I am really turned off by hyperbole as far as book reviews are concerned. I have encountered the word “awesome” to the point of nausea in many, but I now find myself using the same accolades for this book by Douglas Laney. It is excellent and I feel that it may become a paradigm for anyone concerned with the three “Ms” of information: the monetization, management, and measurement of data as information.

Laney has not only done his homework; he has created homework for all of us to study in this burgeoning field. His documentation and thorough insight is “awesome” (there I go!). Each section of the book (there are three) reminds one of Holst’s Planets suite--you don’t think the next part could get any better and yet it does!

As stated, there are three parts to the book. In Part 1, Laney lays out the master plan: mobilizing information as an asset. It is divided into four chapters: the whys, ways, and methods for monetization, and a chapter on analytics. Part 2 discusses managing information as an asset. Its four chapters include information supply chains, leveraging information, and applying asset management for improved information maturity. Part 3 concludes with five chapters on measuring information as an asset. There are two appendices: the challenges of infonomics, and “Sample Legal Rulings Related to Information Property Rights” (the more important of the two as far as I’m concerned).

Whether you are involved directly or indirectly with the field of infonomics, my suggestion would be to obtain this book as soon as possible and use it as a chief reference work in your library.

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