Business, Finance & Law Books

Book Synopsis​This book examines and classifies different reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic from economists across the world. With the impacts of the pandemic experienced differently in each country, specific case studies are provided to highlight how the economics profession has responded to the challenges that have emerged from COVID-19. Key debates, such as the trade-off between health protective measures and the economic impacts of closing important sectors, are discussed, with a focus on the responses in China, the USA, Italy, France, Russia, Argentina, Brazil, India, and Palestine. This book explores the ability of economists to respond to economic and social crises, and provides insight into the ties between economic theory and economic policy in the modern world. It will be relevant to students and researchers interested in how economists have responded to the COVID-19 and what changes it might trigger.Table of ContentsIntroduction.- 1. China: Interpreting the Economic Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Context of National Goals.- 2. COVID-19 and the Indian Economy: The Debate about a Wage-led Recovery.- 3. Palestine: The Pandemic Between Occupation and Neoliberalism.- 4. Economic Policy Debates in France since COVID-19: A Lasting Shift in Macron’s Doctrine? .- 5. COVID-19 and Russia.- 6. The Economy at the Time of COVID-19: Theoretical and Political Debates in the United States.- 7. Economists and COVID-19: The case of Argentina.- 8. Economic Policy and Economic Research in Brazil During the Pandemic.

Read more less

Book SynopsisRevised and updated for the 2nd edition, this textbook provides an analysis and investigation of the most essential areas of environmental economic theory and policy, including international environmental problems. The approach is based on standard theoretical tools, in particular equilibrium analysis, and aims to demonstrate how economic principles can help to understand environmental issues and guide policymakers. Current topics including climate change, overfishing and integrated approaches to environmental policies are carefully analyzed in this framework, and a multitude of practical examples from various parts of the world is presented. Addressing undergraduate and graduate students, this book is a must read for everybody interested in a better understanding of environmental economics. Table of ContentsIntroduction.- PART I THE ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT.- Differing Views on the Environment.- The International Dimension of the Environment.- PART II THEORETICAL ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS.- Basics of Environmental Economics.- Allocation Problems in a Market Economy.- The Internalization of External Effects.- Public Goods in Environmental Economics.- PART III ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY.- From Theory to Policy: Information Deficits.- Command-and-Control Policy.- The Price-Standard Approach to Environmental Policy.- International Environmental Commodities and the Principal-Agent-Approach.- Holistic Environmental Policies.- PART IV THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE GLOBALIZED WORLD.- Trade and the Environment: The Legal Context.- Overfishing.- Integration of Trade and the Environment.

Read more less

Book SynopsisModern money, having now become a key tool of government economic policy and a source of massive tax revenues, has strayed far from its original purpose. This is doubly regrettable, as the better money functions at an individual level in satisfying demand for quality, the better it is for economic prosperity and freedom.This book presents how modern money works both in the domestic economy and globally, outlining the essence of what makes good money. How does modern money differ from this ideal? By focusing on the dichotomy between globalization on the one hand and modern money’s base in the nation state (or group of states) on the other hand, the book demonstrates how US dominance in determining monetary conditions globally has grown since the mid-1990s. The book then discusses the adverse consequences, many of which are camouflaged, of present money doctrines now so widely and radically applied, presenting novel research on how the US by pursuing bad monetary policies has been the catalyst to deepening geo-political danger. The book continues by setting out how the illusions of asset inflation will fade, most likely in the midst of economic and financial tumult. The forces which bring about that income emanate in part from the long-run costs of growing mal-investment and monopolization which occur under monetary inflation especially in the context of a digitalization revolution. Apologists for the present monetary regime rest much of their case on these illusions and on the contention that the bill for the costs comes only in the long run. This book dismantles that case. A Guide to Good Money provides readers with the sight of a pathway to a promised land of real prosperity founded on sound money beyond those lost illusions, and will be of interest to academics, students, practitioners, and central bankers.Table of ContentsIntroduction.- PART 1: THE PRESENT SCENE.- 1 Modern money - a matter of trust.- 2 Globalization without global money.- 3. The global menace of US monetary policies.- PART TWO: THE ESSENCE OF GOOD MONEY.- 4. What we mean by “good money”.- 5. Why good money has a solid anchor.- PART THREE: THE GRIP OF BAD MONEY.- 6. Asset inflation and the illusions of prosperity.- 7: Exposing the state concept of money.- 8. A short history of modern money.- 9. Symptoms and consequences of bad money.- PART FOUR: VESTED INTERESTS, POLITICS AND THE PANDEMIC.- 10: What keeps a bad system in power?.- 11. Bad money’s pyrrhic victory over the pandemic.- PART FIVE: REFORM, IDEALISM AND PROSPERITY.- 12. Two real anchors.- 13. We reply to potential questions and criticisms.- 14. Pathways to good money.- 15. Criticism, realism, idealism and reform.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe countries in the Western Balkans have been severely affected by the wars and conflicts that led to the breakup of former Yugoslavia, by political instability and the effort of creating new states, weak economies and high levels of unemployment, poverty and social exclusion, and inequality. As revealed by recent surveys, such as EBRD’s Life in Transition Survey and Eurofound’s European Quality of Life Survey, life satisfaction in the region is far below that elsewhere in Europe. In recent years they had achieved a strong impetus of economic growth with falling rates of unemployment and increasing optimism for the future. However, the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 has brought about a sudden reversal of these trends and a renewed deterioration in the economic outlook, and an increase in social hardships that heralds a repeat of past failures in economic inclusion policies. This book identifies the key challenges in the areas of economic inclusion, focusing on the themes of labour markets, vocational education and skills, female entrepreneurship and the integration of migrants. It considers the opportunities for solutions to “build back better” once the recovery from the COVID-19 crisis begins, and offers proposals for more acceptable, equitable and effective economic inclusion policies.Table of ContentsChapter 1: Introduction: Key Challenges for Economic Inclusion in the Western BalkansPart I: Labour Market InclusionChapter 2: A Low-Wage, High-Tax Trap in the Western BalkansChapter 3: Envelope Wages in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Incidence and Distributional ImplicationsChapter 4: Horizontal Job-Education Mismatch in Kosovo: Is There a Gender Gap?Chapter 5: Cross-national Comparison of Job Types: Analysis Using the EU LFS and Albanian LFSPart II: Vocational Training and SkillsChapter 6: The Professional Training Programme in Montenegro: An Active Labour Market Policy or a Way to Fill the Structural Gap?Chapter 7: The Quality of Vocational Training and the Position of the Individual in the Labour market in SerbiaChapter 8: The Apprenticeship System in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Myth or Reality?Part III: Female EntrepreneurshipChapter 9: Case Study on Female Entrepreneurship in Bosnia and HerzegovinaChapter 10: Female Entrepreneurship in Albania: Financial Incentives and DisincentivesChapter 11: Economic Inclusion of Women Entrepreneurs During Covid-19 in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and HerzegovinaPart IV: Integrating Returning MigrantsChapter 12: The Relationship between Migration and Pensions Policy: The Case of AlbaniaChapter 13: The Role of Voluntary Return Migration in Supporting Economic Development in Albania Chapter 14: Immigrant Entrepreneurship and Resilience during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Case of Croatia Part V: ConclusionsChapter 15: Towards an Inclusive Model of Development in the Western Balkans

