People like you and me should read this book. Although covering a leading edge area of the IT industry this book is not a technical guide, nor was it ever intended to be.  

This book is aimed squarely at the Independent Software Vendor (ISV) who is considering Force.com as a route to market their software offerings. Alternatively you could be part of a corporate IT department looking to deliver solutions more quickly for your business users. You have many of the same issues as the ISV, but from a slightly different perspective. This book is intended to be a catalyst for action aimed at a range of people inside and outside your organization. Here are just a few, and why it is relevant to them:

 

Chief Executive Officer 

 

As CEO you are responsible for the overall performance of the business. That means setting the business strategy. You are probably watching with interest the debate around Cloud Computing as a term, and in particular the growing interest in the Force.com platform.  

 

If you are heading up an ISV you can bet that your customers are looking at it as an option to increase availability, increase flexibility or reduce cost.

Understanding the Smart Questions will allow you to formulate your strategy to migrate your solutions into the Cloud. 

 

Chief Executive Officer of a start-up

 

You are probably looking at Force.com as a way of getting to market quickly and effectively. Is it the right long term strategy? What are the risks inherent in this strategy?  Will it support or hamper your speed to market and your longer term growth?   

 

This book will help you ask the Smart Questions, because if you don’t it may cost you the company. 

 

Chief Technical Officer

 

You have seen several technology fads come and go. You have already created a plan to move your products to the Cloud and have considered Force.com as a conduit. What is the best design to take advantage of Force.com? What are the issues with developing on a proprietary platform and how do you mitigate those risks?

 

Asking the Smart Questions will help you assess whether Force.com is the right platform.

 

Chief Information Officer / Chief Technical Officer of a corporation

 

You have formulated a strategy which sets out how IT supports the changing needs of your business organization. Does Force.com change that and make you tear it up and start over – or does it support it? 

 

Although this book highlights all the issues that an ISV may face, several of them may still be relevant to you. 

 

Head of Development

 

You deliver stable software as regular controlled releases. It’s not always exciting. You are not paid to be exciting. You’re paid to be calm and collected. Is Force.com going to change that, and how? What are the issues with developing on Force.com and how do you plan around them?

 

This book will help you understand what is required, and how you can benefit from Force.com.

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

Everyone claims that Force.com will reduce the cost of ownership of the products. Is that true or are there hidden costs? Are the risks of being tied to salesforce.com outweighed by the benefits? What are the cash flow and funding implications?

 

This book will give you a sound understanding of the areas to question.

 

Investor

 

So you’ve invested in an interesting company who is now embarking on a strategy based on Force.com. Is it a clever move or the beginning of the end? How do you evaluate their business plans and budgets? How can you offer the best advice and support?

 

This book offers the Smart Questions you need to ask to help you assess the impact of Force.com.