Acknowledgments
I owe a profound debt of thanks to many people:
- My wife Cath for her unswerving support while I worked on this book, and my younger children Oscar and Penny, who have had to tolerate my frequent absences.
- My colleagues at FICO, for indulging me in the implementation of these ideas, helping to promote them in the industry, and being such good company when working on-site.
- All the clients on many projects, from whom I have learned so much, for giving me their trust and hospitality and making this work so thoroughly enjoyable.
- My friend Roger Farmer, for useful advice, a shot of confidence, and too many shots of tequila.
- James Taylor, for his support, his fount of knowledge, and for kindly agreeing to provide the Foreword.
- Paul Konnersman, for engaging in lengthy correspondence on approaches to decision automation, and allowing me to cite his work, even though he doesn't entirely agree with me.
- My late father, for teaching me how to think about systems. I miss arguing with him.
I am sketching this introduction in the brick-arched cellars of Jazzland, the oldest jazz club in Vienna. I'm eating cevapcici; drinking Austrian beer; and watching Vincent Herring on sax, Danny Grisset on piano, Markus Schieferdecker on bass, and Joris Dudli on drums: all astonishing musicians and a seriously cool crew. I must confess, I am extraordinarily privileged to be able to work in an interesting field, doing a job I love, with intelligent clients and colleagues, in beautiful places. ...
