Business, Finance & Law Books
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Macroeconomic Policy: Demystifying Monetary and
Book SynopsisThis book is an applications-oriented text designed for individuals who desire a hands-on approach to analyzing the effects of fiscal and monetary policies. Significantly updated for the fourth edition, the text provides an understanding of the global economy in the wake of the COVID crisis, discussing topics such as pandemic related supply and demand-side shocks, the role of Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) in financing COVID rescue plans, the effect of the US, India, Eurozone and China’s post-COVID economies on emerging and transitioning economies, and the resurgence of inflation. This edition includes deeper coverage on the issue of budget deficit sustainability and on trade wars, especially in a global context, and revisits the life cycles of speculative asset price (SAP) bubbles, especially in the housing markets and in SPACs. The fourth edition contains several brand-new cases and media articles that are carefully positioned to relate explicitly to theory, and to look ahead to and preempt global macro situations and polices in the years to come. MBA students and Executive MBA students who appreciate the importance of monetary and fiscal analysis will find this text to be right on target. Financial analysts and individual investors who need to strip away economic myths and jargon and systematically examine and understand the effects of macro policies on variables such as inflation, output, employment and interest rates, will also find the book extremely useful.Table of ContentsChapter 1. Introduction and Overview of the Fourth Edition.- Chapter 2. National Income Accounts.- Chapter 3. Budget Deficits, Trade Deficits and Global Capital Flows: The National Savings Identity.- Chapter 4. Aggregate Demand: Setting the Stage for Demand-Side Stabilization.- Chapter 5. Demand-Side Stabilization: Overheating, Hard Landing, and Everything in Between.- Chapter 6. Long-Term Interest Rates, the Yield Curve, and Hyperinflation.- Chapter 7. ISLM: The Engine Room.- Chapter 8. The Classical Model.- Chapter 9. The Keynesian Model.- Chapter 10. The Supply-Side Model and the New Economy.- Chapter 11. After Covid: MMT and other Major Global Macropolicy Issues.- Chapter 12. Central Banks and Monetary Policy.
£71.24
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Making the Global Economy Work for Everyone:
Book SynopsisThe Covid-19 pandemic has revealed the weaknesses of globalisation, exposed the fragility of the current growth model, and accelerated the ongoing tech revolution. This book is an in-depth analysis of these weaknesses and fragilities in the context of sustainability. Economist Marco Magnani suggests the possibility of pursuing a more balanced, environmentally and socially sustainable growth while defusing today’s apocalyptic alarmism about climate change, energy and demographic constraints, and the future of work. To make the global economy work for everyone.Table of ContentsChapter 1: Innovation: engine of economic growth (and employment).- Chapter 2: The technological revolution: The rise of machines.- Chapter 3: The technological revolution: professions at risk and new jobs.- Chapter 4: Constraints to economic growth: Sustainability, happiness and other issues.- Chapter 5: New jobs or technological unemployment?.- Chapter 6: Many proposals, few resources: The difficult choices for the future of labour.- Chapter 7: Human beings at the centre as "shareholders" of development.- Chapter 8: Ye were not made to live with the virus: Lessons from the pandemic.
£22.49
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Women, Migration and Gendered Experiences: The
Book SynopsisThis open access book focuses on Albanian internal and international female migration and places gender at the heart of postsocialist transformation. It explores the vulnerabilities that arise for female citizens from the contradictory policies produced by the Albanian state. By illuminating the intersection of gender and migration, it shows how Albanian women are likely to embed themselves in complex social relations and migration trajectories. By focusing on various cases – internal, international, return, economic and student female migrants – the book underlines that migration does not follow any kind of evolutionary development, according to which women go from 'traditional’ to ‘modern' gender relations. By providing a compelling account on the complex negotiations and tactics women employ to deal with gender inequalities, this book leads to a better understanding of gender and migration entanglements. It is a useful read to students, academics in migration and gender studies as well as social scientists and policy-makers in European countries.Table of ContentsChapter 1. Introduction.- Chapter 2. Theoretical Framework.- Chapter 3. Albanian Context.- Chapter 4. Returned, Yet Still Not Back: the ‘Status Paradox’ of International Female Migrants Returning to Albania.- Chapter 5. Education as a Platform for Migration – Young Women Migrating to the ‘Big City’ on Their Own.- Chapter 6. International Student Returnees—Nowhere at Home.- Chapter 7. Conclusions.
£26.24
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Creating a Customer Experience-Centric Startup: A
Book SynopsisThis book explains how startups and brands in general can achieve a high level of customer experience (CX) in today's dynamic and competitive times. A well-structured and easy to apply customer experience framework defines customer experience as the start and end point of all business activities. The framework steps and tools (such as NPS, Empathy Map, Customer Journey, Golden Circle, Design Thinking, A/B-Testing) are designed to have a maximum impact on successful company building and the customer experience, which is key to generate first and repeat buyers that become fans of the company. The tools originate from different disciplines, such as management, design, digitisation or psychology – as only an interdisciplinary approach enables superior insights for initiating the right customer activities in today's highly competitive times. With this book, it is possible to look at customer experience systematically and derive your own strategy towards success. The following are the main contributions of this book: · Provides a clear step-by-step guide to create a customer experience-centric company · Introduces most impactful tools that managers can use to successfully complete every step of our framework · Guides managers through the process of creating a start-up, which is less about magically coming up with innovative business ideas, but rather about applying proven principles in a new contextTable of Contents1. Introduction.- 2. Concept, Relevance and Management of CX.- 3. Starting a Start-Up.- 4. Understanding The Outside World: Customers & The Surrounding Environment.- 5. Outside-In: Defining the CX-Centric Business DNA—The Why, How, and What of a Start-Up.- 6. Inside-Out: Testing, Implementation and Communication of Customer Experience-Centric Experience Elements.- 7. Future Considerations.
£22.49
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Audit Defense: A Management Audit Readiness Guide
Book SynopsisMost university undergraduate and graduate audit classes are geared towards educating prospective auditors but do not provide education for those who will be audit clients and subjected to audits. Future audit clients need to be educated as well as future auditors to ensure that there is a level playing field. Those being audited do not receive the same level of formal education as internal auditors– most client education occurs during the audit itself. The client, once subjected to an audit and faced with the consequences of a failed audit, will learn via trial and error. If left unprepared, managers can suffer financial losses and promotional setbacks; the preparation and education that is needed to be audit ready is lacking. Of interest to accounting, finance or business students and entry-level practitioners, this book provides the audit education and preparation that has been missing. It shows how to interface with auditors, helping to identify issues, exposures and risks, and adequately position current and future managers to achieve successful audits. The book also provides mock audit simulation exercises to further prepare prospective audit clients. Table of Contents1. Objectives, Focus and Description of the Text.- Section I: Corporate Governance and the Audit Process.- 2. Responsibilities, Regulations, Control Frameworks.- 3. The Audit Beginning.- 4. Audit Field Work.- 5. Audit Conclusion.- Section II: Controls Overview .- 6.Types of Audits and Categories of Controls.- 7. Administrative Controls Established by Audit Clients.- 8. Physical Controls that Provide Safeguards.- 9. System and Application Access Controls.- 10. Enterprise Operational Controls.- 11. Separation of Duties.- 12. Application Controls.- 13. Recent Challenges.- Section III: Pro-active Measures.- 14. Identification of Exposures and Issues.- 15. Risk Management.- 16. Testing.- Section IV: Mock Audits.- 17. Preparation Steps for Mock Audits Roles.- 18. Mock Audit Field Work.- 19. Mock Audit Field Work.
£49.49
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Hidden Champions in the Chinese Century: Ascent
Book Synopsis“Hidden Champions” are medium-sized, unknown companies with annual revenues under $5 billion that have quietly, under the radar, become world market leaders in their respective industries. In this new instalment to his worldwide bestselling Hidden Champions volumes, Hermann Simon takes readers on in-depth exploration of the ever changing operating conditions and the greater uncertainty and volatility that defines the global business sphere over the next ten years. In particular, in this book he focuses on China’s continued impact on the business world since its rise in the global business and economic sphere over recent decades. In this regard, Dr. Simon shows the reader how the current status evolved, and then offers concrete and actionable recommendations. New driving forces such as digitalization, business ecosystems and sustainability receive special attention. While the main focus is on companies in German-speaking countries as they comprise 56 percent of the world’s Hidden Champions, the success factors mentioned in this book can be applied globally to mid-sized companies in other regions as they strive to become global market leaders. Whether a company is a “Hidden Champion”, aspires to be one, or wants to emulate their success model, Dr. Simon’s new book provides essential food for thought as executives and managers chart their course into the future.Table of ContentsPart I: The Concept and its Reception.- Chapter 1. A Brief History of the Hidden Champions.- Chapter 2. Hidden Champions and Export Success.- Chapter 3. Hidden Champions: The Definition. Chapter 4. Why Are There Hidden Champions?.- Chapter 5. Reception of the Hidden Champions Concept.- Part II: The Ascent of the Hidden Champions.- Chapter 6. Hidden Champions Worldwide.- Chapter 7. German Hidden Champions.- Chapter 8. Austrian and Swiss Hidden Champions.- Chapter 9. Decades of Ascent.- Chapter 10. Why Are There so Many Hidden Champions in Germany?.- Part III: The New Game of Globalization.- Chapter 11. On Rough Roads to Globalia.- Chapter 12. Quo Vadis Globalia? Population and Economy.- Chapter 13. Quo Vadis Globalia? Dynamic Framework.- Chapter 14. Target Market America.- Chapter 15. Target Market China.- Part IV: The New Game of Transformative Forces.- Chapter 16. Business Ecosystems.- Chapter 17. Digitalization.- Chapter 18. Sustainability.- Chapter 19. Innovation.- Part V: The New Game of Strategy.- Chapter 20. Ambition.- Chapter 21. Focus.- Chapter 22. Depth.- Chapter 23. Customers.- Chapter 24. Competition.- Chapter 25. Organization.- Chapter 26. Profit and Finance.- Chapter 27. Employees and Leaders.- Chapter 28. The Future of the Hidden Champions.
£33.24
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Economics of Power Systems
Book SynopsisThis book describes the latest microeconomic concepts and operations research (OR) techniques needed to comprehend the design and operation of power markets, as well as the actions of their agents: producers, consumers, operators, and regulators. This is critical when it comes to addressing a constantly evolving power system environment that incorporates an increasing number of no-marginal-cost renewable sources, increasingly competitive storage facilities, increasingly responsive demands, and widespread communication channels that allow distributed decision-making. Such evolving environments call for a re-examination of the microeconomic concepts and OR techniques required by graduate students and practitioners in the electric energy field. This accessible, tutorial-style book features numerous illustrative examples to help readers grasp the economic concepts and OR procedures used by power market professionals. The authors explian these concepts and procedures and present a vision of a renewable-dominated marketplace. Each chapter also includes exercises.Table of Contents1. Demand.- 2. Supply.- 3. Market Clearing.- 4. Marginal Pricing.- 5. Market Power.- 6. Environmental Externalities.- 7. Investment.
£59.99
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Germany: Geographies of Complexity
Book SynopsisThis book addresses the highly differentiated spatial, social, cultural and demographic structure(s) of Germany, with a particular focus on the reciprocal relations between different levels of spatial development. The historical development of Germany serves as a background in order to provide context for the development of spatially relevant ideas and ideals (whether in relation to politics, landscape, or culture). In this regard, questions of divergence and convergence become highly salient. The book makes the complexity of spatial and social developments in Germany comprehensible. The neopragmatic approach adopted here allows bringing together different theoretical strands while providing a basis for independent regional geographic research at the same time. Beginning with an overview of the physical structures of Germany which provides the material point of departure for the societal development of Germany, key aspects of the German history are discussed. Particular attention is paid to the reciprocal influence between material substrate and notions of landscape. Here, specific ‘German’ trajectories of aesthetic and normative conceptions of landscape become clear. A common theme throughout the book are questions of divergence and of efforts towards convergence, which become evident when considering past and present economic, political, and demographic developments. Efforts to tackle current challenges, such as adapting to climate change and mitigating it, or securing raw materials, also become apparent. The complexity of spatial processes in Germany is illustrated in case study regions dealing with the challenges of structural change in traditional industrial regions (such as the Ruhr area), or e.g. efforts of Berlin to position and find itself as the capital of a unified Germany. Overall, the book shows how theory-driven regional geographic research can make spatiotemporal complexities tangible and comprehensible.Table of ContentsChapter 1. Introduction: Geographies of Complexity.- Chapter 2. Theoretical Framework of a Geography of Germany.- Chapter 3. The Physical Framework.- Chapter 4. Historical Developments – Aspects of German Division and Unification.- Chapter 5. Landscape Developments.- Chapter 6. Spatial Developments in Germany: Persistences, New Differences, and the Effort for Unity.- Chapter 7. Geographies of Complexity and their clarification.- Chapter 8. Regional Development.- Chapter 9. Résumé.- Index.
£37.86
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Control Problems for Conservation Laws with
Book SynopsisConservation and balance laws on networks have been the subject of much research interest given their wide range of applications to real-world processes, particularly traffic flow. This open access monograph is the first to investigate different types of control problems for conservation laws that arise in the modeling of vehicular traffic. Four types of control problems are discussed - boundary, decentralized, distributed, and Lagrangian control - corresponding to, respectively, entrance points and tolls, traffic signals at junctions, variable speed limits, and the use of autonomy and communication. Because conservation laws are strictly connected to Hamilton-Jacobi equations, control of the latter is also considered. An appendix reviewing the general theory of initial-boundary value problems for balance laws is included, as well as an appendix illustrating the main concepts in the theory of conservation laws on networks. Table of ContentsIntroduction.- Boundary Control.- Decentralized Control.- Distributed Control.- Lagrangian Control.- Hamilton-Jacobi Equations.- Appendix A: Balance Laws with Boundary.- Conservation Laws on Networks.
