SAP: Inside the Secret Sortware Power
Author: Gerd Meissner, Jurgen Ulrich Lorenz
List Price: $24.95
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ISBN: 0071347852
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Trade (11 March, 2000)
Sales Rank: 49,620
Average Customer Rating: 4.17 out of 5
Customer Reviews
Rating: 4 out of 5
Intriguing. But incomplete.
It's true that this work by journalist Gerd Meissner is a thrilling look under the skirt of an otherwise secretive technology empire. SAP is reknown for its closed-door policy, to the frustration of enterprise applications developers everywhere.
But SAP's decision to embrace "Inside the Secret Software Power" should tell you something about the focus of this book: the company's recent blunders do not appear; nor is their disasterous attempts to forge an R/3 alternative with Intel. Still, the writing is compelling, and if Herr Meissner writes a followup, I'll be first in line to buy a copy.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Great background of an important company -- and a good read!
Meissner presents an interesting and balanced history of SAP. While this book will teach you little about the R/3 software, it will provide great insight into the people and culture that created and support R/3.The history of the 5 co-founders and the interplay of the 5 throughout the initial stages of the company and the development of R/2 and R/3 are fascinating.
Meissner provides insight into the ever-changing relationships of SAP with the press and the industry analysts. He also explains the role of major, influential customers in the ongoing development of SAP's products.
My only disappointment with the book was the relatively little information about SAP developments since late 1996, early 1997 when the book was originally written.
Otherwise, a smart investment for anyone involved with SAP R/3, contemplating an SAP implementation, and for anyone who simply likes a good story.
Rating: 4 out of 5
SAP- soup to nuts
As editor of www.searchSAP.com, I am always looking for a greater understanding of the company and its success. This book was a fun read. A great view of the roots of SAP. I loved the story about the founders, who had no computer of their own in 1972, traveling to use other companies computers. While I wonder if some of this is slightly exaggerated. I still loved discovering the quirky fivesome who founded the software giant. Similar Products
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