Stephen Burd is an Associate Professor at the University of New Mexico, where he has been teaching courses in management information systems, networks, databases, and hardware/software since 1984. The author of more than seven top-selling textbooks for Course Technology and Cengage Learning, Dr. Burd brings significant strengths and industry knowledge to this text. He received his B.A. and M.A. from the University of Baltimore and his Ph.D. from Purdue University.