Big Data@Work

One of the most heard and talked about terms in IT world now is Big data. I had heard this many times but had no idea about what it is and how can it change the IT landscape. When I saw this book I was very excited and thought it will solve the puzzle. After reading the book I am happy to say that it was a good decision to buy this. However being a technologist i expected a bit more on technical front.

Thomas very precisely explains what big data is and its relevance. With so much of data being generated around us, big data seems to be the answer for generating insights from the data. Book has number of case studies providing examples on how organization are using big data and related technologies to find trends and make decision based on it.
In chapter 4 Thomas explains what type of skill set are required for organization to move into big data. Though i don't fit any of those moulds however it does gives an idea of what should one be looking for when building a big data team.

Chapter 5 on technology for big data seems to be a bit 30000ft view and does only mentions what technology products are available for big data. I had hoped to get a bit more detailed view.

To summarise this book is a stepping stone for whoever wants to understand what Big Data is and what it can deliver to your business. 

The Phoneix Project

The Phoenix Project a novel about IT, DevOps and Helping Business Win” this is what it says on the front cover. Believe me this is what this book delivers at the end. I bought this book because I was getting overwhelmed by hearing DevOps and agile in every meeting and discussion I have been to in last few months. After working in organization which has been strictly cruising in waterfall model, this sudden change towards agile and DevOps felt like a daunting task.

One of my colleagues recommended me to read this book, to make the transition smoother and most important to understand why this change is required. While purchasing the book I thought it will be a book similar to PMBOK or coding manual for some language with full of terminologies and techniques to work in IT. I was suspicious about the usage of word Novel on the cover, how can book on IT and Devops be a story it has to be technical reference manual. But to my surprise it has been written so beautifully and in such simple language that you don’t even once feel like you are reading a book on IT.

From starting till end book will keep you engrossed, and it was like reading what you might be encountering in your current role or faced in past. It is not difficult to associate to challenges Bill is encountering in day to day work. It is like reading a story with you being one of the characters.

It explains in simple English terms what DevOps is and how it can help in resolution of these problems.  After reading the book you will realize that DevOps is not rocket engineering but simply a change in way of thinking and approach towards your day to day work by focusing on streamlining, monitoring and feedback process.

Another important message is that IT is no different from manufacturing or any other area of work. All the ways that Eric explains to Bill actually came from the assembly plant. This is very interesting as it breaks the myth that IT is different from other streams and hence problems in IT can only be solved by people in IT.