Smart (Enough) Systems – How to Deliver Competitive Advantage by Automating Hidden Decisions

Citation

Hutton, D.M. (2008), "Smart (Enough) Systems – How to Deliver Competitive Advantage by Automating Hidden Decisions", Kybernetes, Vol. 37 No. 6, pp. 830-831. https://doi.org/10.1108/03684920810877025

This book's cover gives us a real insight into its contents Smart (Enough) Systems is an honest appraisal of where we are in producing the so‐called “smart” system, whilst the subtitle pre‐views what the author's task involves.

Its chapters are concerned with the way in which companies of today are affected by the multi‐technologies that are now available and their effect on business decision making. Established business strategies have relied on rules and currently the feedbacks from software suites that provide monitoring analysis and other facilities. This is considered in some depth by the authors whose goal is to give the reader enough information to be able to understand their chosen approach. In presenting this the authors approach is given with clarity and detail and is supplemented by case histories that not only introduce it but also provide the essential strategies that must be used. By discussing and listing business rules which in some respects are not new to those involved with management, Taylor and Raden explain their philosophy for decision making. The effect on the business and its management, and staff are also considered.

Management scientists and those with an interest in business cybernetics will gain from exposure to this text not only from the case studies but also from the detail given of the effect of technology on modern business. The approach taken by the authors is but one view of how we should advance our research and development of systems in fields such as: operational decision automation. This text covers the relevant topics associated with this and includes studies of the management of the “business process,” as well as the monitoring of its activities and performances, the necessary “business rules” and the systems the authors advocate.