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn times of globalization, digitalization and demographic change, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us the fragility and complexity of the world of work. It represents the peak of a process of change in the world of work in economic, social, socio-political and individual psychological terms. This book outlines how effective and future-oriented human resource management can look like in times of demographic and technological change on the one hand and the immediate and lasting effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the other hand. It provides the tools for effective human resource management, summarized in the following seven success factors: demographic-oriented recruitment, strength-oriented workforce deployment, age-appropriate HR development, new generation contract, family and gender, the vital employee, management of interests and expectations. The aim of the book is not only to provide solutions to problems caused by the changing world of work and the pandemic, but also to show how success factors can emerge from these inevitable phenomena. It will be of interest to professionals in the field of human resource management.Table of Contents Part I. The Baseline.- Chapter 1. Demographic Developments and Other Social Phenomena.- Chapter 2. Impact on the Labor Market.- Part II. Routes to Effective Human Resource Management.- Chapter 3. Demography-oriented Recruitment.- Chapter 4. Strength-based Deployment.- Chapter 5. Age and a Ging Appropriate Development.- Chapter 6. A New Generational Contract.- Chapter 7. Gender Equality and Family.- Chapter 8. Employee Vitality.- Chapter 9. Managing Interests and Expectations.- Part III. Summary and Outlook.- Chapter 10. Summary and Outlook.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe situation for career counselors today is particularly complex. Transformational areas such as the Corona pandemic, the climate crisis, the economic situation, and an aging population are bringing rapid changes to the demands of the labor market.This book addresses the challenges in the European labor market from the multinational perspective of career counselors. It includes multiple contributions from different countries that address the country-specific challenges that generate support and development needs for counselors. Measures, solution strategies and future forecasts are included. The contributions are based on the Academia+ project, in which a total of three online training series for career counselors from across Europe on the topics of "Counseling Migrants and Refugees," "Future Jobs," and "Demographic Change" were conducted and evaluated. The book is intended to be a guide for professionals in the vocational training field and to facilitate and support a practice-oriented initial interview from the counselor's point of view.Table of ContentsPart I.- Chapter 1. Academia+.- Part II. Vocational Guidance in Europe: Challenges, Needs, Solutions and Development Perspectives.- Chapter 2. Cyprus: Migrants’ Inclusion in the Labour Market, Education and Society of Cyprus - Current Needs and Perspectives for Change.- Chapter 3. Finland: Vocational Guidance in Finland.- Chapter 4. Germany: The Challenges of Career Counselling in Germany.- Chapter 5. Greece: Challenges Perspectives Against a Difficult Background in Vocational Guidance.- Chapter 6. Ireland: Access to Guidance Provision for Migrant Groups Within Youth Information and the Further Education Sector.- Chapter 7. Lithuania: Are We Ready for Tomorrow Challenges? A Thematic Analysis of Career Development and Prospects Within Lithuania.- Chapter 8. Luxembourg: ‘somewhere Over the Rainbow’ or ‘is There Really a Land Where the Dreams of Social Justice and Equity Do Come True? .- Chapter 9. Spain: Challenges and Perspectives in Times of Inflection on Career Guidance and Counselling in Spain.- Chapter 10. Upcoming Challenges for Vocational Guidance in Europe.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis open access book presents a novel multidisciplinary perspective on the importance of human flourishing. The study of the good life or Eudaimonia has been a central concern at least since Aristotelian times. This responds to the common experience that we all seek happiness. Today, we are immersed in a new paradoxical boom, where the pursuit of happiness seems to permeate everything (books, media, organizations, talks), but at the same time, it is nowhere, or at least very difficult to achieve. In fact, it is not easy to even find a consensus regarding the meaning of the word happiness. Seligman (2011), one of the fathers of the positive psychology, confirmed that his original view the meaning he referred to was close to that of Aristotle. But, he recently confessed that he now detests the word happiness, since it is overused and has become almost meaningless. The aim of this open access book is to shed new light on human flourishing through the lenses of neurosciences and health, organizations, and arts. The novelty of this book is to offer a multi-disciplinary perspective on the importance of human flourishing in our lives. The book will examine further how different initiatives, policies and practices create opportunities for generating human flourishing.Table of ContentsIntroduction: In the pursuit of human flourishing.- PART I: NEUROSCIENCE AND HEALTH.- PART II: ORGANIZATION AND POLICIES.- PART III: CARE AND FLOURISHING.- PART IV: ARTS, FASHION AND LITERATURE.- Conclusion – What we have learnt form multidisciplinary views on Human Flourishing.- List of contributors

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book discusses and analyses fraud and corruption cases from many industries including construction, finance, pharmaceutical, transport, retail, medical, health, communication, education and military.The book is divided into two sections. The first part presents case studies that cover several industry sectors, including not only well-known frauds like Bernie Madoff, Wells Fargo and the Enron case, but also recent events such as the Theranos/Elisabeth Holmes case. The second section of the book includes materials on fraud and corruption such as the full text of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business, and the EIB’s Anti-Fraud Policy and Whistleblowing Policy. It also includes examples about current corporate anti-corruption policies from companies like Apple, Tesla and Coca Cola. For interested readers, the book offers additionally a list of films that realistically cover the topics fraud, corruption and whistleblowing.Table of ContentsIntroduction PART I: Fraud & Corruption Cases (a) International Construction/manufacturing (b) Financial Services (c) Transport (d) Communications (e) Education (f) Health (g) Energy (h) Retail (i) Military PART II: Materials (a) International Treaties/Conventions/Documents (b) Integrity Materials of International Organisations (c) National Legislation (d) Other Integrity Materials 1. Corporate Anti-Corruption Policies 2. Lists of Movies

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book demonstrates how leaders can use research from positive psychology to increase work engagement and wellbeing, improve relationships, and increase performance and productivity in the workplace. Specifically, it teaches leaders how to use psychology to understand their own contributions to their leadership style as well as to understand how their employees are being motivated to increase their engagement and productivity. Suitable for leaders, human resource personnel, consultants and coaches, this book gives research-based theory and insight into how leaders’ own attitudes, mind-sets and authenticity are influencing their employees level of performance, emotions and creativity. Readers learn how to motivate, bring meaning into the workplace, improve communication and relationships as well as how to use strength-based leadership. The book features examples from successful companies like Microsoft, Google and Disney and provides practical interventions and techniques in every chapter that can immediately be implemented into the workplace.Table of Contentsintroduction.- What is positive psychology, and why shall we use it in the workplace?.- Research results from the use of positive psychology in organizations.- The leader role.- Positive leadership.- Factors in the leader.- Factors in the leadership tasks.- Results in the employees.- The strength-based leader.- Organizational development with Appreciative Inquiry.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book is focused on the analysis and modelling of resilience, robustness, and vulnerability of transport systems and their complement: reliability. It provides an elaboration on their generic concepts, analysing disruptive events and nature of their impacts. It also offers an analysis and modelling of the system performances and their indicators relevant for the main actors involved. Applications of the models of performances and their resilience, robustness, and vulnerability to the selected cases of road, rail, air, and maritime transport mode affected by different internal and external disruptive events are also presented. By offering readers a systematic and comprehensive way of dealing with the topic of resilience, robustness, and vulnerability of transport systems and their complement, reliability, this book will be of interest to researchers and professionals alike within the transport industry.Table of ContentsIntroduction.- Road transport system.- Rail transport system.- Air transport system.- Maritime transport system.- Epilogue.

