Technology Paradise Lost
Why Companies Will Spend Less to Get More from Information Technology
Erik Keller

April 2004, Hardbound, 264 pages
ISBN 1932394133

Debunking many of today’s myths about the future prospects and growth of information technology, this book uses a variety of well-accepted economic, technological, and market data to conclude that corporate information technology spending is poised to shrink. Companies will not slow their use of IT, the books explains, but all aspects of IT will become much less expensive, thus putting a halt to the phenomenal growth of the past decade.

The book argues that over the next three to five years, the same price/performance gains enjoyed by hardware manufacturers will be seen in software, external services, and labor spending. The author outlines the reasons for these changes—factors such as open-source software, strategies of the big software companies, offshoring of labor and services, new software tools to better manage IT assets, and the Internet.

The author also contends that IT buyers have become much more savvy and will be spending less to get more. Both buyers and sellers of information technology will find especially useful the book’s “survival guides”—strategies to help them prepare for this long-term change in growth.

Additional information and sample material from Technology Paradise Lost is available from the publisher. This book may be ordered from the publisher as well as from amazon.com .

"A thought leader describes a new way of thinking about
technology spending."
Charles Phillips, President, Oracle Corporation

"A sober account of the high-tech binge. . .Mr. Keller draws
the right management lesson that technlogy knowledge is not
as important as operational capabilities"
Wall Street Journal

"One of the more important books you'll read. . .clear-headed and
sane. . .{it} has a higher intelligence-per-dollar quota than anything
we've come across in a long time."
SoftwareCEO.com

"A must read for business managers, CIOs and sellers of technology who are
searching for practical ways to succeed in the new operating environment."
Marvin J. Balliet, First Vice President, Merrill Lynch & Co.

"documents why 'the age of experimentation' is over ... [and IT] must go
through its own painful process of restructuring and consolidation. ..Keller
is an expert and insightful guide to this critical and inescapable process."
William Janeway, Vice Chairman, Warburg Pincus

"An insightful look at the foundational challenge IT will confront in the
years ahead ... shows how to transform IT from a money pit to a
business-based value add."
Toby Redshaw, Corporate Vice President, Information Technology, Motorola

"... argues convincingly that power has forever shifted from technology
sellers to buyers and offers each a roadmap ... a must-read for anyone in
the technology economy, affected by the future of IT."
Tony Friscia, President and CEO, AMR Research, Inc.

"Keller confronts the lack of financial discipline and accountability in IT
with hard-hitting analysis AND pragmatic strategies..."
Bryan Stolle, CEO and Chairman of the Board, Agile Software Corp.

"Dispensing with the idea that the market will go back to normal,
Keller argues persuasively that we're seeing a permanent, structural change.
One of the best business-oriented information management books I've read."
David F. Carr, Senior Technology Analyst, Baseline Magazine

"an extremely accurate picture of IT history and its implications on
future IT spending ... provides a wealth of information and tips for both
buyers and sellers, and makes informed predictions the investment community
should value as well."
Carl Dill, former CIO of AOL/Time-Warner

“For executives who understand the importance of smart technology buys, and
who are looking for tips on how to get the most from those investments – this
is the book they should be reading."
Gary Beach, Publisher, CIO Magazine.