£26.24
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Cambridge Economics in the Post-Keynesian Era: The Eclipse of Heterodox Traditions
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£999.99
Springer Nature Switzerland AG The Political Economy of Post-COVID Life and Work
Book SynopsisThis edited volume highlights cascading effects of the pandemic and lockdown on informal economies of varied countries in the Global South. Uneven development after colonization, imperialism, and externally influenced conflict have caused many countries in the formally colonized or semi-occupied countries in the world to lag behind in wealth accumulation, investments in manufacturing, and technology. The fact that these countries were dragged into world market dynamics on an equal footing with already developed countries exacerbated these inequalities and saw the rapid burgeoning of informal economies. COVID-19 and the lockdown of western countries unravelled global production chains, resulting in hordes of workers in the Global South losing their livelihoods. Even people engaged in traditionally locally-bound economic activities, such as domestic work and sex work, found their livelihoods disappear. This volume brings together case studies from India, Brazil, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka to analyze global economic disruptions as they affected informal sector workers who were already largely invisible within state development policies. The chapters question whether existing models of neoliberal development are still conducive within the post-pandemic Global South as it grapples with rebuilding economies, livelihoods, institutions, and systems of governance. Table of ContentsCh 1: IntroductionCh 2: Women Construction Workers and Human Security under Covid 19Ch 3: Health Securitization and Sexually Precarious Labor in India under Covid 19Ch 4: International Migration in India under Covid-19Ch 5: Occupational Health and Accountability for Sri Lanka's Global Factory Workers under Covid 19Ch 6: The Bangladeshi Garments Industry and Covid 19Ch 7: Working Conditions and labor at Wal-Mart Brazil under Covid 19Ch 8: Shock Responsive Social Protection Schemes for Vulnerable Communities in NE India during Covid 19Ch 9: Conclusion
£52.49
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Monetary Unions: Institutions and Policies
Book SynopsisThis textbook explains the notion of monetary union, highlighting the key concepts, procedures, and challenges involved. The book is organized in three parts. In the first part, the reader learns about monetary issues, like definitions and typology of monetary unions, rationale of monetary unions, monetary policy, monetary institutional matters. The second part is devoted to fiscal matters and the interplay between fiscal and monetary policies, such as deficits, transfers, public debt sustainability issues, fiscal policy, policy mix. The last part focuses on other distinct but related issues, necessary to complete the union: banking and fiscal unions, structural adjustments in a monetary union. It ends with a chapter on the fate of monetary unions: how they develop, mature and sometimes dissolve.The book addresses students at undergraduate and graduate level, interested in a better understanding of international macroeconomics and monetary unions, as well as policy-makers, practitioners and economists in central banks, ministries of economics, economic institutions and banks. Table of ContentsMonetary Issues: Monetary Unions: Between International Trade and National Sovereignty.- Why a Monetary Union?- Monetary Policy in a Monetary Union: Lessons from Simple Models.- Institutions and Monetary Policy.- Fiscal Issues: Government Deficits, Transfers and Debt.- Fiscal Policies in a Monetary Union.- The Policy Mix.- Toward an Ever Closer Union: Structural Adjustments and Reforms.- Fiscal Union.- Banking Union.- The Fate of a Monetary Union.- General Conclusion.
£40.49
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Domain-Specific Conceptual Modeling: Concepts,
Book SynopsisThis book demonstrates the significance of domain-specific conceptual modeling through new research and development approaches that are manifested in each of the chapters. They include novel modelling methods and tools that emphasize the recent results accomplished and their adequacy to assess specific aspects of a domain. Each chapter offers detailed instructions on how to build models in a particular domain, such as product-service engineering, enterprise engineering, digital business ecosystems, and enterprise modelling and capability management. All chapters are enriched with case studies, related information, and tool implementations. The tools are based on the ADOxx metamodelling platform and are provided free of charge via OMiLAB. Furthermore, the book emphasizes possible future developments and potential research directions. The collection of works presented here will benefit experts and practitioners from academia and industry alike, including members of the conceptual modeling community as well as lecturers and students.Table of ContentsPart I: Background.- 1. Conceptual Modelling Methods: The AMME Agile Engineering Approach.- 2. Development of Conceptual Models and Realization of Modelling Tools Within the ADOxx Meta-Modelling Environment: A Living Paper.- 3. Challenging Digital Innovation Through the OMiLAB Community of Practice.- Part II: Previous Volume: Synopsis.- 4. The Purpose-Specificity Framework for Domain-Specific Conceptual Modeling.- Part III: Enterprise Management.- 5. Enterprise Modeling with 4EM: Perspectives and Method.- 6. PGA 2.0: A Modeling Technique for the Alignment of the Organizational Strategy and Processes.- 7. The LiteStrat Modelling Method: Towards the Alignment of Strategy and Code.- 8. itsVALUE: Modelling and Analysing Value Streams for IT Services.- Part IV: Enterprise Information Systems.- 9. Enterprise Construction Modeling Method.- 10. Tool Support for Fractal Enterprise Modeling.- 11. The Integration of Risk Aspects into Business Process Management: The e-BPRIM Modeling Method.- 12. Modeling the Phenomenon of Capability Change: The KYKLOS Method.- 13. A Security Assessment Platform for Stochastic Petri Net (SPN) Modelling in the Internet of Things (IoT) Ecosystem.- Part V: Business Ecosystems and Services.- 14. A Modeling Tool for Exploring Business Ecosystems in a (Pre-)conceptual Phase.- 15. A Capability-Based Method for Modeling Resilient Data Ecosystems.- 16. Space of Services Method (SoS).- 17. Design and Engineering of Product-Service Systems (PSS): The SEEM Methodology and Modeling Toolkit.- Part VI: Knowledge Engineering.- 18. Model-Based Guide Toward Digitization in Digital Business Ecosystems.- 19. Generating ROS Codes from User-Level Workflow in PRINTEPS.- 20. ECAVI: An Assistant for Reasoning About Actions and Change with the Event Calculus.- Part VII: Technology Enhanced Education.- 21. Tree Diagrams and Unit Squares 4.0: Digitizing Stochastic Classes with the Didactic Modeling Tool PROVIS.- 22. Improving Student Mobility Through Automated Mapping of Similar Courses.- Part VIII: Digital Humanities.- 23. Aggregation and Curation of Historical Archive Information.- Part IX: Modelling Method Conceptualization.- 24. Conceptualization of Modelling Methods in the Context of Categorical Mechanisms.- 25. Conceptualizing Design Thinking Artefacts: The Scene2Model Storyboard Approach.- 26. An Approach to the Information System Conceptual Modeling Based on the Form Types.- Part X: Conceptual Modelling Language Extension.- 27. BPMN4MoPla: Mobility Planning Based on Business Decision-Making.- 28. BPMN Extension for Multi-Protocol Data Orchestration.
£151.99
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Why and How Humans Trade, Predict, Aggregate, and
Book SynopsisTrading, forecasting, aggregating, and innovating (the Four) are key social interactions in human life at both the individual and aggregate levels. They are part of the human fabric because they stem from mankind’s peculiarities—heterogeneity, inclination to forecast, sociality, and inventiveness. But humans have multifaceted behavior, too. They are capable of having contradictory impulses towards one another, integrating and disintegrating as well as cooperating and dominating, and behaving prosocially and anti-socially. Hence, humans need to organize themselves in order to maintain, improve, and extend their social interactions as well as a safe and ordered life. Crucial intersections emerge naturally—the efficiency of humans’ way of tackling the Four is a joint product of economic systems, institutions, and behaviors. All told, the main idea of this book is to include in a single tour a collection of insights on why and how humans implement the Four. The narrative highlights several connections as well as how key these businesses are as the traveler is escorted through some Four-related behavioral problems and institutional solutions that humans have been, respectively, facing and elaborating over time. Economics students may exploit this book by both inserting what they are learning from textbooks into a wider framework and enjoying some of the hints revealed by the grand social theorizing of giants such as A. Smith and J. Schumpeter. But the proposed tour may also attract outsiders to economics who are curious about disparate economic themes linked to the Four but who wish to gain an overview without engaging in longer readings.Table of ContentsChapter 1. Prologue.- Chapter 2. Trading: Humans Are Heterogeneous Animals.- Chapter 3. Forecasting: Humans Are Prone-To-Predicting Animals.- Chapter 4. Aggregating: Humans Are Social Animals.- Chapter 5. Innovating: Humans Are Ingenious Animals.- Chapter 6. Epilogue.
£41.24
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Always-On Business: Aligning Enterprise
Book SynopsisModern business relies heavily on information technology. This book presents a new “always-on” business model for the digital age, one based on three interrelated components: a business model, an IT capability model, and an always-on information system model. In addition, it develops an implementation framework for the new model by identifying business-critical continuous computing information technologies as implementation drivers.The model proposed in this book reveals the critical role of business continuity management in ensuring business continuity even when operations are unaffected by any disasters. Using empirical survey data, PLS-SEM (Partial Least Squares - Structural Equation Modeling) combined with mediation analysis are used to test the model and hypotheses.The book is chiefly intended for students in Business Administration/Management degree programs and business leaders whose work involves addressing issues such as organizational performance, IT capability, enterprise information systems, IT management, business continuity management, disaster recovery management, risk management, IT auditing, and compliance. Table of ContentsChapter 1. Introduction.- Chapter 2. Digital Age, Business Strategy, and Firm's Performance.- Chapter 3. Downtime and Business Continuity.- Chapter 4. BCM, DRP - Compliance in Practice.- Chapter 5. Master Contingency Plans and IT Auditing.- Chapter 6. Business Models and The Concept of Always-On Business.- Chapter 7. BCM, BCP, IT Capability: A Framework for Always-On Business.- Chapter 8. Empirical Research.
£37.49
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Public Systems Modeling: Methods for Identifying
Book SynopsisThis is an open access book discusses readers to various methods of modeling plans and policies that address public sector issues and problems. Written for public policy and social sciences students at the upper undergraduate and graduate level, as well as public sector decision-makers, it demonstrates and compares the development and use of various deterministic and probabilistic optimization and simulation modeling methods for analyzing planning and management issues. These modeling tools offer a means of identifying and evaluating alternative plans and policies based on their physical, economic, environmental, and social impacts. Learning how to develop and use the mathematical modeling tools introduced in this book will give students useful skills when in positions of having to make informed public policy recommendations or decisions.Table of Contents1. Analyzing Public Policy Decisions.- 2. Public Sector Systems.- 3. Creating Models.- 4. Modeling Examples and Solutions.- 5. Models for Managing Money.- 6. Solving Models Using Excel.- 7. Discrete Optimization Modeling.- 8. Linear Optimization Modeling.- 9. Some Linearization Methods.- 10. Solving Models Using Calculus.- 11. Lagrangian Models.- 12. Dealing with Uncertainty.- 13. Modeling Stochastic Processes.- 14. Chance Constrained and Monte Carlo Modeling.- 15. Simulation Modeling.- 16. Multi Criteria Analyses.- 17. Fuzzy Optimization.- 18. Conclusions.
£31.49
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Financing Startups: Understanding Strategic
Book SynopsisThere is no doubt that the proliferation of entrepreneurial activity is a current trend. Start-ups enable an effective transformation of knowledge, generating high added value to society. The objective of this book is to address the financing of the entrepreneurial process as a necessary element to articulate a solid business fabric, based on taking advantage of new opportunities. The book is structured in two parts. The first part takes as a reference the lack of financing in the entrepreneurship process and analyses different sources of financing available to entrepreneurs depending on the phase in which the project is located. The second part of the book analyses innovation and its links to the financing of start-ups, addressing the impact of emerging technologies and fintech services and the support of artificial intelligence. Finally, the book concludes with an examination of decentralized finance (DeFi), as an idea that is changing the financial world, giving rise to new financial paradigms.Table of ContentsPart I. Investment Cycles.- Chapter 1. Financing Rounds with Private Capital.- Chapter 2. Angel Investing Startups.- Chapter 3. Crowdfunding: Another Way of Financing My Business.- Chapter 4. A Prospective Analysis of the Advantages of Crowdlending to Startups.- Chapter 5. The Financing of Minority Entrepreneurial Efforts in the U.S..- Chapter 6. Bank Credit in Europe Between Two Crises: From the Great Recession to the COVID 19 Pandemic.- Part II. Startup Innovation.- Chapter 7. Emerging Technologies in Financing Startups.- Chapter 8. ICOs, IEOs and STOs: Token Sales as Innovative Formulas for Financing Start-ups.- Chapter 9. Financing Start-ups Through Artificial Intelligence.- Chapter 10. DeFi & Startups: Revolution in Finance.