Read more less

Book Synopsis“Humanization and the Law” combines two current and complementary trends in the business-to-business (B2B) market of the legal industry: digitalization and humanization. On the one hand, digital transformation in corporate legal departments and law firms continues to advance. Contract management, e-discovery, due diligence, legal operations, and forensic data analysis are just a few examples of task areas where the use of intelligent software solutions minimizes legal risks and increases compliance, enables efficiency gains and cost reductions through automation, and allows faster and more agile responses to changing market demands and client expectations. On the other hand, the increasing number of failed digitalization projects shows that technology alone is not enough to successfully transform legal departments and law firms. Software solutions must be integrated into existing work processes, be easy to use, and provide real benefits in order to be accepted by employees. People and their ability to make decisions and lead others remain the focus in an increasingly digitalized legal industry. More than 20 authors provide insights into why human aspects matter for business, what organizations can do to increase the mental well-being and motivation of their employees, and how to prevail in the upcoming war for talent in the legal industry. “The legal industry has been largely dismissive of “soft skills” and “humanizing law.” One of the paradoxes of our time is that the ascendency of automation, artificial intelligence, blockchain, Big Data, and other technological platforms has elevated, not diminished, the importance of humanity. It is not only what distinguishes us from machines but it also enables us to apply our humanity to machines. The legal function will play an important role in this process but must first take a hard look at itself.” (Mark A. Cohen, in “Foreword”) Table of ContentsRoger Strathausen, Kai Jacob, Dierk Schindler and Bernhard Waltl, Introduction.- Sven von Alemann and Philipp Glock, The Paradigm Shift in AI: from Human Labor to Humane Creativity.- Heribert Anzinger, Human Dignity and Computational Methods of Law Making Agonists and Antagonists in the Humanization of Law.- Uwe Bandey and Silvio Kupsch, Humanized Law: How human should robot judgements be?.- Thomas Barton, Designing Legal Systems for an Algorithmic Society.- Lucy Bassli, Humanizing Contracting Processes for all Corporations.- Madeleine Bernhardt and Emma Ziercke, Patagonia: Everything a Law Firm is Not, But Could Be?.- Liam Brown et al., The Elevated Workplace.- Barbara Chomicka, Of Mice and Lawyers: What Lawyers Can Learn From Calhoun’s Rodent Utopia.- Craig Conte and Mark Ross, The Next Frontier for Contract Management: Technology and Humanity Meet to Revolutionize Post-Signature.- Anna Engers, Diversity is the “&” between Humanization and Law.- Helena Haapio, Legally functional and human-friendly contracts by design – the first ten years.- Abir Haddad, Rethinking Human-centered Legal Framework.- Tatiana Löttiger, International Business Etiquette for Legal Professionals.- Rainer Markfort and Patryk Zamorski, Law Firm of the Future.- Bruno Mascello, Wasting Human Resources – Women Still Have a Difficult Stand in the Legal Profession.- Jean Obst, Leadership and the Use of Metrics in Legal Departments – a Humanized Approach.- Carl Renner and Michael Zollner, On the Function of Contracts in Modern Society – an Instrument of Freedom of Bondage?.- Wolfgang Richter, Blockchain Based Tokens as a Tool to Transform Collaboration Structures.- V. Saintot and G. di Mateo, Legal knowledge management: augmenting and humanizing lawyers' work.- V. Saintot and F. Lulic, How to E-A-S-E our legal ecosystems with extended cognition and design-based practices.- Sebastian Schüssler, Beyond “do ut des” – What the Legal Business Can Learn From “Working Out Loud”.- Martina Seidl, Corporate Digital Responsibility.- Roger Strathausen, “Who Are you?” – A Story About a Gay Humanist Working at a Law Firm.- Ivan Timmer, Digitilization and Humanization: the law, the government & the citizen.- Duc V. Trang, Injecting Humanity (Back) Into Talent Development.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book describes the neurology of a business as a new dimension of organization and as a basis for success in a complex world. Comparing organizations with living organisms, it places an organization’s neurology (control and communication) as a third dimension beside its anatomy (structure) and physiology (process). Overlooked by classical organizational theory, this third dimension offsets its typical drawbacks. The Neurology of Business introduces Stafford Beer’s Viable System Model (VSM) and shows how this helps managers to diagnose, discover, and unleash the potential and performance lying dormant in today’s enterprises.The book is based on numerous consulting projects and management seminars conducted in Europe, America, and Asia. It guides the reader through the diagnosis and design process and illustrates application issues with practical examples. In this way, the book provides managers with the language needed to have meaningful conversations about how their organizations are functioning. As such, it will benefit managers in business and nonbusiness organizations, as well as readers interested in general management.Table of ContentsPart I. Necessity and Benefits of the Third Dimension.- Chapter 1. Introduction.- Chapter 2. The Ten Cardinal Mistakes of Organizing.- Part II. The Viable System Model.- Chapter 3. A Model of Steering and Communication.- Chapter 4. Introduction to the Model.- Chapter 5. Russian Dolls.- Chapter 6. Hierarchy and the Redundancy of Potential Command.- Part III. Diagnosis and Design.- Chapter 7. Overview of the Diagnostic Process.- Chapter 8. Diagnosing and Designing the Basic Structure (Step I).- Chapter 9. Mastering Complexity (Excursus).- Chapter 10. Manageable or Not? (Step II).- Chapter 11. Mission-critical Tasks (Step III).- Chapter 12. Centralized or Decentralized (Step IV).- Chapter 13. Diagnosing and Designing the Control Functions (Step V).- Chapter 14. Diagnosing and Designing Communication Channels (Step VI).- Part IV. From Knowledge to Implementation.- Chapter 15. Making the Organization Understandable (Step VII).- Chapter 16. Successful Implementation.- Chapter 17. Quick Diagnoses.- Chapter 18. Balancing Present and Future.

