their full potential to companies seeking success in the present and future e-business environment." The material is distributed within 12 chapters:From Integration to Collaboration [a three-phase process]People Matter: The Human Dimension [e.g. Every Individual Can Be a System Integrator]Value Proposition for E-Business and Workplaces [e.g. Key E-Business Benefits]The Workplace and Its Roles [e.g. Role Components]A Day in the Life of a Workplace [i.e. the roles of CFO, Sales Manager, and Field Service Engineer]Communities and Marketplaces [e.g. Marketplace Guiding Principles]A Day in the Life of Community MarketplacesWorkplace Technology [e.g. Workplace Features]From Change Management to Manageable Change [e.g. Knowledge Management]Implementing a Workplace and Driving Business ValueE-Business and the Workplace: A Broad ViewGetting to Where You Want to Be [e.g. Managing Expectations]The reader is also provided with a Glossary and then an Appendix which explains how to use the CD-ROM provided ("mySAP Workplace -- The Enterprise Portal solution"). This is a cohesive and comprehensive book, well-written, and anchored in a wealth of real-world experience gained by the authors over many years in their respective positions within the PricewaterhouseCoopers and SAP organizations. They really know their stuff.A brief commentary such as this simply cannot acknowledge many or even a few of the key expository passages in this book. Suffice to say that the authors thoroughly cover each of the subjects indicated by the chapter titles, in process explaining precisely HOW to discover, develop, and then leverage the power of enterprise portals. What is the critical difference between integration and collaboration? What should be the relationship between technology and those who use it? What impact can that relationship have? What is an appropriate value proposition for e-business and workplaces? These and other important questions are rigorously addressed. Were a higher rating available, I would give it to this book.