£62.99
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Design Thinking for New Business Contexts: A
Book SynopsisThis textbook identifies and critically explores the new business landscape through the lens of design thinking and contemporary industry practice, bridging the divide between the design and business domains. The book outlines the evolution of design thinking and the relationship between business and design, as well as provides in-depth studies of design thinking in turbulent business contexts, that includes the themes of sustainability, branding and organisational innovation. At its core, it articulates that design thinking is vital to establishing dynamic interdisciplinary thinking models that lead to organizational innovation. Featuring case studies and learning tasks, the book presents design thinking for readers as an organisational philosophy as opposed to a simple problem-solving tool. Table of Contents1 Introduction.1.1 Introduction.1.2 Background to Design Thinking for new Business Contexts.1.3 Structure of Content.1.4 Using the Book: A Reader’s Guide.2 Evolution of the Relationship Between Design and Business Activities.2.1 Introduction.2.2 Design Thinking and Design[ing].2.3 Design Thinking and Business Planning Activities.2.4 Design Thinking and Business Strategy.2.5 Design Thinking in SMES.References.3 Crossing Boundaries: Design into Business and Management.3.1 Introduction.3.2 Design for Business: The Critical Imperative.3.3 Teaching Design in Design Schools.3.4 Teaching Business Management in Business Schools.3.5 Academia and Industry: Design Alliances.References.4 Organisational Complexity and Change by Design.4.1 Introduction.4.2 Managing Complexity and the Organisation.4.3 Managing Uncertainty in Unpredictable Times.4.4 Organisational Change Management.4.5 A Designerly Approach to Organisational Change.References.5 Business Thinking Through Design.5.1 Introduction.5.2 Economic Systems that Shape Business Environments.5.3 New Economic Systems Reshaping the Business Environment.5.4 Types of Organisations.5.5 Business Structures.5.6 Business Composition.5.7 Design Thinking: Tensions and Challenges.References.6 Design Thinking for Sustainable Futures.6.1 Introduction.6.2 Mission Impossible?.6.3 Sustainable Futures.6.4 Corporate Social Responsibility.6.5 Social Enterprises—A Hybrid Business Model.References.7 Design Thinking for Branding.7.1 Introduction.7.2 Brand Audit, Consumer Ethnography, and Design Thinking.7.3 Identifying Branding Problems and/or Opportunities.7.4 Design Thinking and the Development of Branding Strategies.References.8 Design Thinking: Practice and Applications.8.1 Introduction.8.2 Design Processes, Methods and Tools.8.3 Case Example 1: Hitachi ABB Power Grids.8.4 Case Example 2: Maas Global.8.5 Understanding the Student Learning Experience Through a Design Methods Approach.References.9 Design Directions and Future Trajectories.9.1 Introduction.9.2 Design Influences and Contested Territories.9.3 Democratic Design.9.4 Data and Design.9.5 Design Directions in an Era of Uncertainty.References.10 Summary.10.1 The Design Nexus: Reflections and Reorganisation.10.2 Design Values.10.3 Design Commonwealth.10.4 Design Perspectives.10.5 Design Transformations.10.6 Design Futures.10.7 Final Reflections.
£61.74
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Questioning the Entrepreneurial State: Status-quo, Pitfalls, and the Need for Credible Innovation Policy
Book SynopsisThe 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic have made the authorities to increasingly turn inward and use ethnocentrism, protectionism, and top-down approaches to guide policy on trade, competition, and industrial development. The continuing aftereffects of such policies range from the rise and seeming success of authoritarian states, rise of populist and protectionist trends, and evolving academic agendas inspiring the reemergence of top-down industrial policies across the world. This open access edited volume contains contributions from over 30 scholars with expertise in economics, innovation, management, and economic history. The chapters offer unique theoretical and empirical contributions discussing topics such as how industrial policies affect risk, incentives, and information for investments. They also address the policy perspectives on new technologies such as AI and its implications for market entry, the role for independent entrepreneurship in increasingly regulated markets, and whether governments should focus on market interventions or institutional capacity-building. Questioning the Entrepreneurial State initiates a much sought-after debate on the notion of an Entrepreneurial State. It discusses the dangers of top-down approaches to industrial policy, examines lessons from such approaches for future policy design, and calls attention to the progress of open and contestable markets in a sound economy and society. “Creative destruction, innovation and entrepreneurship are at the core of economic growth. The government has a clear role, to provide the basic fabric of a dynamic society, but industrial policy and state-owned companies are the boulevard of broken dreams and unrealized visions. This important message is convincingly stated in Questioning the Entrepreneurial State.” Anders Borg, former Minister of Finance, Sweden “Misreading the dynamism of American entrepreneurship, European intellectuals and policy makers have embraced a dangerous fantasy: catching up requires constructing an entrepreneurial state. This book provides a vital antidote: The entrepreneur comes first: The state may support. It cannot lead.”Amar Bhidé, Thomas Schmidheiny Professor of International Business, Tufts University “This important new book subjects the emergence of the entrepreneurial state, which reflects a shift in the locus of entrepreneurship from the individual to the public sector, to the scrutiny of rigorous analysis. The resulting concerns, flaws and biases inherent in the entrepreneurial state exposed are both alarming and sobering. The skill and scholarly craftsmanship brought to bear in this crucial analysis is evident throughout the book, along with the even, but ultimately consequential thinking of the authors. A must read for researchers and thought leaders in business and policy." David Audtretsch, Distinguished Professor, Ameritech Chair of Economic Development, Indiana UniversityTrade Review“All three books provide important guideposts for organizing collective effort to develop the kinds of technologies needed to address the most important global problems of the twenty-first century. The academic credentials and scholarly perspectives of the contributors infuse Wennberg and Sandstro¨m’s edited volume with an analytical tone and comparative institutional lens that are very welcome in the conversation regarding how public policymakers should identify opportunities for encouraging innovation.” (Anita M. McGahan, Administrative Science Quarterly, October 31, 2023)“The book is written for both academics and policymakers, and it is written clearly without an assumption that readers possess a strong foundation of economic training. … Questioning the Entrepreneurial State is an excellent edited volume comprising thought provoking concerns about the viability of an entrepreneurial state. … After reading this edited volume, readers will learn not just the entrepreneurial state and criticisms, but will learn about a variety of topics on institutions, ecosystems, sustainability, and politics related to entrepreneurship and innovation.” (Christopher John Boudreaux, Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Vol. 32, 2022)Table of ContentsPart I: Introductory Chapter.- Introduction.- Part II: The Entrepreneurial State: Theoretical Perspectives.- The Entrepreneurial State and the Platform Economy.- An Effectual Analysis of Markets and States.- The Entrepreneurial State: An Ownership Competence Perspective.- Innovation Without Entrepreneurship: The Pipe Dream of Mission-Oriented Innovation Policy.- Part III: The Entrepreneurial State, Entrepreneurial Universities, and Startups.- Building Local Innovation Support Systems: Theory and Practice.- Reducing Higher Education Bureaucracy and Reclaiming the Entrepreneurial University.- Cultural Ideals in the Entrepreneurship Industry.- Evaluating Evaluations of Innovation Policy: Exploring Reliability, Methods, and Conflicts of Interest.- Do Targeted R&D Grants toward SMEs Increase Employment and Demand for High Human Capital Workers?.- Part IV: The Entrepreneurial State and Sustainability Transitions.- Third-Generation Innovation Policy: System Transformation or Reinforcing Business as Usual?.- Less from More: China Built Wind Power, but Gained Little Electricity.- The Failures of the Entrepreneurial State: Subsidies to Renewable Energies in Europe.- Directionality in Innovation Policy and the Ongoing Failure of Green Deals: Evidence from Biogas, Bio-ethanol, and Fossil-Free Steel.- Part V: From the Entrepreneurial State Towards Evidence-Based Innovation Policy.- Policy Instruments for High-Growth Enterprises.- Public-Steering and Private-Performing Sectors: Success and Failures in the Swedish Finance, Telecoms, and City Planning Sectors.- The Digital Platform Economy and the Entrepreneurial State: A European Dilemma.- Collaborative Innovation Blocs and Mission-Oriented Innovation Policy: An Ecosystem Perspective.
£34.99
Springer Nature Switzerland AG HR Leadership During Bankruptcy and Organizational Change: A Practical Guide
Book SynopsisThis book guides human resource managers and professionals on how to manage organizations and its employees through bankruptcy and organizational change. While many books on bankruptcy are written from the perspective of bankruptcy attorneys and bankers, this book focuses on the employee communication and organizational aspects of bankruptcy from an HR and C-Suite perspective. It provides a deep understanding of the impact of bankruptcy on organizations and how to manage communication and employee engagement during this transition. The book also provides valuable and practical checklists and templates for employee communiqués, frequently asked questions, and preparing court-ordered information.Table of ContentsChapter 1. Types of Corporate Bankruptcies.- Chapter 2. Understanding How the Company Got Here and the Importance of Employee Engagement.- Chapter 3. Creating an Effective Employee Retention Plan.- Chapter 4. A Bankruptcy’s Effect on Benefits and the Barrage of Information Requests.- Chapter 5. Embarking on Change.- Chapter 6. Bold Communication.- Chapter 7. Bold Leadership.- Chapter 8. Be Mindful of You.- Chapter 9. Lessons Learned.- Chapter 10. Some Final Thoughts.
£999.99
Springer Nature Switzerland AG HR Leadership During Bankruptcy and
Book SynopsisThis book guides human resource managers and professionals on how to manage organizations and its employees through bankruptcy and organizational change. While many books on bankruptcy are written from the perspective of bankruptcy attorneys and bankers, this book focuses on the employee communication and organizational aspects of bankruptcy from an HR and C-Suite perspective. It provides a deep understanding of the impact of bankruptcy on organizations and how to manage communication and employee engagement during this transition. The book also provides valuable and practical checklists and templates for employee communiqués, frequently asked questions, and preparing court-ordered information.Table of ContentsChapter 1. Types of Corporate Bankruptcies.- Chapter 2. Understanding How the Company Got Here and the Importance of Employee Engagement.- Chapter 3. Creating an Effective Employee Retention Plan.- Chapter 4. A Bankruptcy’s Effect on Benefits and the Barrage of Information Requests.- Chapter 5. Embarking on Change.- Chapter 6. Bold Communication.- Chapter 7. Bold Leadership.- Chapter 8. Be Mindful of You.- Chapter 9. Lessons Learned.- Chapter 10. Some Final Thoughts.
£37.49
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Improving Supply Chains in the Oil and Gas
Book SynopsisThis book analyses and proposes solutions to one of the core challenges faced in the Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) supply chains in the oil and gas industry, a field that is currently impacted by low oil prices, emerging technologies and a societal transition to cleaner energies. It describes the end-to-end nature of the oil and gas supply chain, and challenges paradigms and accepted ways of working within the industry – such as wastes driven by broken interfaces, naivete regarding supply chains, and the practice that considers re-organisation to be the answer to these challenges – and identifies opportunities to shift this paradigm towards reliability and value. Moreover, the book shares the authors’ front-line experience and encourages readers to consider deploying the solutions presented in their own contexts. The insights from the book’s 12 modules are based on personal experiences and are industry-generic, allowing them to be transferred to other MRO supply chains. Readers are encouraged to use this book as a reference for their own supply chain transformations. The book is primarily intended for practitioners, including chief operating officers, chief financial officers, chief supply chain officers, engineers and heads of procurement, purchasing, operations, and materials management.Table of Contents1. Lower Forever.- 2. The OPEX Challenge.- 3. Supply Chain Development in Oil & Gas Industry.- 4. The Missing Pieces.- 5. 12 Modules for Supply Chain Transformation.- 6. When Culture Meets Transformation.- 7. Getting Started.
£56.99
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Navigating a Travelling Organization: Insights,
Book SynopsisThis book dives deep into the "Three Pillar Model" (3-P-Model) applied by the authors for organizations. These pillars are: Sustainable Purpose, Traveling Organization, and Connected Resources. The authors specifically concentrate on the pillar Traveling Organization and help in understanding the concept, its design, and navigation in practice. The expert contributors also show the relevance of the 3-P-Model in diverse areas – from profit and public organizations to the catholic church and cultural work. The navigation is aligned with the pillar Sustainable Purpose and connects professional topics, organizations, and people as three core resources. Organizational scientists, business strategists, and executive MBA students will particularly benefit from this book.Table of ContentsPart I: Introduction & Framing.- Further Development of the Application of the Three Pillar-Model.- Navigating a Travelling Organization towards Future Success – How to Inspire and Co-Create the Joint Endeavor.- Part II: Concepts & Instruments.- Navigating Travelling Organizations Means Beginning - What Prevents Us from the New?.- The Role of “Navigators” in Travelling Organizations.- Viable Stepping-Stones along Transformation Journeys – Ensuring Business Execution while Transforming Diverse Organizations.- Agile and Design-Based Methodologies in Sales and Service Delivery - The Application of Design for Execution to Field Teams in the Pharmaceutical Industry.- The Leader’s Personal Approach to Navigating a Travelling Organization.- Objectives and Key Results: How Navigating Travelling Organizations Might Succeed.- Decision Making in Travelling Organizations – How to-Principles and Practices.- Navigating Investments for Transformation in a Travelling Organization.- Part III: Application & Experiences.- Navigating the Ivory Tower.- The Dilemma of How to Navigate a Rock.- "No contact without resistance".- Why cultural policy has such a hard time with navigation.- Gathering Points Creating Momentum - Navigating the journey of a value-driven company.- Industrial Excellence Meets Travelling Organization - Keeping promises in the VUCA world.- Beating the Normal Curve – Finding the Path for a Travelling Organization in Disruptive Times.- Part IV: Resume.- Conclusions and Thanks.