Read more less

Book SynopsisBusinesses constantly look for ways to achieve better performance, and business schools play an important role through their curricula by teaching such methods and helping budding and experienced managers find innovative paths. The author of this book, Prof. Peter Lorange, a well-accomplished expert at business and academic leadership, draws on a set of reflections from his vast experience in both fields to offer core messages which help in improving business education. The author believes that experience-based reflections tend to be both more interesting and more useful than mere chronological, biographical ones, or conceptual reviews of management dimensions without links to practice. The book helps academics, business school management, and even advanced students understand how to bring a practical focus to learning and teaching business via a holistic curriculum. The book also features a special focus on how to integrate family business perspectives to the curriculum.Table of ContentsHow Was My Vision Shaped?: Upbringing and Education.- Experiences from Academia and Academic Administration.- The Role of Research.- Influences: Family and Friends.- The Influence of Business: Lorange Institute and Lorange Network.- Family Business Strategies.- Board Membership and Consulting Assignments.- Guiding Principles: Quality.- Diversity.- Risk and Uncertainty.- Discipline and Integrity in Decision-Making.- Business Skills: Networking.- Speed.- Proactivity, Positivity, and Innovation.- Cycle Management: Entries and Exits.- Conclusions: Learning in the Future: Individuals, Business, and Academic Institutions.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book looks at how both advocacy groups in New Zealand and Australia use political marketing to conduct advocacy and support Israeli and Palestinian public diplomacy and nation branding. The focus lies on their marketing orientation, segmentation/ targeting/ positioning (STP), and internal marketing practices. The theoretical framework will draw upon several political marketing frameworks and concepts including the product/sales/market-oriented framework, the STP process, and Petitt's internal stakeholder marketing approaches. The book examines four case studies: (1) the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA), (2) the Israel Institute of New Zealand (IINZ), (3) the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC), and (4) the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN). To ensure balance and comparison, four groups representing both the pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian camps in NZ and Australia were selected. Other criteria included their broad scope of activity, approachability and accessibility, as well as connections to state actors through advocacy, public diplomacy, and nation branding.Table of Contents1. Introduction2. Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa3. Israel Institute of New Zealand4. Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council5. Australia Palestine Advocacy Network6. ConclusionAppendices

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis textbook is intended to fill a gap in undergraduate finance curriculums by providing an asset pricing text that is accessible for undergraduate finance students. It offers an overview of original works on foundational asset pricing studies that follows their historical publication chronologically throughout the text. Each chapter stays close to the original works of these major authors, including quotations, examples, graphical exhibits, and empirical results. Additionally, it includes statistical concepts and methods as applied to finance. These statistical materials are crucial to learning asset pricing, which often applies statistical tests to evaluate different asset pricing models. It offers practical examples, questions, and problems to help students check their learning and better understand the fundamentals of asset pricing., alongside including PowerPoint slides and an instructor’s manual for professors.Table of ContentsChapter 1: Portfolio Theory and Practice.- Chapter 2: Capital Market Conditions.- Chapter 3: Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM).- Chapter 4: The Market Model.- Chapter 5: The Zero-Beta CAPM.- Chapter 6: Alternative CAPM Specifications.- Chapter 7: Arbitrage Pricing Theory.- Chapter 8: Multifactor Models.- Chapter 9: A Special Case of Zero-Beta CAPM.- Chapter 10: Event Studies.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis textbook shows how to develop the functional requirements of (information) systems. It emphasizes the importance to consider the complete development path of a functional requirement, i.e. not only the individual development steps but also their proper combination and their alignment. The book consists of two parts: Part I presents the underlying theory while Part II contains various illustrative case studies. Part I starts with an introduction to the topic (Chapter 1). Then it explains how to develop functional requirements that represent the conceptual dynamics of an information system (Chapters 2 and 3). Chapters 4 and 5 explain how to model the conceptual statics of an information system. Chapter 6 gives some directions for implementation. Finally, Chapter 7 explains how a ‘technical manager’ can organize and manage the development process. As an illustration of the theory, Part II contains three substantial case studies. The first one (Chapter 8) presents a stepwise development starting from an informal situation sketch via a simple domain model towards a precisely specified, full-fledged conceptual data model, which finally is translated to an SQL database. In the second case study (Chapter 9) the author converts the well-known non-trivial use case Process Sale from Larman into a textual System Sequence Description (SSD). For validation purposes, that textual SSD is subsequently translated into natural language and into a graphical SSD. The third case study (Chapter 10) shows the applicability of the author’s approach to a control system and also illustrates the typical situation that the requirements are constantly changing during development. This book is written for (under)graduate students in software engineering or information systems who want to learn how to carry out adequate problem analysis, to make good system specifications, and/or to understand how to organize and manage an IS-development process. It also targets practitioners who want to improve their problem analysis abilities and/or their ability to make good system specifications. To this end, it includes more than 150 explanatory figures and is accompanied by a Web site which provides additional course material such as slides, additional exercises, solutions to exercises, and the code for the figures used in the book.Table of Contents- 1. Introduction. - Part I Theory. - 2. Developing a Functional Requirement. - 3. Development Patterns. - 4. Domain Modelling. - 5. Conceptual Data Models. - 6. Directions for Implementation. - 7. Organizing and Managing the Development Process. - Part II Case Studies. - 8. A Non-trivial University Example Worked Out. - 9. Converting a Large Use Case. - 10. Development Example Where Requirements Constantly Change.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book challenges the notion that commodities are always good hedges against inflation, which is the conventional belief today in financial markets. Specifically, it focuses on gold as a traditional hedge and the ways in which crypto assets are argued to be positioned as an alternative hedge against inflationary risk.The book engages with emerging debates around the performance of gold since the 2008 financial crisis, analyzing its characteristics, relationship with inflation, and the role of mining companies, and discusses ways that cryptocurrencies have replaced precious metals as an attractive asset class during an inflationary scenario. In considering the case of crypto as being or not a good inflation hedge, the book devotes particular attention to the theoretical financial and macroeconomic implications of a monetary system based on Bitcoin, dealing with the concept of money and the determination of Bitcoin’s supply and purchasing power. Additionally, it outlines the consequences that such a system would entail for the banking industry, and financial conditions involving interest rates, exchange rates, and the inflation-deflation dynamic. The book also analyses the relative impact of past and future events on the different commodity families.This work will be of interest to students and researchers in financial economics, macroeconomics, and monetary economics, as well as analysts and traders in financial and commodity markets.Table of ContentsChapter 1: Are Commodities a Good Hedge Against Inflation?.- Chapter 2: Precious Metals: The Bull Market that Faded.- Chapter 3- The Market’s New Gold and the Promise of Bitcoin.- Chapter 4: Final Thoughts on Commodities, Crypto and Inflation.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book analyzes the harms related to whistleblower retaliation, its psychosocial impacts on employees, and the institutional dysfunction it creates and perpetuates. Stigma and biases against whistleblowers interfere with their ability to make protected disclosures when harm to others is at stake. Retaliatory toxic tactics create an atmosphere and corporate culture that embodies fear and encourages bystander behavior. In this book, the authors explore psychosocial impacts across domains that include financial, legal, social, physical, and emotional well-being. Ten of the 14 chapters specifically examine the toxic tactics of retaliation: gaslighting, mobbing, marginalizing, shunning, devaluing, double-binding, career blocking, counter-accusing, bullying, and doxxing. These toxic tactics are the building blocks of workplace traumatic stress (WTS) and can lead to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, substance abuse, and suicide. WTS is a term that differentiates between workplace violence or job stress, which can be components of WTS but do not fully describe the systemic hostile work environment that targets an employee. Understanding WTS and how it disrupts identity, causes moral injury, and shatters world views are important aspects for clinicians treating clients who are victims of this kind of hostile work environment. The Psychosocial Impacts of Whistleblower Retaliation is a useful resource offering a new way for social workers, mental health providers, advocates, and other support services professionals and practitioners to assist whistleblowers. It helps clinicians understand how to view patients suffering from whistleblower retaliation and gives them a lexicon for forensic evaluations. Lawyers, especially those specializing in employment, labor, and Qui Tam cases, also could benefit from having a means to describe the psychosocial impacts of retaliation and WTS on their clients when filing for compensatory damages for pain and suffering during judicial proceedings. Finally, the book could appeal to employees and managers, human resources professionals, victim rights advocates, elected officials, media personnel, and other professionals who are interested in learning more about whistleblower retaliation and its psychosocial and cultural implications.Table of ContentsPart I – Introduction 1. Morality, Virtue, and Ethics Part II – Toxic Culture and Tactics 2. Toxic Leaders and Their Impact 3. Gaslighting 4. Mobbing 5. Marginalizing 6. Shunning 7. Devaluing 8. Double-binding 9. Career Blocking 10. Counter-accusing 11. Bullying 12. Doxxing Part III – The Scope of Harm and Damages 13. Psychosocial and Cultural Implications Part IV – The Workplace Promise 14. Implications for Organizations

