Infoculture is undoubtedly much more of a generalist’s book than its choice of publisher (specialist civil engineering publisher Thomas Telford) and austere purple cover would lead one to believe. The author has been applying information technology in the construction sector for over 20 years and the fruits of his knowledge are set out in terms that will hold appeal to generalists and techno‐phobes alike.
Before reaching the book’s contents list, one encounters a two‐page hand‐drawn map of “The Infoculture ocean”, complete with storms and shipwrecks, more redolent of an adventure yarn than a respected tome for professional engineers. And so it transpires. The author’s boyish enthusiasm and sincerity illuminate a subject which is all too often seen as the realm of esoteric specialisation.
The book’s 12 chapters are explicitly headed, from the opening chapter on “The information revolution”, via “The infoperson’s toolkit”, “Depending upon machines”, “Culture or millstone?”, to the concluding chapter “Gazing at the horizon”.
Three appendices are attached:
- 1.
(1) “Webspaces” provides details of the book’s own Web site;
- 2.
(2) “Events and people” outlines key events and incidents that have sparked off ideas and influenced the author; and
- 3.
(3) “My bookshelf” provides a wide ranging collection of titles that have inspired the author’s thinking, which he is honest enough to admit that he has “read all or part of” in recent years.
Stephen Vincent provides straightforward, practical advice for those who have not yet dipped their toes in the water. At the same time he develops more general views on management processes. His preferences are clear: sustainable development; business process reengineering, for which he sets out a case in layman’s terms; the need for companies to break down hierarchical boundaries.
The author’s honesty is such that he also illustrates cases where advanced technology has been of little benefit: those from work in Uganda are particularly revealing. It is clear that there is as much to learn from this humbling experience as from the book’s clear and easy‐to‐read review of current information technologies and future trends.
At £35.00 Infoculture is doubtless too highly priced for anyone other than a business readership. Whilst a good investment for business managers, a cheaper paperback version would open up the subject for a much wider readership.
