How to Measure Anything: Finding the Value of Intangibles in Business [Hardcover]

"Now, performance measures can be defined for even the most difficult problems. Doug Hubbard′s book is a marvelous tutorial on how to define sound metrics to justify and manage complex programs. It is a must read for anyone concerned about mitigating the risks involved with Capital Planning, Investment Decisions and Program Management."
—Jim Flyzik, former Government CIO, White House Technology Advisor and CIO Magazine Hall of Fame Inductee

Praise from How to Measure Anything, First Edition

"I love this book. Douglas Hubbard helps us create a path to know the answer to almost any question, in business, in science or in life...Hubbard helps us by showing us that when we seek metrics to solve problems, we are really trying to know something ′better than we know it now,′ to put something into context, to find insight to help us get our jobs done, to be more successful, to discover things, or to build things. How to Measure Anything provides just the tools most of us need to measure anything better, to gain that insight, to make progress, and to succeed."
—Peter Tippett, Ph.D., M.D., Chief Technology Officer at CyberTrust and inventor of the first antivirus software

"Interestingly written and full of case studies and rich examples, Hubbard′s book is a valuable resource for those who routinely make decisions involving uncertainty. This book is readable and quite entertaining, and even those who consider themselves averse to statistics may find it highly approachable."
—Strategic Finance

"Hubbard has made a career of finding ways to measure things that other folks thought were immeasurable. Quality? The value of telecommuting? The risk of IT project failure? the benefits of greater IT security? Public image? He says it can be done—and without breaking the bank.... If you′d like to fare better in the project–approval wars, take a look at this book."
—ComputerWorld, August 2007

"I use this book as a primary reference for my measurement class at MIT. The students love it because it provides practical advice that can be applied to a variety of scenarios; from aerospace & defense, healthcare, politics, etc."
—Ricardo Valerdi, PhD, Lecturer, MIT

"This book is remarkable in its range of measurement applications and its clarity of style. A must–read for every professional who has ever exclaimed, ′Sure, that concept is important, but can we measure it?′
—Dr. Jack Stenner, Cofounder and CEO of MetaMetrics, Inc.

Now updated with new research and even more intuitive explanations, a demystifying explanation of how managers can inform themselves to make less risky, more profitable business decisions

This insightful and eloquent book will show you how to measure those things in your own business that, until now, you may have considered "immeasurable," including customer satisfaction, organizational flexibility, technology risk, and technology ROI.

• Adds even more intuitive explanations of powerful measurement methods and shows how they can be applied to areas such as risk management and customer satisfaction
• Continues to boldly assert that any perception of "immeasurability" is based on certain popular misconceptions about measurement and measurement methods
• Shows the common reasoning for calling something immeasurable, and sets out to correct those ideas
• Offers practical methods for measuring a variety of "intangibles"
• Adds recent research, especially in regards to methods that seem like measurement, but are in fact a kind of "placebo effect" for management – and explains how to tell effective methods from management mythology

Written by recognized expert Douglas Hubbard–creator of Applied Information Economics–How to Measure Anything, Second Edition illustrates how the author has used his approach across various industries and how any problem, no matter how difficult, ill defined, or uncertain can lend itself to measurement using proven methods.