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book is a comprehensive curation, exposition and illustrative discussion of recent research tools for interpretability of deep learning models, with a focus on neural network architectures. In addition, it includes several case studies from application-oriented articles in the fields of computer vision, optics and machine learning related topic. The book can be used as a monograph on interpretability in deep learning covering the most recent topics as well as a textbook for graduate students. Scientists with research, development and application responsibilities benefit from its systematic exposition. Table of Contents1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Deep Learning Glossary 1.2 Evolution of Deep Learning 1.2.1 Neural Learning 1.2.2 Fuzzy Learning 1.2.3 Convergence of Fuzzy Logic and Neural Learning 1.2.4 Synergy of Neuroscience and Deep Learning 1.3 Awakening of Interpretability 1.3.1 Relevance 1.3.2 Necessity 1.3.3 The Taxonomy of Interpretability 1.4 The Question of Interpretability 1.4.1 Interpretability - Metaverse 1.4.2 Interpretability - The Right Tool 1.4.3 Interpretability - The Wrong Tool 2 NEURAL NETWORKS FOR DEEP LEARNING 2.1 Neural Network Architectures 2.1.1 Perceptron 2.1.2 Artificial Neural Network 2.1.3 Recurrent Neural Network 2.1.4 Convolutional Neural Network 2.1.5 Autoencoder Neural Network 2.1.6 Generative Adversarial Network 2.1.7 Graph Neural Network 2.2 Learning Mechanisms 2.2.1 Activation function 2.2.2 Forward Propagation 2.2.3 Backpropagation 2.2.4 Gradient Descent 2.2.5 Learning Rate 2.2.6 Optimization 2.2.7 Initialization 2.2.8 Regularization 2.3 Challenges and Limitations of Traditional Techniques 2.3.1 Resource-Demanding Checks 2.3.2 Uncertainty Measure 2.3.3 Network Learning Sanity Check 2.3.4 Gradient Checks 2.3.5 Decision Transparency 3 KNOWLEDGE ENCODING AND INTERPRETATION 3.1 What is Knowledge? 3.1.1 Image Representation 3.1.2 Word Representation 3.1.3 Graph Representation 3.2 Knowledge Encoding and Architectural Understanding 3.2.1 Role of Neurons 3.2.2 Role of Layers 3.2.3 Role of Explanation 3.2.4 Semantic Understanding 3.2.5 Network Understanding 3.3 Design and Analysis of Interpretability 3.3.1 Divide and Conquer 3.3.2 Greedy 3.3.3 Back-tracking 3.3.4 Dynamic 3.3.5 Branch and Bound 3.3.6 Brute-force 3.4 Knowledge Propagation in Deep Network Optimizers 3.4.1 Knowledge versus Performance 3.4.2 Deep versus Shallow Encoding 4 INTERPRETATION IN SPECIFIC DEEP ARCHITECTURES 4.1 Interpretation in Convolution Networks 4.1.1 Case Study: Image Representation by Unmasking Clever Hans 4.1.2 Variants of CNNs 4.1.3 Interpretation of CNNs 4.1.4 Review: CNN Visualization Techniques 4.1.5 Review: CNN Adversarial Techniques 4.1.6 Inverse Image Representation 4.1.7 Case study: Superpixels Algorithm 4.1.8 Activation Grid and Activation Map 4.1.9 Convolution Trace 4.2 Interpretation in Autoencoder Networks 4.2.1 Visualization of Latent Space 4.2.2 Sparsity and Interpretation 4.2.3 Case Study: Microscopy Structure to Structure Learning 4.3 Interpretation in Adversarial Networks 4.3.1 Interpretation in Generative Network 4.3.2 Interpretation in Latent Spaces 4.3.3 Evaluation Metrics 4.3.4 Case study: Digital Staining of Microscopy Images 4.4 Interpretation in Graph Networks 4.4.1 Neural Structured Learning 4.4.2 Graph Embedding and Interpretability 4.4.3 Evaluation Metrics for Interpretation 4.4.4 Disentangled Representation Learning on Graphs 4.4.5 Future Direction 4.5 Self-Interpretable Models 4.6 Pitfalls of Interpretability Methods 5 FUZZY DEEP LEARNING 5.1 Fuzzy Theory 5.1.1 Fuzzy Sets and Fuzzy Membership 5.1.2 Fuzzification and Defuzzification 5.1.3 Fuzzy Rules and Inference Systems 5.2 Neuro-Fuzzy Inference Systems 5.2.1 Architecture of a Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System 5.2.2 Other Design Elements of Neuro-Fuzzy Inference Systems 5.2.3 Learning mechanisms for Neuro-Fuzzy Inference Systems 5.2.4 Online Learning with Dynamic Streaming Data 5.3 Case studies 5.3.1 POPFNN Family of NFS − evolution towards sophisticated brain-like learning 5.3.2 Combining Conventional Deep Learning and Fuzzy Learning A Mathematical models and theories A.1 Choquet Integral A.1.1 Restricting the Scope of FM/ChI A.1.2 ChI Understanding from NN A.2 Deformation Invariance Property A.3 Distance Metrics A.4 Grad Weighted Class Activation Mapping A.5 Guided Saliency A.6 Jensen-Shanon Divergence A.7 Kullback-Leibler Divergence A.8 Projected Gradient Descent A.9 Pythagorean Fuzzy Number A.10 Targeted Adversarial Attack A.11 Translation Invariance Property A.12 Universal Approximation Theorem A List of digital resources and examples References .

