Making decisions that affect the lives of an organization’s employees is not an easy task! That is even more pronounced in the relatively new trend of digital transformation. Luckily, many scientists, mathematicians, managers, have shared their expertise with the world through books.
Take a look at a selection of books discussing digital transformation, Big Data, AI and machine learning, cloud computing, blockchain technology, and the ethical use of algorithms!
Digital Transformation: Build Your Organization’s Future for the Innovation Age by Lindsay Herbert
Lindsay Herbert provides her readers with an elaboration of a very practical guide to all successful digital transformations. The guide which constitutes the structure of the book is called BUILD (an acronym for bridge, uncover, iterate, leverage, and disseminate). The BUILD guide – coupled with the telltale signs of successful digital transformation efforts – makes the book a great resource for the managing directors of every organization.
Read the book for practical suggestions in every stage of BUILD or use it for its probing questions, the answers to which should define the context of your organization.
Weapons of Math Destruction by Cathy O’Neil
This book by the mathematician Cathy O’Neil is a must-read for everyone involved in data collection and processing. In an analogy with weapons of mass destruction, O’Neil stresses the risks that come with the abuse of data collection and processing and designing algorithms based on that data, even if the people carrying out those activities have good intentions. Data collection and processing are two very sensitive activities, and breaking data protection laws can result in incredibly high fines.
Weapons of Math Destruction sheds light on the stories of real life people who had major damages in their lives resulting from algorithms (such as getting fired, having it impossible to land a job, having it impossible to get health insurance or a loan, or even having their family lives disrupted by algorithms that calculate employees’ workhours). Ultimately, knowledge and advancement of technology has two sides, and ethical professionals must look at both.
With blockchain being a concept we’ve all heard a lot recently, it is worth taking some time to learn more about it. This book offers insights into blockchain, its influence on Big Data and machine learning, to improve processes in peer-to-peer networks.
The book is also a great source of information regarding security concerns, as well as the protection of the privacy of data principals. The many authors in this book provide informative chapters on blockchain technology and its use in Big Data, cryptocurrencies, digital tools used in the healthcare sector, and studies on privacy-preserving models through blockchain.
An organization’s management needs to be very careful before deciding on issues with major implications. This book by Michael J. Kavis provides insight from his own experience (or true stories that have happened to people or organizations he knew) about using the cloud for business processes. Business leaders and tech-savvies should read this book to learn more about the development of cloud computing over the years, cloud service models, frequent mistakes related to migrations to the cloud, how to architecture your organization’s cloud strategy, and so on.
The book also contains specific information on different cloud models (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS), with helpful information to guide any professional into the world of cloud computing.
