Additional information
by Russell Boebert (Illustrator), Earl Boebert (Author)
History is littered with the bones of institutions killed by change, either because they let events run over them, or because they misjudged what was happening to them. When you look closely at those institutions that have changed successfully, it is often clear that somewhere, somehow, somebody did their homework. That s the subject of this book: how to do your homework in a way that both motivates and informs rational institutional change. (From the Foreword) This book will teach you how to tackle an important problem, get it right, and make a difference. Here's what you'll learn: - The attributes of mind needed to get it right. - What you need to know and do as a team leader. - How to determine the resources your team will need. - How to uncover the things that may bite you, before they bite. - The kind of infrastructure that supports effective teams. - How to plan your work and track progress. - Organized ways to cut through today's ocean of misinformation, disinformation, and spin and arrive at the truth. - A structured method for deciding what change must happen. - How to capture your results in an effective, readable document. - How to give presentations that will carry the day. Plus you get almost a hundred references to useful books, articles, and Web pages. This book is not based on academic theory or pop psychology. It is based on almost 50 years of experience in the trenches of high technology and embodies the lessons I learned the hard way, from victories and defeats, elation and heartache, success and failure. If it were a college course it would be called "Real World 101."
Author Biography
Earl Boebert wrote his first computer program in 1958 as an undergraduate at Stanford. In 1961 he and another student automated the halftime card stunts for football games, the earliest known application of computing to pixel graphics. After graduating he became an Electronic Data Processing Officer in the United States Air Force, where was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for his efforts in converting systems to high-level programming languages. He then joined Honeywell, where he engaged in new systems development, managed a group that produced security enhancements for the Multics system, and engaged in the design and verification of software for the Saab JA37B, the Mark 48 torpedo, and the Space Shuttle main engine controller. He led the engineering of several advanced electronic security systems, rose to the grade of Senior Research Fellow and won Honeywell's highest award for technical achievement. His course on systems engineering and project management was given to over 3,000 students in 13 countries. He then became technical founder and Chief Scientist of Secure Computing Corporation and led the creation of the Sidewinder security server. His final position before retirement was as a Senior Scientist for Sandia National Laboratories, where he engaged in a variety of high technology projects. He has participated in ten National Academies studies and workshops and is the holder or co-holder of 13 patents in computer and communications security.