Read more less

Book SynopsisPublishing online can be a daunting prospect for any writer. This book equips aspiring writers with a range of practical skills and tactics for entering the online publishing world. It will guide readers on where and how to publish online, whether writing for magazines, journals, blogs, or podcasts. The textbook includes practical exercises for developing skills such as producing an e-book, creating an e-book marketing strategy, and building an online writer’s presence.It also features step-by-step guides, examples and checklists that help readers research and find appropriate sites to submit work to, and show how to take a completed manuscript through to publication. This textbook will appeal to students, freelance writers, creative writers, poets, novelists and anyone interested in publishing content online to promote and sell their work more effectively.Table of ContentsPART I: Publishing Online CHAPTER 1: Introduction to Publishing Online for Writers CHAPTER 2: Publishing Online - Getting Started CHAPTER 3: Publishing in Online Magazines CHAPTER 4: Publishing with Online Journals CHAPTER 5: Publishing via Blogs CHAPTER 6: Publishing a Podcast PART II: Publishing e-books CHAPTER 7: The e-book Publishing Process CHAPTER 8: Designing an e-book CHAPTER 9: Producing an e-book CHAPTER 10: Your e-book marketing strategy CHAPTER 11: Promoting your e-book PART III: Publishing Online - making it a success CHAPTER 12: An online writer's website CHAPTER 13: Managing Online Writing Projects CHAPTER 14: Long term success for a writer online

Read more less

Book SynopsisApplied Linear Regression for Business Analytics with R introduces regression analysis to business students using the R programming language with a focus on illustrating and solving real-time, topical problems.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book constitutes the proceedings of the 15th IFIP Working Conference on the Practice of Enterprise Modeling, PoEM 2022, which took place in London, UK, during November 23-25, 2022. PoEM offers a forum for sharing experiences and knowledge between the academic community and practitioners from industry and the public sector. This year the theme of the conference is Enterprise Modeling and Model-based Development and Engineering. The 15 full papers presented in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from a total of 45 submissions. They were organized in topical sections as follows: models in information system development; modeling enterprise architectures; modeling capabilities and ecosystems; DSML and meta-modeling; and participatory modeling.Table of ContentsModels in Information System Development.- Investigating the effectiveness of model-based testing on testing skill acquisition.- Generating Low-Code Applications from Enterprise Ontology.- Supporting the Individuation, Analysis and Gamification of Software Components for Acceptance Requirements Fulfilment.- Modeling Enterprise Architectures.- Historization of Enterprise Architecture Models Via Enterprise Architecture Knowledge Graphs.- Towards Ontology-based Validation of Enterprise Architecture Principles.- Ontological Analysis and Redesign of Security Modeling in ArchiMate.- Modeling Capabilities and Ecosystems.- Foundations of capability maps – a conceptual comparison.- Applying and Evaluating the KYKLOS Method.- Using Tangible Modeling to Create an e3value Conceptual Model for Digital Ecosystems.- DSML and Meta-Modeling.- Dynamic Models - the MetaMorph Formalism and Model-Operations.- Establishing Interoperability between the EMF and the MSDKVS Metamodeling Platforms.- Beyond Business Development: Regulatory Assessment of Electricity Sector Projects with Contextual Requirements Engineering.- Participatory Modeling.- A Methodology for DSML-assisted Participatory Agent-Based Enterprise Modelling.- Advantages and Limitations of Experiments for Researching Participatory Enterprise Modeling and Recommendations For Their Implementation.- Designing an Ontology for Human Rights Violations Documentation through Practitioner Input and Information Infrastructure Theory.

