From the Inside Flap
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Anything can be measured. This bold assertion is the key to
solving many problems in business and life in general. The myth
that certain things can’t be measured is a significant drain on
our nation’s economy, public welfare, the environment, and even
national security. In fact, the chances are good that some part
of your life or your professional responsibilities is greatly
harmed by a lack of measurement – by you, your firm, or even your
government. Regardless of your role in business, understanding
the power of measurement will make you, those around you, and
your organization more efficient and productive.
Using simple concepts to illustrate the hands–on application of
advanced statistical techniques, How to Measure Anything, Third
Edition reveals the power of measurement in our understanding of
business and the world at large. This inful and engaging
book shows you how to measure those things in your business that
you may have previously considered immeasurable, including:
customer satisfaction, organizational flexibility, technology
ROI, and technology risk. Offering examples that will get you to
attempt measurements―even when it seems impossible―this book
provides you with the underlying knowledge and the necessary
steps for measuring anything, especially uncertainty and risk.
This revised third edition provides even deeper ins into the
fascinating practice of measuring intangibles, with a special
emphasis on risk management and customer satisfaction. New and
updated chapters also include:
* A philosophical discussion of different approaches to
probabilities, including what is known as the “Bayesian” vs.
“frequentist” interpretations of probability
* Information compiled from other popular works and compelling
articles from Douglas W. Hubbard
* Enlightening new examples of where seemingly impossible
measurements were resolved with surprisingly simple methods
* More measurement myths and other perceived obstacles to
measurement debunked
A complete and updated resource with real–world case studies and
an easy–to–follow format, How to Measure Anything, Third Edition
illustrates how author Douglas Hubbard―creator of Applied
Information Economics―has successfully applied his approach
across various industries. You’ll learn how any problem, no
matter how difficult, ill–defined, or uncertain, can lend itself
to measurement using proven methods. Straightforward and
accessible, this is the resource you’ll turn to again and again
to measure the seemingly immeasurable.
From the Back Cover
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Praise for the second edition of How to Measure Anything: Finding
the Value of “Intangibles” in Business
“How to Measure Anything was already my favorite book (just
ahead of Hubbard’s second book, The Failure of Risk Management)
and one I actively promote to my students and colleagues. But the
Second Edition, improving on the already exquisite first edition,
is an achievement of its own. As a physicist and economist, I
applied these techniques in several fields for several years. For
the first time, somebody wrote together all these concerns on one
canvas that is at the same time accessible to a broad audience
and applicable by spets. This book is a must for students
and experts in the field of analysis (in general) and
decision–making.”
―Dr. JOHAN BRAET, University of Antwerp, Faculty of Applied
Economics, Risk Management and Innovation
“Doug Hubbard’s book is a marvelous tutorial on how to define
sound metrics to justify and manage complex programs. It is a
must–read for anyone concerned about mitigating the risks
involved with capital planning, investment decisions, and program
management.”
―JIM FLYZIK, former Government CIO, White House Technology
Advisor and CIO magazine Hall of Fame Inductee
Praise for the first edition―The bestselling Business Math book
two years in a row!
“I love this book. Douglas Hubbard helps us create a path to
know the answer to almost any question, in business, in science,
or in life . . . How to Measure Anything provides just the tools
most of us need to measure anything better, to gain that in,
to make progress, and to succeed.”
―PETER TIPPETT, PhD, MD, Chief Technology Officer, CyberTrust,
and inventor of the first antivirus software
“Interestingly written and full of case studies and rich
examples, Hubbard’s book is a valuable resource for those who
routinely make decisions involving uncertainty. This book is
readable and quite entertaining, and even those who consider
themselves averse to statistics may find it highly approachable.”
―Strategic Finance
“This book is remarkable in its range of measurement
applications and its clarity of style. A must–read for every
professional who has ever excled, ‘Sure, that concept is
important, but can we measure it?’”
―Dr. JACK STENNER, cofounder and CEO of MetaMetrics, Inc.
“Hubbard has made a career of finding ways to measure things
that other folks thought were immeasurable. Quality? The value of
telecommuting? The benefits of greater IT security? Public image?
He says it can be done―and without breaking the bank . . . If
you’d like to fare better in the project–approval wars, take a
look at this book.”
―ComputerWorld