How to measure anything : finding the value of "intangibles" in business

Book

How to measure anything : finding the value of "intangibles" in business / Douglas W. Hubbard.

Hubbard, Douglas W., 1962- (Author).

Summary:

"Anything can be measured. This bold assertion is the key to solving many problems in business and life in general. The myth that certain things can't be measured is a significant drain on our nation's economy, public welfare, the environment, and even national security. In fact, the chances are good that some part of your life or your professional responsibilities is greatly harmed by a lack of measurement--by you, your firm, or even your government. Building up from simple concepts to illustrate the hands-on yet intuitively easy application of advanced statistical techniques, 'How to Measure Anything, Second Edition' reveals the power of measurement in our understanding of business at the world at large. This insightful and engaging book shows you how to measure those things in your business that, until now, you may have considered "immeasurable," including technology ROI, organizational flexibility, customer satisfaction, and technology risk. Offering examples that will get you to attempt measurements--even when it seems impossible--this book provides you with the substantive steps for measuring anything, especially uncertainty and risk.

Record details

ISBN: 9780470539392 (cloth)
ISBN: 0470539399 (cloth)
Physical Description: xv, 304 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.
Edition: 2nd ed.
Publisher: Hoboken, N.J. : Wiley, c2010.

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Formatted Contents Note:: Section I. Measurement: the solution exits. Intangibles and the challenge ; An intuitive measurement habit : Eratosthenes, Enrico, and Emily ; The illusion of intangibles : why immeasurables aren't -- Section II. Before you measure. Clarifying the measurement problem ; Calibrated estimates : how much do you know now? ; Measuring risk through modeling ; Measuring the value of information -- Section III. Measurement methods. The transition : from what to measure to how to measure ; Sampling reality: how observing some things tells us about all things ; Bayes : adding to what you know now -- Section IV. Beyond the basics. Preference and attitudes : the softer side of measurement ; The ultimate measurement instrument : human judges ; New measurement instruments for management ; A universal measurement methods : applied information economics -- Appendix: Calibration tests (and their answers).