£58.49
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Supply Chain Resilience: Insights from Theory and
Book SynopsisEvery global crisis highlights the strategic importance of industrial and non-profit supply chains for society. In terms of coping with unforeseen and unpredictable events, supply chain resilience enables the parties and networks involved to stay successful during and after the disruption. Furthermore, a resilient supply chain contributes to the sustainable competitive advantage of the entire value chain. Written by scholars and practitioners alike, this book not only puts forward a new framework for resilience in supply chain management, but also presents best practice cases from various areas and industries. As a particular highlight, it includes a Delphi study that gathers state-of-the-art insights from supply chain leaders. In addition to practical approaches, methods and tools, the book also offers food for thought on the future of supply chain resilience. As such, it offers a valuable resource for current and future managers in the public and private sector, as well as researchers and students engaged in this field.Table of ContentsPart I: Supply Chain Disruptions and Resilience.- 1. Definition and Development of Supply Chain Resilience.- 2. Supply Chain Resilience: A Decade of Evolvement.- 3. Supply Chain Resilience Framework.- 4. Supply Chain Challenges During the COVID-19 Pandemic.- 5. Pandemic-Related Disruptions in the Field of Freight Transportation.- 6. Modern Slavery and Working Conditions in the European Trucking Industry: A Growing Threat to Supply Chain Resilience.- Part II: Measuring Resilience.- 7. Enhancing Supply Chain Resilience Through Incorporating Business Continuity Management Systems.- 8. Measuring and Fostering Supply Chain Resilience in the Humanitarian Context.- 9. The Value of Artificial Intelligence for More Resilient Supply Chains.- 10. Applying Blockchain Technologies for Increasing Supply Chain Resilience.- Part III: Achieving Resilience.- 11. Policy Options for Strengthening Resilience to Achieve Strategic Autonomy for Austria in a Disrupted World.- 12. Managing Supply Chain Resilience for Sustainability in an Uncertain World: Challenges and Solutions.- 13. Supply Chain Resilience in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.- 14. Resilient Supply Chain Network Design: An Overview of Optimization Models.- Part IV: Resilience in Theory and Practice.- 15. Resilient Supply Chains: A Practical Guide for Successful Implementation.- 16. What Really Works: A Practitioner’s Critical Review on Supply Chain Resilience Research.- 17. Delphi Study on Supply Chain Resilience.- Part V: Supply Chain Resilience in Different Functional Areas.- 18. Commodity Price Risks: Strategies to Increase Supply Chain Resilience.- 19. Achieving Supply Chain Resilience Through Additive Manufacturing.- 20. Resilience in Warehousing.- 21. How to Successfully Master a Pandemic in a Global Distribution Network?.- 22. Resilience Strategies for Freight Transportation: An Overview of the Different Transport Modes Responses.- 23. Thoughts About Individual Resilience Impact to Team and Organization.- Part VI: Supply Chain Resilience in Different Industries.- 24. Resilient Supply Chains in the Parcel Shipping Sector.- 25. Deep Dive on Resilience in the Aviation Industry: Between Resilience for Short-Term Disruptions and Focus on Long-Term Preparedness.- 26. Semiconductor Supply Chain: A 360-Degree View of Supply Chain Risk and Network Resilience Based on GIS and AI.- 27. Ways to Build Resilient Inbound Transportation Logistics in the Automotive Industry.- 28. Overview of the Enablers of Humanitarian Supply Chain Resilience.- 29. Resilience and Military Supply Chain Management.- 30. Concluding Remarks.
£42.74
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Monetary and Financial Systems in Africa: Integration and Economic Performance
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£123.49
Springer Nature Switzerland AG How Megaprojects Are Damaging Nigeria and How to
Book SynopsisSince 1960, two-thirds of very large governmental projects in Nigeria have not only failed, but been abandoned mid-course. This presents a bigger failure rate than mega projects elsewhere, and yet there is no available data or analysis to help us understand the reasons behind such failures. This book provides an authoritative examination into why very large projects in Nigeria have failed so badly, and provides practical recommendations on how the Nigerian government can improve its project performance.Drawing on data from 38 very large projects (19 completed and 19 abandoned) with a total budget of over $25B, this book presents detailed analysis of these projects and in-depth case studies 11 of the projects, and presents lessons for improvement. Through this, the authors have identified a small number of key success drivers, and argue that making moderate improvements on any of them would, on average, save hundreds of millions of dollars on one large project alone.This book is a game-changer in the management of government mega projects in Nigeria. With clear implications for other developing economies, this is a vital resource for project management practitioners, executives and civil servants.This is an open access book.Table of Contents1 Introduction: The Project Abandonment Problem. References. 2 What We Know About the Management of Very Large Projects. 2.1 Project Success Factors as Lists. 2.2 The Project Success Frameworks of Miller and Lessard and Morris and Hough. 2.2.1 Miller and Lessard (2000). 2.2.2 Morris and Hough (1987). 2.3 The Nigerian Context. 2.4 The Extended Theoretical Framework. 2.5 What About Corruption?. References. 3 Structure of the Investigation. 3.1 Overview of the Approach Taken in This Study. 3.2 Construction and Execution of the Survey. 3.3 Construction of the Sample of Projects. 3.4 Construction of the Case Studies. Appendix: Full Questionnaire as It Was Administered. Our Request. Project Variables. References. 4 A Description of the 38 Matched Projects. 4.1 Lagos-Ibadan Express Road. 4.2 Lagos-Badagry Express Road. 4.3 Third Mainland Bridge. 4.4 Second Niger Bridge. 4.5 Egbin Power Station. 4.6 Calabar Power Station. 4.7 Zungeru Hydropower Plant. 4.8 Delta State (Oghareki) Power Plant. 4.9 Shiroro Hydroelectric Power Station. 4.10 Omoku Power Plant Station. 4.11 Mambilla Hydroelectric Power. 4.12 Ajaokuta Steel Project. 4.13 Kanji Dam. 4.14 Otukpo Dam. 4.15 Nigeria Satellite 2. 4.16 Nigeria Satellite 1. 4.17 Airtel Nigeria. 4.18 Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL). 4.19 Godswill Akpabio International Stadium. 4.20 (Samuel) Ogbemudia Stadium. 4.21 Abuja International Airport. 4.22 Lagos MMA2 Airport. 4.23 Yenagoa International Cargo Airport. 4.24 Jigawa Airport Project. 4.25 Tin Can Island Port. 4.26 Calabar Seaport. 4.27 Victoria Garden City (VGC) Housing Estate. 4.28 Festac Town Federal Housing Estate. 4.29 1004 Housing Estate. 4.30 Abuja Mass Federal Housing Project. 4.31 Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library. 4.32 Abuja National Library. 4.33 Nigerian Youth Empowerment Scheme (N-Power). 4.34 Nigeria Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P). 4.35 Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA). 4.36 Cleaner Lagos Initiative (Visionscape). 4.37 University College Teaching Hospital (UCH) Ibadan. 4.38 University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH). References. 5 Insights from the Analysis of the Questionnaires. 5.1 Variable Distributions and Variable Capability to Detect Differences Across Projects. 5.1.1 Each Respondent Type Adds Unique Perspectives and Information. 5.1.2 The Variables Capture Robust Differences Between Abandoned and Completed Projects. 5.2 Condensing Variables into Aggregated Success Factors. 5.2.1 Approach. 5.2.2 Identifying the Factors. 5.3 Econometric Prediction of Project Completion. 5.4 Econometric Prediction of Cost and Schedule Overruns for Completed Projects. 5.4.1 Effect of Variables on Budget Overruns. 5.4.2 Effect of Variables on Schedule Overruns. 5.5 The Corrosive Effect of Corruption. Appendix 1 Correlations Among Independent Variables Across All 114 Responses. Appendix 2 Factor Analysis. Appendix 3 Specification of the Logistical Regression. Appendix 4 The Logistical Completion Probability Regression by Respondent Group. Appendix 5 Robustness Analysis: Cost Overrun Regressions by Respondent Group. Appendix 6 Robustness Analysis: Schedule Overrun Regressions by Respondent Group. 6 Two Library Projects. 6.1 The National Library of Nigeria in Abuja: An Abandoned Project. 6.1.1 Project Initiation. 6.1.2 Contract Signature and Execution. 6.1.3 Conclusion. 6.2 Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library: A Completed Project. 6.2.1 Project Initiation. 6.2.2 Project Execution and Outcome. 6.2.3 The Difference Between the Two Projects: In the Words of Former President Obasanjo. References. 7 Two Bridge Projects. 7.1 The Second Niger Bridge: A Stalled Project. 7.1.1 Project Initiation. 7.1.2 Contract Disputes and Recontracting. 7.1.3 Continued Stalling. 7.1.4 Diagnosis of the Reasons for Failure, in the Words of (Former) President Jonathan. 7.1.5 Conclusion. 7.2 The Third Mainland Bridge: A Completed Project. 7.2.1 Introduction. 7.2.2 Starting and Stalling. 7.2.3 Restarting the Project Under President Babangida. 7.2.4 Project Execution and Outcome. 7.2.5 Conclusion. References. 8 Two Power Plants. 8.1 Egbin Power Station, Ikorodu Lagos State: A Completed Project. 8.1.1 Initiation and Completion. 8.1.2 Success Conditions and Challenges. 8.1.3 Privatization and Trouble. 8.2 The Calabar Odukpani Power Station: Completed but with Little Delivery. 8.2.1 Project Initiation. 8.2.2 Project Complications and Delays. 8.2.3 Delivery of the Calabar Power Station in 2015. 8.2.4 What Has Been Delivered? Lessons from the Project. References. 9 Two Express Road Rehabilitation Projects. 9.1 The Lagos-Ibadan Express Road Rehabilitation: A Completed Project. 9.1.1 Original Construction of the Express Road. 9.1.2 A Reconstruction Project in a PPP Scheme. 9.1.3 Restructuring the Project as a Government-Owned Project. 9.1.4 Discussion. 9.2 Lagos-Badagry Express Road Rehabilitation: A Stalled Project. 9.2.1 Brief History. 9.2.2 Was the Problem the Fault of the Contractor?. 9.2.3 Dodgy Funding and Accounting. 9.2.4 Protest, Additional Funding and Patching Up. 9.2.5 Conclusion. References. 10 Two More Power Plants. 10.1 The Zungeru Dam/Hydropower Plant: A (Soon-to-Be) Completed Project. 10.1.1 Brief History. 10.1.2 Enabling Factors of Completion. 10.2 The Delta State Oghareki Power Plant: An Abandoned Project. 10.2.1 Initiation. 10.2.2 The Alleged Corruption. 10.2.3 Implications. References. 11 The Ajaokuta Steel Project. 11.1 Project Initiation. 11.2 Project Construction and Cessation by 1988. 11.3 The PPP Revival of 2000–2007. 11.4 The State of the Asset. 11.5 Conclusion. References. 12 Insights and Recommendations. 12.1 Summary and Discussion of the Findings. 12.2 Developing Solutions: Inspiration from Other Countries. 12.3 Recommendations. 12.3.1 Recommendations Part 1: Short-Term Changes. 12.3.2 Recommendations Part 2: Longer-Term Structural Changes. 13 Conclusion: The Government Responsibility.
£26.24
Springer Nature Switzerland AG The Fault Lines of Inequality: COVID 19 and the
Book SynopsisThis book examines how decisions made by the Conservative government during the COVID19 pandemic have increased economic inequality in the UK. Decades of austerity, asset-based welfare and financialization had already exacerbated social divisions in the UK prior to the pandemic. The political blueprint behind these measures combined Privatized Keynesianism and the Asset Economy. To explain, economists have highlighted that inequality derives from the fact that income from wealth increases at a faster rate than income from wages. The ensuing political assumption is that – in the face of pressures on public finances – promoting asset ownership is the best alternative to government-funded welfare schemes. What this meant, as the pandemic unfolded, was that when tough decisions about resource allocation needed to be made, the UK Treasury and the Bank of England found almost unlimited funds to rescue and protect asset-holders and middle-income homeowners, whilst reverting to a narrative of “misfortune” for the asset-less poor. This book assesses the political decisions taken by UK policymakers during 2020-21 and their consequences. In doing so, it challenges policymakers and the informed public to re-consider the morality of inequality, and to make alternative decisions to promote a more ecologically sustainable, caring, equal and prosperous society.Table of ContentsIntroductionChapter 1: Inequality, Financialisation and the Asset EconomyChapter 2: The RichChapter 3: Middle-Income HouseholdsChapter 4: The PoorConclusion
£32.99
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Entrepreneurship in South America: Context,
Book SynopsisThis book reveals a variety of issues facing entrepreneurs, SMEs, and entrepreneurship development across South America. The authors recognize that when it comes to entrepreneurship, not one size fits all. Therefore, this book has been designed to help business students understand the context of the enterprise. It highlights how countries differ in their scope of entrepreneurship, and how entrepreneurs are impacted by these differences. Each chapter is dedicated to a respective country and describes the status quo, challenges and prospects for entrepreneurship there. Specifically, the book helps students understand the nature of entrepreneurship in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Surinam, Uruguay and Venezuela.Table of ContentsIntroduction to Entrepreneurship in South America.- Entrepreneurship in Argentina.- Entrepreneurship in Bolivia.- Entrepreneurship in Brazil.- Entrepreneurship in Chile.- Entrepreneurship in Colombia.- Entrepreneurship in Ecuador.- Entrepreneurship in French Guiana.- Entrepreneurship in Guyana.- Entrepreneurship in Paraguay.- Entrepreneurship in Peru.- Entrepreneurship in Suriname.- Entrepreneurship in Uruguay.- Entrepreneurship in Venezuela.- Shadow Banking Services for Entrepreneurs.
