English | EN 
I had the opportunity to review a pre-publication version of Peter Thompson’s Defining Digital Solutions, a few months back and it is a standout contribution to the field of digital transformation and solution delivery. Comprehensive, clearly structured, and highly practical, this book offers both strategic direction and tactical guidance for anyone involved in defining, delivering, or managing digital solutions. It is especially valuable for business analysts, IT professionals, enterprise architects, and decision-makers navigating the evolving digital landscape.
Peter’s work is notable for its comprehensive approach. The book establishes a solid foundation from the outset by explaining what digital solutions are, how they differ from conventional IT implementations, and why they are essential to the success of modern businesses. Whilst laying the groundwork for a deeper exploration of more complex topics, the early chapters offer clarity for beginners. Particularly noteworthy is the way the book presents digital solutions within a structured lifecycle, enabling organisations to approach transformation methodically and with confidence.
Setting the broader context, the book’s first section addresses important topics such as strategic sourcing decisions, alignment with business change lifecycles, and investment justification. For those seeking executive sponsorship or stakeholder alignment, Peter’s advice on building a business case is invaluable, grounded as it is in real-world challenges.
The book provides a balanced analysis of off-the-shelf versus bespoke systems when acquiring or developing digital solutions, clearly outlining trade-offs to help readers make well-informed, long-term decisions. Peter’s treatment of software development approaches—especially Agile—is detailed yet accessible, demystifying terminology and practices that often hinder effective adoption for teams opting for bespoke solutions.
The book truly excels in its coverage of requirements engineering and system modelling. Agile practitioners will particularly benefit from the focus on prioritisation, backlog management, and key Agile concepts like story points and velocity. The modelling section is equally strong, promoting good design and traceability through a three-view approach: functional, data, and dynamic.
The final section on supporting software tools is both timely and practical. Rather than simply listing tools, Peter explains their role and how they integrate into the wider development process. It’s a vendor-neutral, clearly structured guide for teams aiming to enhance their tooling strategy.
Anyone serious about digital transformation should read Defining Digital Solutions. Peter Thompson has produced a thorough, expertly written guide that bridges the gap between technical implementation and business goals. I strongly recommend this book to professionals at all levels who want to lead successful digital initiatives.