Description
Book SynopsisTechnology is dominated by two types of people: those who understand what
they do not manage, and those who manage what they do not understand.
Putt''s Law
Early Praise for Putt''s Law and the Successful Technocrat:
This is management writing the way it ought to be. Think Dilbert, but with
a very big brain. Read it and weep. Or laugh, depending on your current job
situation.
Spectral Lines, IEEE Spectrum, April 2006
It''s a classic. It reads at first like humor, but one eventually realizes
that it''s all true. The first edition changed my life. I loaned my copy to
a subordinate at IBM, and he didn''t return it to me until he was my boss.
Dave Thompson, PhD, IBM Fellow (retired), Member National Academy of
Engineering, and IEEE Fellow
Putt''s humor ranges from sharp to whimsical and is always on target.
Readers will be reminded of many personal experiences and of lessons in
life they wish they had
Trade Review
"If you like Dilbert, you'll love 'Putt's Law and the Successful Technocrat.'" (Phil Windley's Technometria, March 14, 2007)
"...humorous at times, cynical at times, this book is a must read for those interested in understanding how some technocrats got up in technological hierarchies." (PerlMonks, December 29, 2006)
"The book remains an enjoyable and worthwhile read for anyone affiliated directly or indirectly with high-tech industry." (IEEE History Center Newsletter, November 2006)
"Although Putt's Law is an excellent read for those of us who grew up working in technology companies, it should be required reading in colleges and universities. I refer to both engineering and management programs." (Chip Scale Review, August/September 2006)
"...contemporary and apropos...Putt is a veritable fountain of wisdom." (Civil Engineering, July 2006)
"The book is clever and gently humorous…" (Computing Reviews.com, February 13, 2006)
Table of ContentsPreface
Part One: Putt’s Primer
Putt’s Law and Corollary 3
Two Laws of Crises 11
The Law of Failure and Putt’s Ploy 19
Three Laws of Innovation 25
Exuberance 33
Part Two: The Successful Technocrat
Innovation 39
Success 45
A Lucky Engineer 49
Genesis of a Manager 53
Ph.D.-itis 55
Jargonese 59
Acknowledgments 63
Publish and Perish 67
Where the Money Is 71
Tools of the Trade 75
Thank You, Dr. Sharp 79
Part Three: Basic Putt
Laws of Innovation Management 87
Four Laws of Advice 93
The Consultant’s Law 99
Five Laws of Decision Making 105
Laws of Communication 113
Laws of the Information Age 117
Information Technology Laws 121
Part Four: Advanced Topics
Project Selection 131
Survival 135
Evaluating Ideas 139
Punishment and Reward 145
Can Putt’s Law Be Broken? 149
Putt’s Corollary to Murphy’s Law 153
Part Five: Putt’s Canon
Putt’s Primer 159
Basic Putt 163
Advanced Topics 169
