Bidgoli's new MIS 2010 textbook a gold mine

The long view of security strategies for your network.

Professor Hossein Bidgoli is a superstar of the information sciences. Not content with editing an outstanding series of handbooks and encyclopedias, he has now written a superb new contribution to management information systems. My friend and colleague Eddie Rabinovitch has a review of the work; everything below is Eddie's own text with minor edits.

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In my opinion, Hossein Bidgoli's MIS 2010 college textbook (ISBN 978-0-324-83008-8) is going to be the missing link in college education for our students by preparing them for real life applications of the computer science and systems engineering they have been studying for years.

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Professor Hossein Bidgoli is a superstar of the information sciences. Not content with editing an outstanding series of handbooks and encyclopedias, he has now written a superb new contribution to management information systems. My friend and colleague Eddie Rabinovitch has a review of the work; everything below is Eddie's own text with minor edits.

* * *

In my opinion, Hossein Bidgoli's MIS 2010 college textbook (ISBN 978-0-324-83008-8) is going to be the missing link in college education for our students by preparing them for real life applications of the computer science and systems engineering they have been studying for years.

This book should make management information systems (MIS) a fun subject because it is import in modern society and thanks to the wide variety of the auxiliary teaching aids, case studies, and interactive online study tools provided. And the author encourages his readers to provide instant feedback by using this Web site to reach him directly!

The first chapter provides an excellent overview of information systems, their usage in our daily life and implementation by different industries. However, this chapter is not all about the positive aspects of MIS: it also emphasizes the need of modern information systems for cybercrime protection. A special section here describes the infamous 2007 identity theft case in T.J. Maxx and Marshall stores.

• Each chapter in this book has an industry connection, referring to one of the most significant companies that contributed to development of information industry. The industry connection in Chapter 1 is to Microsoft and its case study is about utilization of information technology at FedEx.

• Chapter 2 focuses on the computer, its different components, peripheral devices and performance characteristics. Case study in this chapter is about Linux, which the author titled "An operating system on the rise". The industry connection in Chapter 2 is to IBM.

• Chapter 3 is dedicated to database management systems and the recent trends in data warehousing and data marts. There is a very interesting case study in this chapter discussing business intelligence. And the industry connection in this chapter is to Oracle.

• Chapter 4 focuses on some of the key characteristics of information systems: i.e. privacy, ethical as well as unethical and even criminal aspects. This chapter also deals with issues of privacy, censorship, data gathering by different Internet tools and techniques, as well as intellectual property and copyright laws. Industry connection in this chapter is with Anonymizer allowing anonymous Web browsing. Case study is about privacy and security breaches at Acxiom Corporation – the world's largest processor of consumer data.

• Chapter 5 is dedicated to security and protection of computer and network resources. It describes different types of cyber- threats and cyber-attacks as well as counter measures for protection. The case study in this chapter describes the infamous "Love Bug Virus" and its industry connection is to McAfee.

M. E. Kabay, PhD, CISSP-ISSMP, specializes in security and operations management consulting services and teaching. He is Chief Technical Officer of Adaptive Cyber Security Instruments, Inc. and Associate Professor of Information Assurance in the School of Business and Management at Norwich University. Visit his Web site for white papers and course materials.