Ebook: Finance for IT Decision Makers: A Practical Handbook for Buyers, Sellers and Managers

Purpose The purpose of this book is to explain to information technology (IT) decision makers those aspects of finance that most affect their work. Most IT decision makers belong in one of two categories. Some know a lot about IT, but less about finance; the others know a lot about finance, but less about IT. In my experience, those in the first category often have to make financial decisions. Those in the second also, of course, have to make financial decisions, but about things whose characteristics stretch the normal financial and accounting rules up to, and sometimes beyond, their elastic limit. Among the characteristics of IT that provide interesting challenges for financial people are the following: • The accelerating rate of change • The short and unpredictable useful life of IT assets • The mixture of hardware, software and services • Upgradability • Networks that cross country boundaries • IT jargon Asked what characteristics of finance provide interesting challenges for IT people, many of them would answer - "Everything". However, items in the following selection are often particular causes of wonder: • Leasing • Why financial models always shrink benefits but never costs • Being told that a company with a mountain of profit is about to fail through lack of cash • Discovering that their budget has been charged with £113 485.

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Finance for IT Decision Makers.- Decisions, Decisions ...- Financial Cases and Business Cases.- When is a Benefit Not a Benefit.- How Financial Cases are Evaluated (1).- How Financial Cases are Evaluated (2).- The Effects of Taxation.- IT Leasing (1).- IT Leasing (2).- IT Aspects of Depreciation and Budgets.- Finance Fundamentals in a Nutshell.- Finance Fundamentals - bringing it together.- Finance Fundamentals - pulling it apart.- Appendices.- Discount Tables.- Glossary of Financial Terms.- Lease Accounting Rules.- Software Tax Rules.- The UK VAT Capital Goods Scheme.- Bibliography.- ProForma Answer Sheets.

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Finance for IT Decision Makers.- Decisions, Decisions ...- Financial Cases and Business Cases.- When is a Benefit Not a Benefit.- How Financial Cases are Evaluated (1).- How Financial Cases are Evaluated (2).- The Effects of Taxation.- IT Leasing (1).- IT Leasing (2).- IT Aspects of Depreciation and Budgets.- Finance Fundamentals in a Nutshell.- Finance Fundamentals - bringing it together.- Finance Fundamentals - pulling it apart.- Appendices.- Discount Tables.- Glossary of Financial Terms.- Lease Accounting Rules.- Software Tax Rules.- The UK VAT Capital Goods Scheme.- Bibliography.- ProForma Answer Sheets.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-x
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Decisions, Decisions....Pages 3-18
Financial Cases and Business Cases....Pages 19-28
When is a Benefit not a Benefit?....Pages 29-49
How Financial Cases are Evaluated — Part 1....Pages 51-65
How Financial Cases are Evaluated — Part 2....Pages 67-82
The Effects of Taxation....Pages 83-97
IT Leasing — Part 1....Pages 99-110
IT Leasing — Part 2....Pages 111-125
IT Aspects of Depreciation and Budgets....Pages 127-135
Front Matter....Pages 137-137
Finance Fundamentals -Bringing it Together....Pages 139-160
Finance Fundamentals — Pulling it Apart....Pages 161-177
Back Matter....Pages 179-214

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Finance for IT Decision Makers.- Decisions, Decisions ...- Financial Cases and Business Cases.- When is a Benefit Not a Benefit.- How Financial Cases are Evaluated (1).- How Financial Cases are Evaluated (2).- The Effects of Taxation.- IT Leasing (1).- IT Leasing (2).- IT Aspects of Depreciation and Budgets.- Finance Fundamentals in a Nutshell.- Finance Fundamentals - bringing it together.- Finance Fundamentals - pulling it apart.- Appendices.- Discount Tables.- Glossary of Financial Terms.- Lease Accounting Rules.- Software Tax Rules.- The UK VAT Capital Goods Scheme.- Bibliography.- ProForma Answer Sheets.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-x
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Decisions, Decisions....Pages 3-18
Financial Cases and Business Cases....Pages 19-28
When is a Benefit not a Benefit?....Pages 29-49
How Financial Cases are Evaluated — Part 1....Pages 51-65
How Financial Cases are Evaluated — Part 2....Pages 67-82
The Effects of Taxation....Pages 83-97
IT Leasing — Part 1....Pages 99-110
IT Leasing — Part 2....Pages 111-125
IT Aspects of Depreciation and Budgets....Pages 127-135
Front Matter....Pages 137-137
Finance Fundamentals -Bringing it Together....Pages 139-160
Finance Fundamentals — Pulling it Apart....Pages 161-177
Back Matter....Pages 179-214
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