£44.99
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Mindful Leadership in Practice: Tradition Leads
Book SynopsisThis book shows why mindful leadership is the key element for supportive management and leadership in the 21st century. It highlights the fundamentals of mindful leadership in philosophy and history in different cultural traditions and shows latest research on mindfulness and digitalization, technology, social networking, and leading-self concepts. The book bridges the past and the future. By combining a range of research perspectives, it connects mindfulness to serving leadership concepts and describes resilience for both individuals and organizations. In addition, it presents theoretical aspects and practical recommendations on how to implement mindful leadership and supportive environments in organizational cultures. The book encompasses history, present leadership challenges and future management perspectives and enables the implementation of models of good practice into daily working life. It includes contributions from researchers of different continents, and offers an international overview of state-of-the art leadership research.This book is of interest to professionals and researchers working on leadership, from the perspective of positive psychology, organizational studies, and wellbeing studies. Table of ContentsPart 1: Fundamentals of Mindful Leadership – Philosophy, History and Application.Chapter 1: Analysis of Work and Organization today (Klaske) Chapter 2: A History of the Mindful Leadership Concept (Volker)Chapter 3: Indian Perspectives on Mindful leadership (Anuradha Sathiyaseelan, Sathiyseelan Balasundaram, Michael Zirkler)Chapter 4: The ideal Emperor from Chinese Perspective (Thomas Zimmer)Chapter 5: The Concept Mindful Leadership and its Christian Roots (Arie Verkuil)Chapter 6: Cardinal Virtues and Leadership (Paul Imhof and Volker)Part II: Traditions and Perspectives of Mindful LeadershipChapter 7: Ethics in Mindfulness Context (Martijn de Kiewit)Chapter 8: Taming the minds - Health and Resilience (Klaske)Chapter 9: Digitalization as a Challenge for Mindful Leadership (Thomas Thiessen)Part III: Transfer from Theory to Practice Chapter 10: Interventions of Mindfulness and Compassion (Christoph, Philipp, Alvaro)Chapter 11: Mindfulness and Technology (Jan Willem de Graaf)Chapter 12: Mindfulness in social Networks – Self-management and distanced sociability (innovation workplace, Hanze University)Chapter 13. Mental Training through Mindfulness (Marc Aeschbacher)
£54.99
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Evaluating Corporate Financial Performance: Tools
Book SynopsisThis textbook offers a step-by-step guide through comprehensive financial statement analysis with real-life case studies for students of financial accounting, financial reporting, and financial statement analysis. Structured into five comprehensive sections, it begins by explaining the content of accounting reports themselves and the three primary financial statements (income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement). It deciphers the notes to financial statements and demonstrates some classical tools such as ratio analysis and multivariable credit risk models that are useful in a retrospective financial statement analysis. It includes simple step-by-step procedures of a prospective (i.e. future-oriented) financial statement simulation and closes with a comprehensive real-life case study that demonstrates a practical application of the analytical tools discussed earlier in the text. Additionally, the textbook includes online appendices consisting of additional comprehensive real-life case studies (of varying degrees of complexity and dealing with different aspects of a practical financial statement analysis), a set of MS Excel files that contain all major calculations included in tables and charts that appear in the core textbook, and a set of webinars in which the most fundamental parts of the core textbook are discussed in the form of the recorded lectures.Table of Contents
£66.49
Springer Nature Switzerland AG The Book of Crypto: The Complete Guide to
Book SynopsisThis book provides a thorough overview of Bitcoin, cryptocurrencies, and digital assets and their impact on the future of money and finance. It provides a 360-degree practical, concise, and engaging overview of all the topics that one interested about digital assets needs to know including how Bitcoin and Ethereum work, an overview of the most important digital assets in the market, and deep dives into the various types of digital assets including cryptocurrencies, stable coins, CBDCs, utility tokens, security tokens, NFTs, and many others. The book also covers all the essentials including DeFi, crypto mining, crypto regulations, crypto investors, crypto exchanges, and other ecosystem players as well as some of the latest global crypto trends from Web 3.0 and the Metaverse to DAOs and quantum computing. Written by a leading industry expert and thought leader who advises some of the leading organisations in the digital assets space globally, this book is ideal for anyone looking to acquire a solid foundational knowledge base of this fast-growing field and understand its potential impact on the future of money. Table of Contents1. History of Money.- 2. Bitcoin.- 3. Ethereum.- 4. The Emergence of New Blockchains and Crypto-Assets.- 5. The Technology Behind Bitcoin: Blockchain.- 6. Cryptocurrencies.- 7. Stablecoins.- 8. Central Bank Digital Currencies.- 9. Wholesale Central Bank Digital Currencies.- 10. Retail Central Bank Digital Currencies.-11. Utility Tokens and Social Tokens.-12. Security Tokens.- 13. Non-Fungible Tokens.- 14. Bitcoin and Crypto Mining.- 15. Asset Creation and Distribution.- 16. Decentralised Finance.- 17. Crypto Regulations, Compliance and Tax.- 18. Crypto Exchanges.- 19. Crypto Funds.- 20. Crypto Ecosystem Enablers.- 21. Future Technology Trends to Watch.
£26.59
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Responsible Procurement: Leading the Way to a
Book SynopsisThis open access book emphasizes that procuring goods at the expense of the environment and those who live there is no longer acceptable. Fortunately, there is now an unstoppable force, created by a collective of diverse stakeholders, driving the sustainability agenda. A company’s sustainability standards can only truly be as good as those along its entire supply chain. The purpose of this book is to encourage and inspire companies on their journey to transform into responsible and sustainable businesses by addressing the supply chain, which reflects a significant part of a company’s expenses and thus Table of ContentsPart I: Setting the Scene.- 1. The Challenge of Our Lifetime.- 2. Make a Difference.- Part II: From Ambition to Impact.- 3. Develop Purpose, Ambition Level, and Strategy.- 4. Anchor Sustainability into the Operating Model.- 5. Set Category Work and Suppliers in Motion.- 6. Create a Movement and Drive Transformation.- 7. Outlook 2030 and Conclusion.- 8. Sustainability in Action: Interviews with Experts.
£42.74
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Central Bank Ratings: A New Methodology for
Book SynopsisWhen the global financial crisis broke, central banks in both the US and the UK undertook massive asset purchase programmes which resulted in considerable increase in assets. Cross-border spillover effects were noted across global economies. Balance sheet adjustments may eventually gnaw at the profit-earning capacities of central banks, and in extreme cases, negative equity can manifest. This updated book investigates a benchmark for comparing central banks. The author employs a unique and large set of metrics to gauge the quality of central banks and presents an argument to reflect upon international best practices covering 124 banks in this latest study. The study uses different criteria including the accounting body, research, presence of stress-testing exercises, inflation-targeting frameworks, staff efficiency, and languages of communication with the public, amongst others. The book begins by providing an overview of central banking, before exploring some stylized facts about central banks in unique detail. It then presents a ratings methodology for worldwide central banks to analyse the results. A backtesting exercise is included to validate the quality of the ratings obtained. The book concludes by offering insights into the comparison of central banks.Table of ContentsChapter 1.Introduction Chapter 2.An Overview of Central Banking in the WorldChapter 3.Some Stylized Facts about Central Banks.Chapter 4.Ratings Methodology for central banks worldwideChapter 5.Second and Third Division Rated Central BanksChapter 6.Results and DiscussionsChapter 7.BacktestingChapter 8.Global Central Bank Ratings Sheets
£67.49
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Information Modelling: A Pragmatic Approach
Book SynopsisThis textbook provides solid guidance on how to produce information models in practice. Information modeling has become increasingly relevant as an approach for understanding the active role that data plays within business and management and promoting the planning of business activities. The text promotes a practical approach to information modelling based around the analysis of communicative practice within delimited domains of organization. The book chapters are designed to be read in sequence. The early chapters build an account of information modelling from the bedrock of a theory of information situations. Later chapters discuss a number of practical issues concerned with the application of this business analysis and design technique. The conclusion demonstrates a larger context for the application and importance of information modelling. Numerous in-text examples of the concepts of information modelling and their application are included throughout the text. A separate chapter is devoted to a range of exercises which the reader can use to test understanding and application of the technique. An appendix with solutions is also provided to support learning. Overall, this textbook provides a step-by-step introduction to information modelling for use in undergraduate and postgraduate modules in information systems, computer science and even digitally focused modules within business and management. No prerequisite knowledge is assumed on the part of the reader. Students and practitioners are tutored in the development of information modelling from first principles. The book covers all the core principles of both entity-relationship diagramming and class diagramming – the two major approaches to information modelling.Table of Contents1. Introduction.- 2. What Is Information?.- 3. Why Model Information?.- 4. Information Modelling From First Principles.- 5. Visualising an Information M.- 6. Composing an Information Model.- 7. Practical Issues in Information Modelling.- 8. Information Modelling and Data Systems.- 9. Information Modelling in Context.- 10. Exercises.
£37.99
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Business Ethics - A Philosophical and Behavioral
Book SynopsisIn this textbook we examine the extent to which moral values play a role as productive forces for companies and the economy as a whole, and explores the effect of ethical and unethical behavior at both levels. We show how ethics improves productivity, and provide specific ethics tools for practical application for both students and managers. Stemming from an overall interdisciplinary approach, this textbook fills a gap in the literature on ethics in business. Following a textbook structure, we first derive knowledge from scientific studies that are relevant for students, and then summarize the results. We explain ethical assessment approaches, and then provide an ethical assessment of economic behavior using case studies. Roleplaying and games are used to explain the behavior of people in relation to ethics.The 2nd edition has been completely revised and expanded to include new findings from the behavioral sciences (psychology, social psychology, sociology and behavioral economics). In particular, the research on emotions, motivation and group behavior have given rise to many new impulses in business ethics. In addition, new case studies and new chapters were included, like Politics and Morality, Theories of Justice, Global Ethics, and Institutions as Solutions to Specific Game Situations (game theory). This book is important for students and researchers as well as policymakers and business executives due to its focus on applications.Table of ContentsTable of Contents.- 0. Introduction .- 1. Basic of ethics.- 2. Ethical valuation approaches.- 3. The image of humans.- 4. Ethical problems of the economy: Enron, Subprime & Co. – from crisis to crisis.- 5. Market and morality.- 6. Institutional ethics: the state regulatory framework.- 7. Tools of ethics for management 8. New chapter: Politics and Ethics.- 9. Ethics in business education.
£59.99
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Women Entrepreneurs in Sub-Saharan Africa: Historical Framework, Ecosystem, and Future Perspectives for the Region
Book SynopsisAccording to a 2018 World Bank report, Africa is the only region with more women than men choosing to become entrepreneurs – a phenomenon that is not the subject of adequate discussion. This book reveals the latest research-based understanding of the entrepreneurial activities of women in sub-Saharan Africa. Specially invited subject experts present salient dimensions of entrepreneurship by African women, from environmental factors to motivations and influencers as well as financial and non-financial constraints, and highlight the significant role of cultural differences. This book provides a mixture of theoretical, conceptual, and empirical research, and fills the knowledge gap by presenting a wide range of opportunities and challenges faced by sub-Saharan African women entrepreneurs. This book will help policy makers and academic researchers in understanding the role of institutions and entrepreneurship policy in building a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region.Table of ContentsWomen Entrepreneurs in Sub-Saharan Africa: An Overview.- Women Entrepreneurs in Cameroon.- Women Entrepreneurs in Ethiopia.- Women Entrepreneurs in Ghana.- Women Entrepreneurs in Kenya.- Women Entrepreneurs in Lesotho.- Women Entrepreneurs in Namibia.- Women Entrepreneurs in Nigeria.- Women Entrepreneurs in Sierra Leone.- Women Entrepreneurs in South Africa.- Women Entrepreneurs in Tanzania.- Women Entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe.
£999.99
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Economic Evaluation, Cost-Benefit Analysis,
Book SynopsisWith cost-benefit analysis, economic sciences cultivate a specific decision-making procedure, which has also been partially adopted in politics. Although economists do not experience the approach as normative, on closer examination the approach can be identified as an economic ethics. The present philosophical and at the same time transdisciplinary (with special legal and economic components) treatment examines the persuasive power of this approach using climate change as an example, as the most important sustainability issue. The objections raised against the economisation of decision-making with regard to the utilitarian tradition, such as the criticism of the orientation towards weighing up options, the alleged lack of distributive justice or the tendency to describe people in behavioural science as selfish, are hardly or not at all convincing on closer examination. In several respects, however, it turns out that cost-benefit analysis faces insoluble problems. Firstly, the theoretical basis of (hidden normative) cost-benefit analysis in philosophical empiricism does not seem tenable. This means the idea of empiricism that normative questions must be transformed into questions of factual (countable and reproduceable) preferences of people. Secondly, there are massive collisions of cost-benefit analysis with a liberal-democratic constitutional law, whose principles are universal ethical principles. This concerns both freedom rights (which must not depend on the ability of humans to pay) and the model of democracy and respect for the rule of law. Thirdly, insoluble problems of application arise for cost-benefit analyses, which are particularly (but not only) apparent in the context of climate protection, in general considerations as in the case of legislation as well as in individual analyses, as done when constructing a coal-fired power plant. A strongly deflated cost-benefit analysis could nevertheless contribute factual material – such as partial aspects of decision consequences that can actually be depicted in monetary terms – to ethical or legal decision-making processes. In this respect the approach appears helpful and complementary, but not beyond that.Table of ContentsChapter 1: Problem and Fundaments.-Chapter 2. Idea-historical foundations and dubious (standard) objections to cost-benefit analysis.- Chapter 3. Frictions on the application level: costs and benefits, discounting, uncertainty, fact base.- Chapter 4. Collision of the cost-benefit analysis with liberal-democratic basic principles and the claim of validity of law.- Chapter 5. Cost-benefit analysis without convincing theoretical basis.- Chapter 6. Remaining relevance of cost-benefit elements in balancing.
