Books

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Sciences of the Artificial

Continuing his exploration of the organization of complexity and the science of design, this new edition of Herbert Simon’s classic work on artificial intelligence adds a chapter that sorts out the current themes and tools—chaos, adaptive systems, genetic algorithms—for analyzing complexity and complex systems. There are updates throughout the book as well. These take into account important advances in cognitive psychology and the science of design while confirming and extending the book’s basic thesis: that a physical symbol system has the necessary and sufficient means for intelligent action. The chapter “Economic Reality” has also been revised to reflect a change in emphasis in Simon’s thinking about the respective roles of organizations and markets in economic systems.

A Reference Architecture for Enterprise Architecture: According to EA3, Documented in EA3

This book endeavours to help further lift the discipline of EA by providing a reference architecture for an EA function and taking an EA approach to its documentation and analysis to help demonstrate, explain and rationalize EA and the EA function. In doing so outlining the key drivers and components of an EA function, including the influences on and objectives of EA, and the business and technology processes and resources required and used to address these. Keeping on point and avoiding being pushed into related but non-EA activities; buying time to do things properly while still being responsive and agile to changes in enterprise drivers; fitting into the organisation’s governance structure; building a capability not just delivering a series of non-repeatable, point-sensitive EA services are just some of the many challenges facing Enterprise Architects today. While there are a number of useful and informative EA frameworks and books available guiding organisations on what EA should deliver, organisations and individuals are left without the one thing they espouse for the enterprise at large, a target architecture for the EA function that can be used to best align it to their enterprise and allow them to plan and oversee its formation and change effectively. This leaves many decisions to be made in the absence of sound, communicable, measurable and transparent views as to why and what to strive for in doing EA. As a reference architecture typically describes a complete target architecture, and a complete architecture can take a long time to develop and fine tune, more than can be expected within a single release, project or time frame that initial outcomes are required by EA stakeholders and customers, the book takes a look at the different capabilities or themes that might be focused on to allow for the different needs and expectations enterprises have from EA. To ensure the reference architecture incorporates best practices in EA, it is built on the concepts and principles of EA outlined in Dr Scott Bernard’s book, An Introduction to Enterprise Architecture, EA3, and his EA training program and certification courses. Both of which in turn build on the EA experiences and practices of EA practitioners over near to three decades.

The Lean Startup

Most new businesses fail. But most of those failures are preventable. The Lean Startup is a new approach to business that’s being adopted around the world. It is changing the way companies are built and new products are launched. The Lean Startup is about learning what your customers really want. It’s about testing your vision continuously, adapting and adjusting before it’s too late. Now is the time to think Lean.

Everything We Know is Wrong: The Trend Spotters Handbook

Some trends are clear and visible; others are less so. But it is the invisible trends that have a greater impact on our lives and society. An example of this is the current global recession, which few people saw coming. If you really want to understand the present and the future, you need to look at the long-term invisible changes taking place behind the scenes – not the plethora of trendy gadgets and fashion statements surrounding us on a daily basis. In this book, leading trendspotter and futurist Magnus Lindkvist goes beyond the latest handbag colours and digital gadgets, and instead takes us on a breathtaking tour of the real trends that are happening and evolving. These are the trends that will make a lasting impact on the world and our daily lives. They will provoke you into thinking about the present and future in a completely differently way.

The Attack of the Unexpected: A Guide to Surprises and Uncertainty

Everything in life is, in a sense, unexpected. From the people you meet to the events you experience. But sometimes the unexpected attacks. It eats at you and fundamentally changes where you are and where you are going. September 11, the credit crunch, and the rise of the World Wide Web are recent examples of agenda changing megaevents that we were forced to react to in some way or another. This book, by one of the world’s leading trendspotters, is designed to help you understand the nature of unexpected events and how we are affected by it on an individual, corporate and societal basis. Building on studies of and interviews with people who have in some way been “attacked” and significantly affected by the unexpected, its aim is to help you stop fearing uncertainty and start embracing and leveraging it to your advantage. About the Author: Magnus Lindkvist is an acclaimed trendspotter and popular speaker around the world. He is the author of Everything We Know is Wrong (Marshall Cavendish, 2009) and was selected as Sweden’s Business Speaker of the Year in 2009. He is based in Stockholm, Sweden.

Infostorms: How to Take Information Punches and Save Democracy

The information society is upon us and with it comes the constant barrage of information accessible wherever, whenever. This book explores the role of knowledge (or lack thereof) prevalent in society, and investigates the dangers lurking in information technology and democracy as a whole. Information is a condition for a robust democracy; people should vote based on sound information. But sound information doesn’t come easy and without labor. It must be properly handled and formatted before it is useful for deliberation, decision and action. In the information age, understanding the means by which information is processed becomes a crucial democratic instrument for the individual as well as the group. With points of departure in philosophy, social psychology, economics, and choice- and game theory, Infostorms shows how information may be used to improve the quality of personal decision and group thinking but also warns against the informational pitfalls which modern information technology may amplify. Covering topics including the continued war efforts, the social media success, polarization in politics, stock, science or opinion bubbles this book’s broad approach offers an excellent overview on information (technology) and valuable guidance on how to take information punches.