Everyone, it seems, is tempted by the prospect of becoming better than they already are. "You, too, can become rich and famous!" the television commercials tell us, and we watch to see what's required in order to accomplish the transformation. "You, too, can transform your IT organization into a world-class IT organization!" the trade magazine tells the CIO, and there's a good chance that he or she will pay attention to see what combination of technology, processes, and peopleware strategies will accomplish the transformation.

Yes, the commercials and advertisements do exaggerate the situation sometimes, and the sad reality is that some of us will never be rich, beautiful, or "world class" no matter how hard we try. But for many others, the goal does seem achievable, and in addition to seeking "generic" advice on how to succeed, many of us are interested in case studies of real individuals -- and, in the case of world-class IT organizations, real companies -- that have succeeded in their quest.