Read more less

Book SynopsisUnderstanding Economic Transitions explains the genesis, operation, and transformation of the centrally-planned socialist economy, which figured prominently in the lives of billions of people in twentieth-century Europe and Asia. Just as importantly, the centrally-planned socialist economy’s demise coincided with the shift from nonindustrial to industrial economy (and de-industrialization in some cases) and the onset of ICT-driven globalization. Using theory, empirics, and selected country case studies, this book teases out the enduring lessons from the myriad and fraught pathways of transition from socialism to capitalism. Understanding Economic Transitions provides a self-contained, comprehensive, and authoritative treatment of modern economic systems. This textbook has four features of particular use to students: (i) Using the prism of comparative institutionalism, it melds theory and evidence to revisit the varieties of planned and market-driven systems today; (ii) It takes economic planning seriously in theory and practice (central, cooperative, or indicative) as the most prominent marker of the ever-changing boundaries between state and market; (iii) It focuses on the dynamics of systemic transition in formerly socialist countries by contextualizing them in terms of the whence (central planning), the how (modalities of transition), and the whither (illiberal or liberal capitalism) of politico-economic transformation; and (iv) It examines the profound impact on these structural processes of the post-1990 phase of economic globalization. With its clear, comprehensive content and useful pedagogical features, this textbook will prepare students to understand how economies transition and why.Table of ContentsPART ONE: THEORIES OF COMPARATIVE ECONOMICS.- 1. Economic Systems.- 2. Economic Planning in Various Settings.- PART TWO: TWO CANONICAL STATE SOCIALISMS.- 3. The Soviet CPE I: The Process of Planning.- 4. The Soviet CPE II: The Process of Implementation.- 5. The Chinese CPE: Planning in an Industrializing Economy.- PART THREE: SYSTEMIC TRANSITION IN THEORY AND PRACTICE.- 6. The Market-oriented Transition: Theory.- 7. The Isolationist Russian Road to Capitalism.- 8. The Nationalist Chinese Road to Capitalism.- 9. Two Integrationist Variants: Poland and Vietnam.- PART FOUR: TRANSITION UNDER THE NEW GLOBALIZATION.- 10. Market Integration in the Age of Global Value Chains.- 11. The Developmental State and Political Capitalism.- 12. Comparative Economics Redux.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis textbook provides an overview of organisation models used in practice from over a century ago to the present day. It outlines the effects these models have on efficiency, learning, innovation and workers’ health and offers critical reflections for students. Some of the models covered are Taylorism, bureaucracy, the socio-technical school, process organisation such as lean production, learning organisations, knowledge management, project organising including agile, platform economy, professional organisations, new public management and sustainable organisations. Featuring learning objectives and reflective questions for students of organisation studies and design, this textbook has a pedagogical structure based on the division of work and the coordination of work. Conclusions are presented on contemporary work organisation models’ impact on working life, ultimately encouraging students to ask the question, how can we create more sustainable work organisations.Table of Contents1. Organisation and work organisation Learning objectives Introduction The organisation society Work Work organisation Motivation Leadership – autocratic, democratic and laissez-fa1. Organisation and work organisation Learning objectives Introduction The organisation society Work Work organisation Motivation Leadership – autocratic, democratic and laissez-faire Reasons for the development and diffusion of work organisation models Summary Reflection questions 2. Taylorism and Fordism Learning objectives Scientific management Ford’s mass production Summary Reflection questions 3. The bureaucratic organisation Learning objectives Introduction Features of the bureaucracy Strengths and weaknesses related to the bureaucracy Bureaucracies for profit Advantages and disadvantages related to bureaucracy like organisations Summary Reflection questions 4. The sociotechnical school Learning objectives The self-directed working group Empowerment and the work environment Workers participating in development work The diffusion of the sociotechnical work organisation Critique of the sociotechnical work organisation Summary Reflection questions 5. Total quality management (TQM) and process organisation Learning objectives Quality for the customer The quality standard ISO 9000 Cutting down process time Lean production A comparison between lean production and the sociotechnical school Shifts of work organisation models Time based management Business process reengineering Summary Increased focus on change and learning Reflection questions 6. Organising for change, learning and knowledge Learning objectives The organic organisation The learning organisation Project organisation and Agile management Hinders and prerequisites for development Knowledge management Summary Reflection questions 7. Professional organisation and new public management – conflicting organisation perspectives in the public sector Learning objectives Introduction The professional organisation New public management Critical reflections on the professional organisation and NPM Summary Reflection questions 8. Network organising Learning objectives The network society and global supply chains Open innovation The gig economy: Platform organisations Summary Reflection questions 9. A changing working life – both up-skilling and down-skilling, more pressure and control Learning objectives Introduction Polarisation – both up-skilling and down-skilling More sophisticated control mechanisms Increased demands, intensification of work and stress related unhealth Summary Reflection questions 10. Sustainable work organisations Learning objectives Healthy working conditions Actors, agreements and frameworks supporting a sustainable working life Summary Reflection questions Bibliography Indexire Reasons for the development and diffusion of work organisation models Summary Reflection questions 2. Taylorism and Fordism Learning objectives Scientific management Ford’s mass production Summary Reflection questions 3. The bureaucratic organisation Learning objectives Introduction Features of the bureaucracy Strengths and weaknesses related to the bureaucracy Bureaucracies for profit Advantages and disadvantages related to bureaucracy like organisations Summary Reflection questions 4. The sociotechnical school Learning objectives The self-directed working group Empowerment and the work environment Workers participating in development work The diffusion of the sociotechnical work organisation Critique of the sociotechnical work organisation Summary Reflection questions 5. Total quality management (TQM) and process organisation Learning objectives Quality for the customer The quality standard ISO 9000 Cutting down process time Lean production A comparison between lean production and the sociotechnical school Shifts of work organisation models Time based management Business process reengineering Summary Increased focus on change and learning Reflection questions 6. Organising for change, learning and knowledge Learning objectives The organic organisation The learning organisation Project organisation and Agile management Hinders and prerequisites for development Knowledge management Summary Reflection questions 7. Professional organisation and new public management – conflicting organisation perspectives in the public sector Learning objectives Introduction The professional organisation New public management Critical reflections on the professional organisation and NPM Summary Reflection questions 8. Network organising Learning objectives The network society and global supply chains Open innovation The gig economy: Platform organisations Summary Reflection questions 9. A changing working life – both up-skilling and down-skilling, more pressure and control Learning objectives Introduction Polarisation – both up-skilling and down-skilling More sophisticated control mechanisms Increased demands, intensification of work and stress related unhealth Summary Reflection questions 10. Sustainable work organisations Learning objectives Healthy working conditions Actors, agreements and frameworks supporting a sustainable working life Summary Reflection questions Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis open access book will give insights into global issues of work and work systems design from a wide range of perspectives. Topics like the impact of AI in the workplace as well as design for digital sovereignty at the workplace or foresight processes for digital work are covered. Practical cases, empirical results and theoretical considerations are not only taken from Germany and Europe, but also from Southeast Asia, South Africa, Middle America, and Australia. The book intends to expand the so far national view on the aspects of digital work (e.g. like in Ernst Hartmann’s immensely successful work “Zukunft der Arbeit in Industrie 4.0”) into an international context – thus showing not only common challenges, but also offering suggestions, best practice examples or thoughts from different global regions.Table of ContentsIntroduction: Global Issues of Work and Work Systems Design.-Measuring the Impact of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics on the Workplace.- Digital Work in Smart Production Systems – Changes and Challenges in Manufacturing Planning and Operations.- Scenario-based Foresight.- Human-Machine-Interaction in Innovative Work.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book constitutes revised selected papers from the international workshops, the EDOC Forum and the Demonstration and Doctoral Consortium track, that were held at the 26th International Conference on Enterprise Design, Operations, and Computing, EDOC 2022. The conference took place in Bozen-Bolzano, Italy, during October 3–7, 2022.The conference focuses on the area of enterprise computing, this year with the special emphasis on the theme of designing and operating “Flexible Enterprises”. Workshops within EDOC cover more focused topics and allow for the presentation and discussion of work that is in the earlier development stages. The 18 full and 8 short papers included in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from 82 submissions. They stem from the following satellite events: – Workshop on Intelligent Digital Architecture, Methods, and Services for Industry 4.0 and Society 5.0 (IDAMS) – 14th Workshop on Service-oriented Enterprise Architecture for Enterprise Engineering (SoEA4EE) – 17th Workshop on Trends in Enterprise Architecture Research (TEAR) – EDOC Forum – Demonstrations Track – Doctoral Consortium Table of ContentsIDAMS 2022.- Digital Architectures Under Society 5.0: An Enterprise Architecture Perspective.- Towards a Framework for Context Awareness Based on Textual Process Data: Case Study Insights.- Digital Technologies Supporting Digitalization: A Maturity Model to Manage their Usage Risks.- DTMN a Modelling Notation for Digital Twins.- Adaptive Management of Cyber-Physical Workflows by Means of Case-Based Reasoning and Automated Planning.- An Optimization Ontology for Goal Modelling Frameworks.- SOEA4EE 2022.-Visual Description of Digital IT Consulting Services using DITCOS-DN: Proposal and Evaluation of a Graphical Editor.- Implementing a service-oriented rural smartness platform: lessons learned from a technical action research in West Java, Indonesia.- TEAR 2022.- Areas where Enterprise Architecture Contributes to Organizational Goals - A Quantitative Study in the Netherlands.- Achieving Alignment by Means of EA Artifacts.- Contextuality and Temporality of Enterprise Architecture Problems: A Comparative Case Study.- Zooming in on Competences in Ontology-Based Enterprise Architecture Modeling.- A Knowledge-Graph Based Integrated Digital EA Maturity and Performance Framework.- Workplace Topology Model for Assessment of Static and Dynamic Interactions Among Employees.- EDOC Forum.- Optimized Throttling for OAuth-based Authorization Servers.- A Concept and a Multitenant Web Application for Interactive Software Architecture Analysis.- An ontology for software patterns: application to blockchain-based software development.- Learning-aided Adaptation - A Case Study from Wellness Ecosystem.- Demonstrations Track.- The Deployment Model Abstraction Framework.- Dromi: A Tool for Automatically Reporting the Impacts of Sagas implemented in Microservice Architectures on the Business Processes.- Exploring Enterprise Architecture Knowledge Graphs in Archi: The EAKG Toolkit.- Interactive Design of Time-Aware Business Processes.- Prosimos: Discovering and Simulating Business Processes With Differentiated Resources.- Doctoral Consortium.- Data analytics and machine learning for smart decision making in automotive sector.- To model or not to model? Assessing the value of ontology-driven conceptual modeling.- A Proposal for Intent-based Configuration of ICT Components.

