Dr. Langer's book and many articles reflect his valuable years of experience, as a manager of software projects, an educator in higher education, and a consultant to numerous companies. Dr. Langer's first book, The Art of Analysis, became a standard in the technology industry and has been adopted as a required text for course curricula at Columbia University. Below is a selection of chapters from Dr. Langer's new book, "Analysis and Design of Information Systems", which is being published by Springer-Verlag in 2001. You will also find a select number of articles on various topics. Both will be of interest to technology professionals and educators alike.

Book: Analysis and Design of Information Systems (Springer-Verlag, 2001)

In any software project, the analysis stage, documenting and designing user and technical requirements to meet the needs of the prospective users, is vital to the success of the project. This book provides a thorough introduction to all aspects of analysis, including the design of electronic commerce systems, and where it fits into the software engineering process.

This book is based on courses offered at Columbia University to a diverse audience of students and professionals. Throughout the author emphasizes the stages of analysis and identifies many alternative modeling tools that an analyst can use. Particular emphasis is placed on user interviewing, modeling tools, and approaches to building effective Web-based electronic commerce systems.

Table of Contents
The User Interface
Overview of Analysis Tools
Process Based Tools
Logic Data Modeling
Graphic User Interface Tools
Design Specification Tools
CASE and Automated Techniques
Object Oriented Techniques
Client/Server and Network Analysis
Internet/Intranet and Web Analysis
Documentation and Acceptance Testing
Business Process Re-Engineering
Concepts of ISO 9000 & Software Development Life Cycle

 

Book: Applied E-commerce: Analysis and Engineering for E-commerce Systems

The first practical guide for designing, analyzing, and developing successful Web-based delivery The demand for secure, reliable, user-friendly e-commence sites continues to rise exponentially, yet a high percentage of these projects fail. Why? Going right to the heart of what it means to set up and maintain a successful e-commence system, highly recognized information systems expert Arthur Langer walks readers step-by-step through all phases of e-commence development, from user analysis to the installation and testing of complex transactions. In addition to giving insight into brick-and-mortar IT systems and how to merge them with Web systems, Langer teaches readers how to design interfaces to legacy systems and databases, how to ensure reliability and security, and how to extract information from users, marketers, and consumers. (This book will be published in October, 2001)

 

Book: The Art of Analysis

In any software project the analysis stage - documenting and designing requirements to meet the needs of the prospective users - is vital to the success of the project. This book provides a thorough introduction to analysis and where it fits into the software engineering process. The author applies his many years of experience both as a manager of software projects and as a consultant to numerous companies to illustrate successful techniques and to identify potential pitfalls. The book is based on courses offered at Columbia University to a diverse audience of students and professionals. Throughout, the author is concerned to emphasize the stages of analysis and to identify many alternative modeling tools that an analyst can use. Particular emphasis is placed on Joint Application Development and on prototyping. Readers are assumed to have a reasonable understanding of computer concepts and terminology, and so this will be suitable for a first-level analysis course or it can be used by information systems professionals who need an in-depth understanding of the principles of the analysis and design process.

Articles:

Web Volunteers to the Rescue!
AlleyCat News, January 2001

The Tech Skills Program, sponsored by the New York City Housing Authority and the Urban Technology Center, brings high tech education to Harlem. The brainchild of Jack Smith (Harvard Alumni and current graduate student at Columbia University's Advanced Information Technology Management Program), and is mentored by Dr. Art Langer, the program trains Harlem residents in Web development and hardware repair. It is a channel for the program's participants --none of whom have any previous experience with technology -- to to enter the world of technology, providing them with skills needed to seek technology jobs. This article appeared in AlleyCat News, January 2001.

Fixing Bad Habits: Integrating Technology Personnel in the Workplace Using Reflective Practice
International Journal of Reflective Practice, Vol 2, No 1, 2001

The isolation of information technology professionals within their companies often prevents them from becoming active participants in the learning organization. This paper is a case study of the Information Technology (IT) department at Ravell Corporation (a pseudonym) in New York City. The author was retained as a consultant to improve the performance of the department and solve political problems. The IT department was isolated from the rest of the organization. The author undertook a programme to involve IT more fully with the various departments at Ravell and to foster the growth of a learning organization in which all departments could learn from one another using reflection and using reflection and reflective practices. IT staff were re-assigned and relocated to work in different areas of the business, and a mentoring programme was reflective practices were instituted to promote regular contact between IT and non-IT personnel. Through reflective discussions and attrition, values and changed values, and the IT organization became more fully integrated into the business. This integration also assisted in the creation of a learning organization at Ravell.

Confronting Theory: the Practice of Mentoring Non-Traditional Students at Empire State College
International Journal of Mentoring and Tutoring, Vol 9, No. 1, 2001

How does an institution define and establish the parameters of faculty mentoring? How do faculty mentors see the purposes and objectives of mentoring? The purpose of this paper is to present the results and conclusions derived from a study that examined how mentoring is practiced at SUNY Empire State College (ESC). The study was designed to address the research question: How do faculty at an institution that mandates mentoring of nontraditional students as part of its mission actually practice mentoring?

 

If you are interested in more information about Dr. Langer's written works, please contact Dr. Langer at (914) 261-6142. You can visit Dr. Langer's web site at alanger.com.