Business @ the Speed of Thought: Succeeding in the Digital Economy

Gates conducts a detailed tour of Microsoft and other corporate entities working with their own infrastructure. He looks at how computer functions are transforming the nature of "business". The bottom line is that real information -- the data, not just what we think is happening, but the real facts -- can be accessed instantly, distributed broadly, and analyzed for patterns and trends. All businesses, markets, and processes take place in cycles. Software can solve problems, but only if management understands and builds processes around gathering, managing and using information.

The lessons of this book fly in the face of the new "management by banker" that destroyed so many genuine businesses. The Microsoft model is of a constantly show more improved workforce, but not by slashing payroll. The workforce has actually expanded. [135] While focusing on core competencies and outsourcing everything else, including technical support for its employees, Microsoft has not made the mistake of training employees only to dehire them in a misguided effort to "save costs". In business, old and new, trained employees are not expenses; they are investments. Gates clearly shows that he regards employees as the most valuable asset of a business. This book shows managers how to empower employees with access to real-time real data.

Basically the Bain-Romney model of destroying businesses in order to create short-term benefits for a few bankers is in sharp contrast with this strong competitive information expansion model.

His final words emphasize that theme: "I strongly believe that if companies empower their employees to solve problems and give them potent tools to do this with, they will always be amazed at how much creativity and initiative will blossom forth." show less

Somewhere between a dated advertisement for specific (long dead) Microsoft products and some actually good points, this book is one I'd wanted to read for ages.

Not sure I'd recommend it, in general.

I enjoyed Bill Gate's other book "The Road Ahead" more than this. This is was more of Microsoft business than any vision for future.

I have been the CIO of large companies, I understand the value of integration and of processed information

Bill Gates in this book, reflected my experiences

I have used small little presentation, made from the contents of this book, at some of my seminars, where I have been a guest speaker and panelist

Boooooring

Boooooring

Performance and Innovation Bill Gates made these 20 predictions in 1999 — and how accurate he was The CEO and chairman of Microsoft shows how technology has become key factor in effectively operating businesses
"Business @ the Speed of Thought."and shows how technology can be used to effectively implement them shows how computer technology can solve business problems emerge vision is to become the "architects of the knowledge economy" focused on Internet has made it easier for anyone learning environments have been gaining increased continuity in their organizations.