World Famous Comics: IT Architecture Toolkit (Harris Kern's Enterprise Computing Institute Series)
IT Architecture Toolkit (Harris Kern's Enterprise Computing Institute Series)
By: Jane Carbone Publisher: Prentice Hall PTR Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Label: Prentice Hall PTR Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 256 Publication Date: May 20, 2004
Book is a photocopy I was quite disappointed, with the publisher not amazon, because the entire book is a photocopy. I wanted to keep this book in my library and something of this sort is just not acceptable. I even went to barnes and nobles to see if they had a good version of this book, but they sell a this photocopy for around $59. Sad isn't it!
No issue with amazon. Never have had. Timely arrival, no damage etc. I am glad I paid a discounted price for this on amazon because paying around $60 for a photocopy is definitley not worth it.
Very good Anyone interested in learning more about how to think about developing software systems in a large corporate environment needs to read this book. Short and to the point it outlines how to think about and develop an architecture for the enterprise.
waste mt time and money I feel regret to spend the money and time on this book
A reasonable architecture development framework in a poor-quality package My first impression of this book was poor due to its aesthetic problems: although it's a hardcover, it appears to have been "printed" on poor quality paper by a photocopier low on toner. Certain diagrams are rendered unreadable by the lack of color, and gray backgrounds are uneven and splotchy.
Aesthetics aside, the content of this book does deliver on its promises. It presents a reasonable architecture development framework. Each aspect of the framework is explained and justified with examples from the author's personal experience. It covers the people management roles of an architect too, and includes some useful advice on how to "sell" architecture changes throughout an organization, and how and when to involve the client's IT staff.
The book details a step-by-step approach, best read start-to-finish. I imagine most architects who read this already have their own frameworks, and won't want to swallow Carbone's methodology whole. But nearly anyone will find bits and pieces useful.
What this book doesn't include is much technical detail. There is no discussion of architecture or integration design patterns, and little advice for conducting vendor evaluations for architectural components. But if the framework / methodology angle is what you're seeking, this book delivers.
Excellent how-to book This book is rather thin, but very dense. I can't remember reading a book that had so many bullet points and lists. While many books on the subject of Enterprise Architecture focus primarily on discussions, this book omits wordy definitions and usual fluff and "cuts to the chase" on how to analyze company's baseline, synthesize its target state using business drivers, and deliver a roadmap for transitioning to it.
Unlike with many books listed on Amazon.com, it's not currently possible to search inside this book or view its Table of Contents. Therefore, I have decided to list some of the chapter titles below:
Connecting Architecture to the Business Analyzing the Business Current State Constructing the Business target State Analyzing the Target State--Identifying Gaps and Opportunities Architecture Models Standards Establishing Metrics Presenting the Plan for Buy-in Compliance and Other Key Processes
The entire book is a template on how to approach an overwhelming task of restructuring a company into a better entity that will enable it to achieve its business goals. Thus I would recommend it to someone who is fairly familiar with the theoretical underpinnings of the subject and is ready to try it in practice. I am sure it will be as helpful to you as it has been helpful to me.
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