£98.99
Springer Nature Switzerland AG The Leading Economic Indicators and Business
Book SynopsisIn a time of unprecedented economic uncertainty, this book provides empirical guidance to the economy and what to expect in the near and distant future. Beginning with a historic look at major contributions to economic indicators and business cycles starting with Wesley Clair Mitchell (1913) to Burns and Mitchell (1946), to Moore (1961) and Zarnowitz (1992), this book explores time series forecasting and economic cycles, which are currently maintained and enhanced by The Conference Board. Given their highly statistically significant relationship with GDP and the unemployment rate, these relationships are particularly useful for practitioners to help predict business cycles.Table of ContentsChapter 1. Economic Growth and Business Cycles in the United States. - Chapter 2. Mr. Wesley Clair Mitchell: The Advent of U.S. and NBER Business Cycle Research. - Chapter 3. Measuring Business Activity, An Introductions to the Contributions of Mr. Persons, Mr. Schumpeter, Mr. Haberler, and Mr. Eckstein. - Chapter 4. Mr. Burns and Mr. Mitchell on Measuring Business Cycles. - Chapter 5. Mr. Geoffrey Moore and NBER Business Cycle Research. - Chapter 6. Mr. Victor Zarnowitz and Economic Forecasting, and NBER Business Cycle Research. - Chapter 7. Regression and Time Series Modeling of Real GDP, the Unemployment Rate, and the Impact of Leading Economic Indicators on Forecasting Accuracy. - Chapter 8. Granger-Causality Testing and LEI Forecasting of Quarterly Mergers and the Unemployment Rate. - Chapter 9. Active Management in Portfolio Selection and Management within Business Cycles and Present-Day COVID. - Chapter 10. Testing and Forecasting the Unemployment Rate with the Most Current Data, TCB LEI, data as of 11/05/2021. - Chapter 11. Conclusions and Summary.
£33.74
Springer Nature Switzerland AG The Citizens' Ledger: Digitizing Our Money,
Book SynopsisThis book is the first of its kind in several overlapping and rapidly developing fields that now dominate news headlines – among them the fields of crypto-currency, digital payments platforms, ‘fintech,’ and central bank digital currencies (‘CBDCs’). With crypto and fintech now threatening to transform finance in destabilizing and anti-democratic ways, and with China and other nations now digitizing their national currencies in the form of CBDCs that make the US dollar and national payments infrastructure look ever more quaint and outmoded, this book shows both why the US and other democratic commercial societies must, and how they can, democratically digitize their currencies, their national payments systems, and the authorities that respectively issue and administer them – in the US, the Federal Reserve System (‘the Fed’).Table of ContentsChapter 1. Introduction: Money, Finance, & Production in Contemporary Commercial Republics A. Money & Production, Public & Private: The Two-by-Two Matrix of Commercial Republican Economies B. Ills of Financial Hybridity—& Their Possible Money-Tech Cure C. Digitized Citizen Ledger Finance as Our Newly Available Cure Chapter 2: Money, Capital, & Investment: Fixing Some Critical Terms & Relations A. Capital: A Crucial Yet Oft-Muddled Term 1.Production: What Capital is (Ultimately) For 2.Generic Capital 3.Generic Capital in Production—Investment Capital B. Investment: Antonym & Antidote to Speculation 1.Investment & Finance 2.Stratification & N-ary (a.k.a.”Meta-”) Markets 3.Intermediation, Derivation, “Financialization” C. Money: From Measure to Medium—and Back 1.Paying—Including Investing 2.Accounting 3.Crediting / Debiting Chapter 3: Franchise Finance: A Brief Exposition & Exposé A. Hybridity In the Large: Exposition B. Hybridity in Detail: Exposé 1.Credit-Money’s Endogeneity: Private Lending of Public Capital 2.Endogeneity’s Blessing—and Curse: Production & Wealth, Speculation & Recursive Collective Action Problems Chapter 4. Franchise Finance: Why & How We Got Here A. Why Credit and Currency 1.Credit: Production & Payment in Time 2.Currency: From Ledgers to Tokens—and Back B. Why Uniformity 1.Spatial Uniformity: Payments & “Universal Equivalents” 2.Temporal Uniformity: “Sound Money” & “Elastic Currency” Chapter 5. Franchise Finance: Why We Retain It— & Why We Need Not 52 A. Why We Retain It: New Facts, Old Ideas B. Why We Need Not: New Facts, New Prospects C. Ending Hybridity—Citizen Ledger Finance in Broad Outline Chapter 6. Digitized Citizen Ledger Finance: What We Now Can & Must Do A. Liability-Side Reform: Reserve Accounts, Citizen Wallets, & Resident Wallets 1.What the U.S. & Others Do Now: Reserve Accounts 2.What We Must Add: Digital Citizen Wallets, Resident Wallets, & Their Common Digital Ledger B. Asset Side Reform: Digitized CB, NIC, PSF, & Other Public Issuances 1.What We Do Now: Finance Ministry Debt, Agency Debt, & (Sometimes) Other 2.What We Must Add: Digitized CB-Discounted Paper, NIC Issuances, PSF Holdings, & Other C. Systemic Ramifications: Private Sector Transformation, Public Sector Consolidation 1.Private Money Capital: From Credit-Generation & -Multiplication to Honest Intermediation 2.Public Investment Capital: From Central Bank & Finance Ministry, Fiscal & Monetary, and “T-Bill,” “Fed Note” & “Mint Coin” Separation to Digital Consolidation Chapter 7. Digitized Citizen Ledger Finance: Logistics & Technics A. From Abstract Accounting to Concrete Logistics: Making It Happen Now B. From Macro Logistics to Micro Technics: Why to Digitize Now 1.The Bright Side of the Ledger 2.The Dark Side of the Ledger Chapter 8. From Digitized Citizen Ledger Finance to Citizen Fintech: Democratic Digitization & Its Possible Forms A. Moneys and Payment Systems B. From Payments to Moneys: Technical Options for the Democratic Digital Currency Chapter 9. Digitized Citizen Ledger Finance: Cavils & Competitors
£35.99
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Mergers & Acquisitions: Understanding M&A
Book SynopsisMergers & acquisitions are an essential instrument of strategic corporate management for companies of all sizes. The success of an M&A project highly depends on an optimal transaction preparation, fast execution and the experience of all parties involved. Due to numerous endogenous and exogenous influences, no two M&A transactions are alike at the detailed level. This book is designed as a practical M&A guide for students and professionals alike. In addition to dealing with important basics of mergers & acquisitions, the focus is on a structured and in-depth examination of the individual process steps of a typical company sale. At various points in this book, specific differences between a company sale of medium-sized companies (mid-caps) and large companies (large-caps) are discussed in detail.Table of ContentsChapter 1. The foundation of the consideration.- Chapter 2. David and Goliath: Mid-cap and large-cap companies.- Chapter 3. M&A sales process.
£47.49
Springer International Publishing AG The Elements of Joint Learning and Optimization
Book SynopsisThis book examines recent developments in Operations Management, and focuses on four major application areas: dynamic pricing, assortment optimization, supply chain and inventory management, and healthcare operations. Data-driven optimization in which real-time input of data is being used to simultaneously learn the (true) underlying model of a system and optimize its performance, is becoming increasingly important in the last few years, especially with the rise of Big Data. Table of ContentsPart 1: Generic Tools.- Chapter 1: The Stochastic Multi-armed Bandit Problem.- Chapter 2: Reinforcement Learning.- Chapter 3: Optimal Learning and Optimal Design.- Part 2: Price Optimization.- Chapter 4: Dynamic Pricing with Demand Learning: Emerging Topics and State of the Art.- Chapter 5: Learning and Pricing with Inventory Constraints.- Chapter 6: Dynamic Pricing and Demand Learning in Nonstationary Environments.- Chapter 7: Pricing with High-Dimensional Data.- Part 3: Assortment Optimization.- Chapter 8: Nonparametric Estimation of Choice Models.- Chapter 9: The MNL-Bandit Problem.- Chapter 10: Dynamic Assortment Optimization: Beyond MNL Model.- Part 4: Inventory Optimization.- Chapter 11: Inventory Control with Censored Demand.- Chapter 12: Joint Pricing and Inventory Control with Demand Learning.- Chapter 13: Optimization in the Small-Data, Large-Scale Regime.- Part 5: Healthcare Operations.- Chapter 14: Bandit Procedures for Designing Patient-Centric Clinical Trials.- Chapter 15: Dynamic Treatment Regimes.
£999.99
Springer International Publishing AG The Enactment of Strategic Leadership: A Critical
Book SynopsisThis Open Access book explores the meaning and roles that strategy and leadership play in our lives. Based on decades of experience, the author contemplates whether we believe strategic leadership exists because it actually exists, or whether it exists because we believe it does? Both answers are true. The author argues that the duality of the essence of strategic leadership is clear. It may appear to be personalised, or it may seem to be an important characteristic of the organization enacted everywhere where there is guidance. In fact, the discussion about strategic leadership raises more questions. In this thought-provoking book, the author puts forward a robust critical assessment of one of the most widely used concepts in management research and practice. Beginning with an ontological and historical discussion around which the concept of strategic leadership has developed, the book continues to discuss the phenomenon of strategic leadership. Utilising a post-modern perspective and by heavily drawing on concepts such as hegemony and ideology, the author then discusses the role of organizational culture and networks, as well as the underlying tensions that come associated with strategic leadership.Table of Contents1. The Classic Ontology of Leadership.2. Collective and Leadership.3. The Rise of Strategic Leadership.4. External Adaptation.5. Strategic Direction.6. Strategic Leadership Between Hegemony and Ideology.7. Organisational Culture, Leadership Language and Integration of the Collective.8. Configurations of Strategic Leadership.9. Strategic Leadership from the Social Network Perspective.10. Facing Tensions in Strategic Leadership.
£26.24
Springer International Publishing AG The Representation of Workers in the Digital Era:
Book SynopsisThis book compiles empirical evidence on both the challenges raised by neo-liberal policies and the internet to trade unions, and the development of more flexible forms of worker organisation and collective representation. The relationship with digital devices seems inevitably to contribute to differentiating trends, simultaneously acting as an internal and external constraint on organisation. Gathering academics and experts from European and Brazilian universities, this book is recommended for researchers and students in the fields of sociology of work, labour studies and collective action, as well as practitioners and others interested in worker interest organisations and collective representation in the early 21st Century. Table of ContentsChapter 1Introduction.- Chapter 2Precarious work and possibilities of union resistance in Brazil.- Chapter 3How to represent the unrepresented? Renewing the collective action repertoires of autonomous workers in three countries.- Chapter 4Digitization and collective representation strategies in Spain.- Chapter 5The representation of precarious workers: two case studies from Portugal.- Chapter 6Work platforms, informality and forms of resistance: the case of on-demand workers in the city of São Paulo.- Chapter 7Gender representation in the high-tech sector in Italy: the required alliance between trade unions and women associations.- Chapter 8The representation of platform workers through Facebook groups in Bulgaria – a partially-filled void.- Chapter 9Conclusion.
£29.99
Springer International Publishing AG Management and Leadership for a Sustainable
Book SynopsisTo effectively deliver sustainable management in practice for Africa, we need responsible leadership. We need to deepen our understanding of sustainability in the unique socio-political and economic context of the continent. The roles of various actors across public, private and non-profit sectors as enablers of sustainable development need to be explored to understand the social, economic and environmental (SEE) trends in Africa and its emerging and developing economies, as well as to chart the way forward for the continent.This second volume explores the roles and responsibilities of the players—leaders and followers—in the core, public purpose and business spheres in delivering sustainable development outcomes for Africa. Drawing on interviews, cases and extensive literature, this volume contributes to reflection on the leadership values and practices required for a sustainable Africa and the crafting of new policy approaches to address the development challenges such as environmental degradation, economic inequities and social exclusion in Africa. The African scope of the book is hinged on collaboration from authors across Africa and the inclusion of case stories from emerging economies in the five African subregions (East, West, North, Central and Southern Africa) within the chapters. The core message is that, to achieve effective and sustainable management and development for Africa, the practice of responsible leadership is critical.Table of ContentsChapter 1: Leadership for Sustainable Development in Africa - Roles and Responsibilities.- Chapter 2: Leading the Way Forward: What Can African Governments Do.- Chapter 3: Responsible Corporate Leadership: Driving Sustainability in Nigeria’s Financial Services Industry.- Chapter 4: Non-financial reporting regulation and the state of sustainability disclosure among banks in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA): A literature review on banks in Ghana and Nigeria.- Chapter 5: NGO and CSO Influence and Media Power for Africa’s Future.- Chapter 6: Sustainable (Green) Supply Chain Management in Sub Saharan Africa.- Chapter 7: SME Sustainability Goals and Development in a Volatile Environment.- Chapter 8: SMEs and Sustainable Development in Africa: Understanding the Impact of Governments’ Supports.- Chapter 9: Sustainability leadership by more minor actors: individuals and families.- Chapter 10: Partnership for High Social Impact in Africa: A Conceptual and Practical Framework.- Chapter 11: RTechnology and Green Tech in Africa.- Chapter 12: Participatory Campaign Approaches in Greening Africa: A Case of 93.1 IUIU FM Go Green Tree Planting Campaign.- Chapter 13: The NGOs and the SDGs: Lessons for Leadership and Sustainability.- Chapter 14: On the Path to a Sustainable Africa: The Role of Communalism and Collaborative Enterprises.- Chapter 15: Taking the Lead: Case Studies Reflecting New Sustainability Trends in Africa.- Chapter 16: Leadership Roles for Sustainable Development in Africa - Charting the Way Forward.
