I’m writing today to inform you of a free on-line textbook website and to recommend teachers review a book available on the site entitled: “Information Systems: A Manager’s Guide to Harnessing Technology”

While this book is intended for use in undergraduate and/or graduate courses in Management Information Systems and Information Technology, the information in the book can also be used to support and enhance instruction at the high school level. The book provides a comprehensive overview of the “current state of technology” and is relevant to studies in business, computer science and career technical education.

The information in this book gives perspective on the relevance and importance of technology to our society and economy. I greatly appreciate fine courseware and insight by the author Prof. John Gallaugher, Carroll School of Management, Boston College.

Topics include:

How technology is radically changing business landscapes.

Technology is everywhere and you will need it to thrive.

Strategy and technology; what separates winners from losers.

Savvy systems.

Understanding network effects.

Social media, Web 2.0.

Facebook: building a business from the social graph.

Understanding software: a primer for managers.

The data assets: databases, business intelligence, and competitive advantage.

Internet and telecommunications.

Information Security

Google: search, online advertising, and beyond.

The innovative technology being used to produce the free textbooks is also very interesting. Teachers can take and use the textbook “as is” or “make it their own” by remixing the book to meet their particular course requirements. Teachers can then republish their version of the textbook for their students. Here is a link to an article by John Gallaugher about the advantages of this new “open textbook” development process: Textbook 2.0