Putt's Law and the Successful Technocrat
How to Win in the Information Age
1. Edition June 2006
192 Pages, Hardcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
Short Description
"Technology 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
Written by an industry leader in R&D management, this title examines the above law by following the (often humorous) business development of both types of individuals in a Research and Development setting. By examining their performance, the book provides practical advise on how to success in the technology industry.
The author, using a pseudonym, details how to survive and thrive in the world of technology. The book follows the fictional business careers of two vastly different individuals in industry. By comparing and contrasting their amusing experiences, business styles, successes, and failures, the author comprises a series of laws to guide readers through the difficult world of technology corporations. Bright, lively, and very funny, Putt's Law and the Successful Technocrat uses satire to highlight the author's deep understanding of the real world of technology.
Originally published in 1981, Putt's Law has become widely know and quoted in technology circles.
* Putt's Law has become one of the most quoted lines in industry with over 10,000 websites containing the phrase.
* The author is a well-respected authority in the field writing under a pseudonym. The proliferation of Putt's Law has resulted in strong Internet debate over the author's identity.
* Research/Development magazine has described the author as the '...leading analyst of the hierarchical intricacies of the [R&D] world.
* The title is completely updated from its early version, especially in regards to the material on computer and communications technologies with an entirely new section: Laws of the Information Age.
* The book uses humor and satire to promote successful business practices to both the management and the technology communities.
* An earlier incaranation of the book has been selling for over $200 on rare book sites.
"Technology 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:
"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 learned earlier in their careers."
--Eric Herz, former IEEE executive director and general manager
"Anyone who thinks 'engineering management' is an oxymoron needs to read this terrific book -- then they will know."
--Norman R. Augustine, author of Augustine's Laws and retired Chairman & CEO of Lockheed Martin Corporation
Putt's Law is as true today as it was when techno-everyman Archibald Putt first stated it. Now, in Putt's Law and the Successful Technocrat: How to Win in the Information Age, Putt is back with the unvarnished truth about success in the modern, technology-driven organization.
As you learn the real rules of the technology world, you'll meet such characters as the successful technocrat, Dr. I. M. Sharp. You'll find out how he wrangles career victories from corporate failures, nearly bankrupting the firm with his projects while somehow emerging the hero. You'll also meet such unfortunates as Roger Proofsworthy, top-level perfectionist yet low in the hierarchy, and come to understand how he assiduously preserves his spot near the bottom of the totem pole.
Whether you work in business, IT, or are a freelance technocrat, you'll want to study Putt's hard-won wisdom and laugh--all the way to the bank!
"...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)