£999.99
Springer International Publishing AG Open Mapping towards Sustainable Development Goals: Voices of YouthMappers on Community Engaged Scholarship
Book SynopsisThis collection amplifies the experiences of some of the world’s young people who are working to address SDGs using geospatial technologies and multi-national collaboration. Authors from every region of the world who have emerged as leaders in the YouthMappers movement share their perspectives and knowledge in an accessible and peer-friendly format. YouthMappers are university students who create and use open mapping for development and humanitarian purposes. Their work leverages digital innovations - both geospatial platforms and communications technologies - to answer the call for leadership to address sustainability challenges. The book conveys a sense of robust knowledge emerging from formal studies or informal academic experiences - in the first-person voices of students and recent graduates who are at the forefront of creating a new map of the world. YouthMappers use OpenStreetMap as the foundational sharing mechanism for creating data together. Authors impart the way they are learning about themselves, about each other, about the world. They are developing technology skills, and simultaneously teaching the rest of the world about the potential contributions of a highly connected generation of emerging world leaders for the SDGs. The book is timely, in that it captures a pivotal moment in the trajectory of the YouthMappers movement’s ability to share emerging expertise, and one that coincides with a pivotal moment in the geopolitical history of planet earth whose inhabitants need to hear from them. Most volumes that cover the topic of sustainability in terms of youth development are written by non-youth authors. Moreover, most are written by non-majoritarian, entrenched academic scholars. This book instead puts forward the diverse voices of students and recent graduates in countries where YouthMappers works, all over the world. Authors cover topics that range from water, agriculture, food, to waste, education, gender, climate action and disasters from their own eyes in working with data, mapping, and humanitarian action, often working across national boundaries and across continents. To inspire readers with their insights, the chapters are mapped to the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in ways that connect a youth agenda to a global agenda. With a preface written by Carrie Stokes, Chief Geographer and GeoCenter Director, United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This is an open access book. Table of ContentsChapter1. Introduction.- PartI. Mapping for the Goals on Poverty, Hunger, Health, Education, Gender, Water, and Energy.- Chapter2. Open Data Addressing Challenges Associated with Informal Settlements in the Global South.- Chapter3. Leveraging Spatial Technology for Agricultural Intensification to Address Hunger in Ghana.- Chapter4. Rural Household Food Insecurity and Child Malnutrition in Northern Ghana.- Chapter5. Where is the Closest Health Clinic? YouthMappers map their communities before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.- Chapter6. Cross-continental YouthMappers Action to Fight Schistosomiasis Transmission in Senegal.- Chapter7. Understanding YouthMappers Contributions to Building Resilient Communities in Asia.- Chapter8. Activating Education for Sustainable Development Goals through YouthMappers.- Chapter9. Seeing the World Through Maps: An Inclusive and Youth Oriented Approach.- Chapter10. Youth Engagement and the Water-Energy-Land Nexus in Costa Rica.- Chapter11. Power Grid Mapping in West Africa.- Chapter12. Mapping Access to Electricity in Urban and Rural Nigeria.- PartII. Youth Action on Work, Leadership, Innovation, Inequality, Cities, Production and Land.- Chapter13. Stories from Students Building Sustainability Through Transfer of Leadership.- Chapter14. Drones For Good: Mapping Out the SDGs Using Innovative Technology in Malawi.- Chapter15. Assessing YouthMappers Contributions to the Generation of Open Geospatial Data in Africa.- Chapter16. Mapping Invisible and Inaccessible Areas of Brazilian Cities to Reduce Inequalities.- Chapter17. Visualizing YouthMappers Contributions to Environmental Resilience in Latin America.- PartIII. Marking a Path to Goals on Sustainable Communities, Consumption, Climate, Oceans, Land, and Justice.- Chapter18. Youth Engagement and Participation in Mitigating Perennial Flooding in Kampala, Uganda using Open Geospatial Data.- Chapter19. Sustainable Mobility through Knowledge Exchange and Collaborative Mapping of Cycling Infrastructure: SIGenBici in Medellín, Colombia.- Chapter20. Wastesites.io: Mapping Solid Waste to Meet Sustainable Development Goals.- Chapter21. Mapping for Resilience: Extreme Heat Deaths and Mobile Homes in Arizona.- Chapter22. Mapping for Women’s Evacuation Plans during Climate-induced Disasters.- Chapter23. Sustainable Development in Oceania and the Role of Mapping for Women.- Chapter24. Sustainable Coastal Communities in the Anthropocene: Lessons from Crowd-Mapping Projects in Colombia.- Chapter25. Collaborative Cartography Making Riparian Communities Visible in Tefé, Amazonas, Brazil.- Chapter26. Open Mapping with Official Cartographies in the Americas.- Chapter27. Cities of the Future Need to be Both Smart and Just: How We Think Open Mapping Can Help.- PartIV. Supporting YouthMappers to Advance the SDGs through Institutions and Partnerships.- Chapter28. Mentoring Experiences in YouthMappers Chapters.- Chapter29. The Ecosystem Where YouthMappers Live and Thrive.- Chapter30. A Free and Open Map of the Entire World: Opportunities for YouthMappers within the Unusual Partnership Model of OpenStreetMap.- Chapter31. Youth and Humanitarian Action: Open Mapping Partnerships for Disaster Response and the SDGs.- PartV. The Paths Ahead.- Chapter32. Generation 2030: The Strategic Imperative of Youth Civic and Political Engagement.- Chapter33. Reflecting on the YouthMappers Movement.
£999.99
Springer International Publishing AG Introduction to Mathematics for Economics with R
Book SynopsisThis book provides a practical introduction to mathematics for economics using R software. Using R as a basis, this book guides the reader through foundational topics in linear algebra, calculus, and optimization. The book is organized in order of increasing difficulty, beginning with a rudimentary introduction to R and progressing through exercises that require the reader to code their own functions in R. All chapters include applications for topics in economics and econometrics. As fully reproducible book, this volume gives readers the opportunity to learn by doing and develop research skills as they go. As such, it is appropriate for students in economics and econometrics.Table of Contents1. Introduction to R.- 2. Linear Algebra.- 3. Functions of one variable.- 4. Dierential Calculus.- 5. Integral Calculus.- 6. Multivariable Calculus.- 7. Constrained Optimization.- 8. Trigonometry.- 9. Complex numbers.- 10. Difference equations.- 11. Differential equations.
£42.74
Springer International Publishing AG The Institutional Compass: Method, Use and Scope
Book SynopsisThis open access book presents a new generation multi-criteria, multi-stake holder, decision aide, called an "institutional compass". Based on hard data, the compass tells us what quality-direction we are heading in as an institution, region, system or organisation. The quality is not chosen from the usual scalar qualities of: good, neutral and bad. Instead, it is a quality chosen between: harmony, discipline and excitement. None is good in and of itself. We need some of each. The compass marks a new generation in four respects. 1. The representation of the data is intuitive and simple to understand, and therefore can be used to communicate and justify policy decisions. 2. Any data can be included, i.e., none is excluded. This makes the compass tailored to particular situations, voices and contexts. 3. The data includes different time horizons and different types of value: monetary, use, social, sentimental, religious, intrinsic, existential... 4. The process of compass construction can be made inclusive at several junctions. An institutional compass can be extended to evaluate products, add normativity to a systems analysis, reflect world-views such as that of ecological economists or function as an accounting system to manage scarce resources. There are four parts to the book. The first part introduces the general ideas behind the compass. In the second part, the author presents the method for constructing the compass. This includes data collection, data analysis and a mathematical formula to aggregate the data into a single holistic reading. In the third part, the author extends the methodology: to incorporate it into systems science, adding a normative and quality-direction dimension, to use it as a non-linear accounting method and more thoroughly to reflect the philosophy of ecological economists to give a real measure of sustainability. In the fourth part, we see three case studies: one for the World Health Organisation, a second is the use of the compass to label products in a shop and the third is as a regional compass for Hauts-de-France. The book ends with philosophical conclusions. Throughout the book, we see tight arguments, refreshing ideas and a thorough treatment of objectivity in decision making.Table of ContentsPart I: Introduction.- Chapter 1. General Introduction.- Chapter 2. Vocabulary.- Chapter 3. The State of the Art in Decision Making.- Part II: The Method for Constructing The Institutional Compass.- Chapter 4. The Three Qualities Again.- Chapter 5. Constructing an Institutional Compass: Methodology.- Part III: Scope: More Uses of The Institutional Compass and Some Extensions.- Chapter 6. Merging the Compass with Systems Science.- Chapter 7. Adapting The Compass to Align with Ecological Economics Thinking.- Chapter 8. Further Manipulations and Extensions using the Notion of Sphere.- Chapter 9. The Compass as Representation.- Chapter 10. The Compass for Qualitative Accounting. Part IV: Actual Case-Studies and Conclusion.- Chapter 11. Case Study I: The World Health Organisation. Chapter 12. Case Study II: Report on Produce Label Project.- Chapter 13. Case Study III: Regional Compass Hauts-de-France, Superimposing a Biorefinery. Chapter 14. Concluding Philosophical Remarks.
£999.99
Springer International Publishing AG Investor Relations and ESG Reporting in a
Book SynopsisInvestor Relations and ESG Reporting in a Regulatory Perspective is a comprehensive and detailed practical guide for financial market participants, focusing on the stock market, written for practitioners by practitioners. The main themes of the book include the challenging integration of investor relations (IR) and the non-financial reporting of environmental, social and governance (ESG). Further, the book provides a comprehensive overview of the complex regulatory framework of the European Union (EU) related to the financial markets, including the expected global trends in this area. This includes financial legislation such as MiFID II, MiFIR and MAR along with non-financial legislation like the EU’s taxonomy, CSRD and SFDR. In addition, this book explores the non-financial reporting standards of GRI, TCFD, CDSB, IBC, SASB, IRRC and the upcoming ISSB, and discusses the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In addition, the book provides a practical guide regarding IR in special situations, e.g. in connection with takeover response manuals, M&A, investor activism, initial public offerings (IPOs), as well companies’ collaboration with e.g. investment banks and corporate finance advisers, financial PR and IR advisers in such situations. The suggested audience of the book includes board members and senior management of in particular listed companies, and companies considering an IPO; professionals working in the fields of IR, ESG and communications; institutional and retail investors; private equity executives; venture capitalists; investment bankers; legal practitioners; accountants and auditors; financial journalists; and politicians. Finally, university and business students may benefit from an insight into the dynamics of the financial markets and the direction they are moving, a possible inspiration for choosing a future career. Table of ContentsOverview of main sections1. The financial markets – an overview 2. The participants of the financial markets 3. Major legislation themes related to the European financial markets 4. Optimizing the investor relations department, and a fair valuation of the company through good investor relations 5. Investor relations in special situations 6. ESG-reporting for listed companies 7. Future trends in financial and non-financial reporting Section 1: The financial markets – an overview [including the benefits of a stock market listing, how stock prices are formed, and understanding the valuation methodology of investors, equity analysts, and corporate finance professionals] Chapter 1.1: The benefits and drawbacks of a stock market listing · Why is a company listed on the stock exchange? [a summary of the main motivations, including access to capital, liquidity, ownership transition, credibility, marketing, transparency, and employee engagement] · The terminology of the financial markets [with an emphasis of the importance of distinguishing the different participants and stakeholders of the financial markets, including their motivation, and why tailoring communication improves the company’s standing with the stock market] Chapter 1.2: The formation of stock prices · What determines the price of a stock? [a framework on the social interactions within the financial markets between different participants, and how information volatility forms stock prices - based on the works of e.g. Robert J. Schiller (1984/2003) and Ho & Lyke (2017)] · The social interaction within the financial markets [the interaction between buyers and sellers, and the deviation between market price volatility and intrinsic value] · Information is king [defining types of information (asymmetric/symmetric, disclosed/undisclosed, grey areas) and types of markets (perfect/imperfect/hybrid) Chapter 1.3: Ethics on the financial markets: Why a solid IR framework is key · Important considerations on ethics in the financial markets [Outlining insider information, including DOs & DONTs] · Understanding the difference between forward-looking views and investor communication with material sensitive information Chapter 1.4: Understanding valuation methodology · Introduction to different valuation methods of investors, equity analysts, and corporate finance professionals [qualitative and quantitative methods, including their use, input and limitations] · The importance of the financial accounts [identification of the most relevant ‘lines’ of the profit & loss account, the balance sheet, and the cash flow statement) · Enterprise multiples [different earnings/sales/cash multiples, including in combination, with selected growth rates and earnings margins] · Discounted Cash Flows (DCF) [description of mythology, assumptions and inputs] · Others (e.g. M&A multiples, subscriptions) Chapter 1.5: ESG and other non-valuation methods (inspiration from ‘Beating the Market with ESG, Silvalo, H. and Landau, T.) · Motivation and methods for sustainable investing · Active ownership · Qualitative and quantitative methods · The investment trends of ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) in the investment community Chapter 1.6: Valuation methodology from the perspective of different investors · Investors and their valuation preferences [integrating the valuation methods with the social context of the financial markets, before exploring the relevant stakeholders in detail] Summary of advice and best practices [brief and operational] Section 2: The participants of the financial markets [including understanding their respective interests, and the collaboration between them] Abstract [of section content] Chapter 2.1: Understanding the financial markets’ stakeholders and their motivation · The dynamics between the various stakeholders of the financial markets [incl. an illustrative diagram connecting all stakeholders] Chapter 2.2: The buy-side - from institutional to retail investors · Investors (the ‘buy-side’) [including an illustrative diagram connecting risk profile, investment tenure and return expectations – and typical shareholder composition of various investor types in listed companies] Chapter 2.3: Understanding the role of institutional investors · Portfolio managers [tier 1 and 2, who are they, including e.g. the