The Adventures of an IT Leader, Updated Edition

By: Robert D. Austin, Richard L. Nolan, Shannon O'Donnell

Narrated by: Teri Schnaubelt

Length: 10 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

Becoming an effective IT manager presents a host of challenges - from anticipating emerging technology to managing relationships with vendors, employees, and other managers. A good IT manager must also be a strong business leader. This book invites you to accompany new CIO Jim Barton to better understand the role of IT in your organization. You'll see Jim struggle through a challenging first year, handling (and fumbling) situations that, although fictional, are based on true events. You can listen to this book from beginning to end, or treat is as a series of cases. You can also skip around to address your most pressing needs. For example, need to learn about crisis management and security? Listen to chapters 10-12. You can formulate your own responses to a CIO's obstacles by listening to the authors' regular "Reflection" questions. You'll turn to this book many times as you face IT-related issues in your own career.

©2016 Harvard Business School Publishing (P)2017 Recorded Books

Create book for anyone interested in Tech and Business.

As an aspiring CIO I found this book very useful and informative, it’s a great listen and I highly recommend for any business manager and IT Leader.

Excellent book for IT managers

This was a well-performed book with the story leading one to think about what the authors were saying. I found it to be an engaging way to learn. Highly recommended!

A good take on preperation vs reaction

The delivery about the experiances as a pinch hit C.I.O. for a company reflects on what to do in an I.T. emergency as well as the management of an I.T. infrastructure.

AWESOME book

Awesome. It gave me key ideas in a story format. I didn't want it to end.

Best way to learn.

The format of the book was very engaging and informative. Having been an IT professional for the past 30 years, this story rings so true. Awesome learning experience.

excellent .

Loved it , had a wonderful experience of learning the IT managers adventure journey. The narrative help us to connect with my current role. Boosted my confidence to perform my current role in IT Management.

a great story for new it leaders

I love how a story can take own the complicated world of IT. Every IT leader needs to spend time thinking on these questions.

Recommended for those in IT management

IMHO, if you are involved in the management of tech teams, or you have colleagues in your organization who are, this is worth the time. Good for CIO/CTO's, and consultants who report to executive teams.

Navigating Leadership in Tech: A Mixed Experience

As someone deeply involved in the IT and technology sector, I recently delved into an audiobook that I believe is incredibly beneficial for anyone in a leadership role within this field. The book brilliantly intertwines a captivating storyline with practical insights, making it a valuable resource for both new leaders and those ascending to higher positions in the tech world. It stands out for providing clear directions and focal points for those just starting out or moving up the ladder in IT and tech environments.

However, my experience with the narration of the book was somewhat jarring. This isn't a reflection on the narrator's general skills, which are commendable, but more about the contrast in narration style I experienced after listening to "The Goal," another exceptional business book. "The Goal" set a high bar with its use of multiple narrators to match the gender of the characters, enhancing the listening experience significantly.

In contrast, this audiobook employed a single female narrator who attempted to alter her voice for male characters. This approach, particularly for the main character, inadvertently painted him in a negative light, almost like an antagonist, which I believe was a misrepresentation. The choice of narrator, or perhaps the direction given to her, seemed off for this particular story. A consistent narration style, without the attempt to vary voice depth, might have served the content better.

Despite this hiccup in narration, the core content of the book remains exceptional. It's packed with valuable insights and strategies for navigating the complex landscape of tech leadership. I wholeheartedly recommend it for its substantial guidance and direction, essential for anyone stepping into or moving up in the realm of IT leadership. Just be prepared for a narration style that might take some getting used to.

Excellent and Relevant IT Wisdom for IT Leaders

This book is not just about Information Technology but about Information Technology *leadership* and, for that, I give it 5 stars across the board. There's IT-specific information in abundance but -- more importantly -- there's IT-leadership-specific information that *every* IT leader (whether a CIO or not) should take to heart. The one lesson that will stick for me forever -- offered by "The Kid" -- is to "know what you don't know." I am *extremely* glad I purchased this title. Only *after* I purchased it did I recall that, many months ago, a fellow IT mentor of mine mentioned its timelessness. Serendipity, indeed. 5 stars! Highly recommended for IT leaders!