internal process with institutional investors which leads to a decision to invest in a certain company, including investment focus, investment themes, valuation, and selected 'political' considerations] · Buy-side analyst [identifying thematic investments themes (asset classes and equity classes) over the investment cycle] · Other investor groups, including private equity and proprietary trading Chapter 2.4: How to communicate with retail investors · Traditional retail investors · High net-worth individuals · Exchange traded funds (ETFs) (passive investors) [types of fund specifications, incl. traditional such as index, size, region, industry, factors to new such as ESG-compositions, investment themes and SRI)] Chapter 2.5: The sell-side - brokers, corporate access, equity analysts, and corporate finance [including an illustrative diagram of the collaboration framework] · Sell-side analysts [including an illustrative diagram of sell-side analysts’ role among the financial markets’ participants, types of equity research (comprehensive research reports, analyst notes and chat commentary and ESG reporting), financial modelling and maintenance, external data] · Sales and trading [client relationship management (client onboarding and maintenance), as intermediate between institutional investors, trading and institutional investors, and research analysts - interpreting analyst reports, and qualitative analysis for example management composition and ESG-trends] · Corporate access [managing roadshows and ad hoc investor events] · Broker reviews and ratings [including what dictates the distribution of investors’ commission among brokers] · Credit/debt analysts [including brief explanation of the different focus of equity analysts and credit/debt analyst] · Corporate finance advisers [types of financial market-related corporate finance transactions, and the collaboration between the various financial market participants on the one side, and the corporate finance advisers on the other side of the ‘wall’] Chapter 2.6: Considering the role of other non-financial market stakeholders · Other stakeholders in the financial markets [e.g. competitors, customers, external IR advisors (elaborated in chapter [5]), employees, media etc.] · How does regulatory and legislation influence the stock markets [bridging to the following chapter] Summary of advice and best practices [brief and operational] Section 3: Major legislation themes related to the European financial markets [including the wave of new regulations and laws which have flooded the on financial markets in recent years; their impact; as well as ESG and mitigation methods] Abstract [of section content] Chapter 3.1: How is regulation implemented on the European financial markets? · Introduction to, and a legislative overview of, the legal framework governing the EU financial markets [including an illustrative diagram and timeline of the comprehensive regulatory framework governing the participants of the financial markets] · Relevant EU legislation and its context [including how are EU laws encapsulated into EU jurisdictions (via. legislation and directives) and how does EU legislation generally tie in with the local legislation of the different EU jurisdictions. Inclusion of illustration of overall financial market legal framework in the EU and table related to local laws] · MiFID II (the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive) [including a summary of legal framework, and overview of implications] · MIFIR (Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation) [including a summary of legal framework, and overview of implications] · MAR (Market abuse regulation) [including a summary of legal framework, and overview of implications] Chapter 3.2: Learning from the impact on financial markets of recent regulation · MiFID II’s motivation to outline stakeholders and increase transparency · The more detailed regulatory impact on the financial markets [EU’s impact of MIFID II on SME (Small and Medium-sized Enterprise) and fixed income] · Research coverage [the separation of research and trading remuneration has lowered the flexibility of research, consolidating it towards larger companies] · Road shows and other event services [the increasing difficulty of broker facilitated events due to the required remuneration] · Liquidity [overall lower attention from brokers has resulted in reduced stock liquidity] · Chinese walls and organisational silos [increase of internal compliance, bureaucracy, and procedures to navigate ‘the regulatory framework’ in an optimal, efficient best-practice ethical manner] Chapter 3.3: Best-practice mitigation methods to increase investor interest · Possibilities to mitigate the adverse impact of selected regulatory framework · Sponsored research [the difference vs. traditional research (e.g. no recommendation and public distribution); examples from the market; the buy-side’s perception] · Event relationships [e.g. paid roadshows; motivating the sell-side; the buy-side’s perception] · Digital IR [e.g. marketing through social media; addressing private investors and the retail market] · Selected proactive media relations [incl. the impact on retail investors] Chapter 3.4: The new wave of regulatory framework [ESG may be a central topic] · MIFID II / EU Commission ‘Financing Sustainable Growth’ · EU Classification system ‘Taxonomy’ and changes in international politics and legislation (Silvola, H. et al.) · What may the future bring on the regulatory side? [potential themes of MiFID III; optimising IR activities as introduction to new chapter] Summary of advice and best practices [brief and operational] Section 4: Optimizing the investor relations department, and a fair valuation of the company through good investor relations [including the purpose, role, toolbox and transformative role of IR] Abstract [of section content] Chapter 4.1: The purpose of IR · Strategic management · Two-way communication · The goal of achieving a fair value of the share price Chapter 4.2: Deciding on IR ambitions and its success factors · The basics of IR ambitions · Best practice · IR practicalities (central IR tasks) · What characterizes good IR? Chapter 4.3: IR within the organisation · Organizing IR · The operational responsibility of IR · Management’s role · Board of Directors’ role · Collaboration with communication and ESG leads · Internal IR reporting · Internal collaboration · Competitor intelligence Chapter 4.4: IR’s responsibilities of implementing policies and planning ahead · Quarterly reporting cycle [including silent periods, management priorities, pre-close calls] · Internal process and planning (the IR-wheel) · IR in a corporate governance context · IR policy · IR strategy · IR plan Chapter 4.5: Tools to engage a company’s stakeholders · Website · Investor presentation · Annual report · Quarterly reporting · Q&A · Investor targeting · Investor meetings, roadshow and other IR activities o Webcasts o Psychical / video meetings o Group meetings o One-on-one meetings o Capital markets days · Financial targets [incl. pros and cons] · Perception studies [an under-rated IR tool] Chapter 4.6: Managing investor expectations · Meetings with investors and analysts o Institutional investors [and buyside analysts] o Private investors (distinguishing between high-net worth and retail) o Equity analysts o Credit/debt analysts · Expectations management [without challenging existing legislation] Chapter 4.7: Embracing the digital world of IR activities · The use of social media · Digital platforms facilitating contact between companies and investors · Potential pitfalls · Leveraging IR through the financial media · The IR function’s interaction with different stakeholders [external and internal] · Leveraging IR at the executive management and board of directors’ levels Summary of advice and best practices [brief and operational] Section 5: Investor relations in special situations [including contingencies, engagement, monitoring and Initial Public Offerings (IPOs)] Abstract [of section content] Chapter 5.1: IR preparation of difference types in contingencies · The importance of contingencies [including the role of IR] · IR’s role if a crisis emerges · Designing a comprehensive contingency · Balancing investor communication and transparency · The use of external advisers [e.g. IR and communications advisers, investments banks, legal] · Takeover response manuals [i.e. detailed contingencies in a takeover situation to ease the pressure on the company, and to obtain the best offer price for the shareholders] Chapter 5.2: Valuation in a take-over situation and strategic alternatives · Overview of thresholds · The approach of investments banks [the investment banks works with management to perform a thorough valuation review, focusing on share price performance, broker outlook, SOTP (Sum-Of-The-Parts) intrinsic value, and comparable company valuation analyses] · Assess strategic value to competitors [e.g. synergies] · Understand the company’s weaknesses · Assess possible attack themes and responses · Review strategic alternatives as routes to value [e.g. acquisitions, capital returns, licensing, other collaborations, etc.] Chapter 5.3: Shareholder engagement and monitoring market activity · How to stay close to and communicate with shareholders · Review list of major shareholders in detail and know them [investor perception, satisfaction, trust] · Continue developing the company’s equity story and communicate it effectively to the investor community; make sure guidance is both robust and credible, and that shareholders have proper visibility with respect to the company’s value drivers · Track trading flows in order to decipher whether or not stake accumulation is taking place · Monitor trading activity relative to historical averages · The implications of voting rights and dual voting right structures · Maintain awareness of short positions and related derivatives trading as indicia of potential activist activity, or a potential acquirer building a major shareholding Chapter 5.4: Developing a comprehensive take-over response manual · Develop a comprehensive take-over response manual that can be relied upon by the board of directors and executive management in the event of an unsolicited approach from a third party [i.e. a document that illustrate the steps each party needs to take in the event of an unsolicited approach] · Prepare detailed ‘leak protocol’ and ‘aide-mémoire’ to ensure formal framework in place · Rehearsing the board of directors, and management, on a ‘situation simulation’ [i.e. where a possible takeover scenario is conducted on a ‘war games’ basis] · White knight analysis [i.e. understanding who friend is, and who is foe] · Compile list of possible acquirors and analyse their financial capabilities and borrowing/financing potential · Create short-list of ‘white knights’ and what steps might be taken to cultivate them in advance of a potential third-party bid approach Chapter 5.5: A checklist for prober IR strategy during an IPO · A company’s collaboration with investment banks, lawyers and other advisers · IR, financial PR and media relations in an IPO process [i.e. the IPO process from an IR perspective] · Creating a new IR function [summary considerations] · Guidelines and procedures for onboarding new equity analysts · Public-to-private transactions, including contested take-overs [the role of IR] Summary of advice and best practices [brief and operational] Section 6 ESG-reporting for listed companies [including integrating the growing strong focus and understanding of ESG within the relevant reporting structures among the stakeholders] Abstract [of section content] Chapter 6.1: A detailed insight to the importance of integrating ESG in the business and IR · The new world of business, and the financial markets, are dictated by ESG. ESG must be an integrated part of a company’s business strategy · The ESG stakeholders [illustration of a Stakeholder and ESG model by Kay I., et. al. (2020)] and how the IR and ESG departments can collaborate · Aligning the company’s internal actors (board of directors, management, and general senior staff) to embrace ESG · Why the importance of ESG has increased in the financial market [e.g. the fundamental, climate, business, political and emotional arguments to embrace ESG] Chapter 6.2: The importance of good ESG-reporting [vis-à-vis the financial markets] · Investor attention: Better ESG performance relative to peers · Cost of capital: Companies with a focus on ESG provide more transparent financial information; may lower their cost of capital by attracting long-term institutional investors; and are superior in attracting equity analyst coverage · Raising capital - a long-standing focus on ESG has a positive impact on the ability to raise new capital, including the magnitude hereof · The stance of institutional investors · Pressure from stakeholders · Screening criteria’s and ESG investment strategies · The stance of equity analysts · Onwards – lack of good ESG will dry out companies’ access to new capital Chapter 6.3: Setting the standards of ESG-reporting · ESG rating agencies [who are they and what do they do?] · What value do investors put into ESG rating agencies? · How do investors evaluate the ESG progress of companies? · The financial stakeholders’ demands to ESG-reporting, for both institutional investors, retail investors, equity analysts and other stakeholders Chapter 6.4: ESG-reporting [how to approach and prepare it] · Where to start · Select the main audience · What do the financial stakeholders prioritise · Creating the right reporting framework · Select your focus areas [e.g. among UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) to transform the world] · Develop relevant and realistic plans and reporting targets · Typical challenges [e.g. collecting the relevant data] · Integrating the financial and ESG-related/non-financial reporting Summary of advice and best practices [brief and operational] Section 7 Future trends in financial and non-financial reporting [summarizing a series of reporting trends related to financial and non-financial stakeholders] Abstract [of section content] Chapter 7.1: The next generation of EU budgets and policy · Outlining the inflow of capital into best-in-class companies, and the reporting challenges remaining · A monumental legislative and investment shift into best-in-class companies [outline the European Green deal (EGD), the NextGen EU Budgets and 2050 Co2 neutrality targets] · Motivation and challenges remaining for financial and non-financial reporting [EU evaluation study: Lack of comparability, reliability, and relevance – with strong support of simplification, stick audit requirements, digitalization and materiality assessment] Chapter 7.2: Financial reporting · Relevant legislation in this context [international financial reporting standards (IFRS) and International accounting standards board (IASB)] · Forecasting [balancing transparent financial guidance with competition concerns] · Communicated non-recurring items [restructuring, write-offs, impairments, purchase price allocations (PPA), severance and variable compensation] · Short-term and long-term [liquidity status and risks] · Internal controls [physical inventory, cyberattacks, segregation of duties] Chapter 7.3: Non-financial reporting · Relevant legislation in this context [The 2018 EU non-financial reporting directive (NFRD), the EU sustainability goals (SDG), the Paris agreement and sustainable goals, taxonomy eligibility and science-based targets, proposal of corporate sustainability reporting directive (CSRD)] · Defining impact, risk, and objectives among related disclosures: o Climate-related non-financial reporting [SDG performance (products), operational performance (climate and energy / environmental management / waste and recycling)] o Other non-financial reporting [operational performance (safety and social / corporate governance (including anti-corruption) / diversity and inclusion / wage gap] · Communicating a transparent supply network in accordance with taxonomy targets and objectives · Assuring forward-looking quality and relevant information [taking current and future challenges into account on a micro and macro level, using case examples, relative calculations and communicating ongoing progress/achievements] Chapter 7.4: Global investment and financial reporting trends · Comparability, benchmarking and transparency · SFDR2 and technical screening of comparisons · Standardisation of data and rating disclose of companies on an EU level (a potential screening criterion for institutional investors) Summary of trends [brief and operational] * * * * *
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