Read more less

Book SynopsisOne of the core functions of any successful business is the ability to manage and adapt to risk. In a global environment characterised by complexity, it is vital to be able to understand where risk lies and how it impacts upon business.This textbook presents a series of meta-level trends, including as geo-political risks, climate change, and technology, and explores how they are forming and reshaping the risk environment of business. Using a mix of micro and macro level analysis, students will be able to understand how seemingly random, global events, pose challenges for firms. Representing a bold sea-change in the study of international business, this book emphasises the practical elements that students will need to understand in order to succeed in the real world. Readers will not only learn how to understand and read risks in international markets, but they will also benefit from a tooklit to help them assess these processes. Ultimately, this textbook will furnish students with a full appreciation of the importance of risk in international systems.Table of ContentsChapter 1: The Nature of Risk in the International System This chapter will seek to define the main concepts and frameworks to be utilised within this book. The form and nature of risk will be explored as will the multi-scalar nature of the international system. The chapter will offer initial explorations of the links between the two and outline the mains meta level risks/trends to be addressed within the rest of the book. Chapter 2: Globalising the Business Model This chapter will introduce readers to the concept of the business model as well as exploring the nature of risk within them. In so doing, the chapter will outline how globality places adaptive tensions upon business models by reshaping the context through which risk impacts upon a firm’s value creating capabilities whether in terms of operations, markets, partners, etc. Chapter 3: The State in the International System IB is based upon the operations of business between and within states. Thus on both a standalone basis - and as a result of interdependencies - an understanding of states as agents of change within the international system is needed. The chapter will assess the notions of how the state shapes and adapts to risk within the global system. The chapter will also look at different types of states and how risk tends to vary across them. Chapter 4: Geo-economic Risks These are risks to business sourced from shifts or changes in the global economic system that have an impact that is International in nature . Such changes can be either random or emerge as a result of processes within the global economy. The chapter will address the main forms of macro-economic risks that have the potential to impact upon the sustainability of business. Thus the chapter will look at patterns of growth, trade, investment and so on and explore how trends in these indicators alter the opportunities/risks faced by the global business system. Chapter 5: Environmental Risks This chapter will examine how long term changes in the natural environment are reshaping risks at the micro and macro level. This can be through naturally occurring events and processes that can impact upon international operations through disrupting supply chains etc. There is also the human sourced environment changes (such as climate change) and how policymakers and consumer concerns in this area is impacting (both negatively and positively) upon the operation of the international system. Chapter 6: Geopolitical risks The ability of firms to operate across borders will in no small part be defined by the relationships between states. This matters to business as globally stretched supply chains are at risk of disruption should state relations decline. Consequently, geopolitics can have a large impact upon firm performance. This chapter will not only explore the broad consequence of geo-political risk for business but also examine the main geo-political processes currently at play within the global commercial system are shaping the risk environment for IB. Chapter 7: Societal Risks Social risks have been emergent themes throughout the economic system shaped by a mix of factors such as changing demographics, inequality and immigration. This chapter in addressing these issues seeks to explore the main social tensions within the global system and how these are reshaping the effective operation of the international system. It will seek to assess the potential for instability from such processes as well as understanding the responses to such trends. Chapter 8: Technological Risk Businesses operate in shifting technological contexts has the potential to alter the risk context at both micro (for example commercial obsolescence) and macro (for example security) levels. The emergence of new technologies based on AI or the rise of additive manufacturing have the capability to reshape the form and nature of the international system and its operation. The chapter will identify the core themes in technological change and how such meta-trends are altering our understanding of IB. Chapter 9: Infrastructural Risk Activity at both macro and micro levels operates in a complex spatial system that depends upon multi-level (national, international, etc.) infrastructures to support activity across space especially with increasingly elongated, complex supply chains. This exposes both businesses and state to risks created by disruption (either natural or human) to economic infrastructures. This chapter will seek to explore these risks not just within man-made structures but also across the global commons and how these can shape the value creating capability of the system. Chapter 10: International Business and Risk This chapter will bring the analysis within the previous chapters together to develop a holistic perspective on risks within globalised business models. The chapter will seek to offer practical guidance in understanding how to assess risks within businesses that operate within increasingly complex international environments.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe free market underpins our economy and our way of thinking around enterprise and value, but it is also a major factor in the sustainability problems that we now live with. Climate change, child labour and oil spills are just a few of the many problems associated with our economic activity and, although many companies have made an effort to produce more sustainably, the pace of change is much too slow. This engaging and accessible textbook teaches students the relationship between the economy and sustainability, assessing the hand of the free market on company behaviour and, ultimately, providing a framework for transition to a sustainable economy.Using case studies and optional assessment questions, this textbook explains to students what a market is at the macro level and then translates the effects of the market to industries and subsequently to the strategic choices of companies at the micro level. It adopts a model of 8 guiding principles that underpin the current free market economy and 8 guiding principles for the sustainable market economy. Switching these deeply held principles will be essential to any serious transition to a sustainable economy.Table of ContentsIntroduction 91. How markets work 111.1. What do we mean by a (free) market? 121.2. Effects of markets on the choices of companies 221.3. Summary 352. Market Failure: The Tragedy Of The Coercive Hand 372.1. Damage due to product leadership 372.2. Damage due to cost savings 512.3. Summary 723. Guiding principles in our current economic model 753.1. Acting freely for more possessions 763.2. The employee is a means of production 863.3. Economic growth and trickle down 943.4. The role of government in the market economy 993.5. Summary 103Towards a new DNA for a sustainable market 1064. Guiding principles for a sustainable economy 1094.1. Acting responsibly for greater well-being 1094.2. Man is an equal production partner 1354.3. Multiple growth for all 1394.4. The role of government in a sustainable market 1434.5. Summary 1485. The happiness of a sustainable market 1515.1. How the sustainable market works 1515.2. Translating guiding principles into a sustainable mission and vision 1545.3. Sustainable product leadership 1585.4. Cost savings: devoloping sustainable production processes 1675.5. Summary 187Afterword – Now What? The role of citizens, businesses and government 191

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe role of leadership in driving innovation through its different stages is fully explored in this book to enable clinical leaders and managers to design innovation frameworks. The book highlights how to maximize the benefits of innovation for organizations and integrated care systems while acknowledging that the process of innovation within healthcare organizations can be complex and needs to be well orchestrated to enable innovation to spread and sustain. The book examines the leadership enablers in healthcare innovation highlighting a new and refreshing strategic model of innovation. The model is used as the foundation to support the process of innovation, from ideation to implementation, within contemporary and ambitious healthcare organizations.Table of ContentsWhy publish about Healthcare Innovation and what is the problem we are trying to solve.- What we know from existing theories of innovation.- Learning from innovation failure – A case study.- Learning from innovation success – A case study.- Using learnings to make a model for innovation success.- Model validation in real-time – A case study.- A contemporary framework of leadership in innovation.- Epilogue.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen it comes to branding the energy space, an exciting and largely unexplored field of research emerges. This book, therefore, attempts to fill a literature gap, as it examines the applicability of theoretical and practical methods of branding and brand strategies in a commodity market, in this case the energy market.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDo you want to know how to integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data into business valuation?

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book charts the fall of productivity growth and the rise of inequality within global economies and societies. Set out through a series of economic models, the impact of falling rates of productivity growth, particularly in the USA, are examined in relation to lowering interest rates, the lifting of the stock market, and an increasingly unequal distribution of wealth. The economic impact of COVID-19, including the increased tendency to work from home and renewed public debt pressures, are contextualised within broader issues of wage suppression and discontent within the labor force to highlight how average workers have been left behind. The rise of China and the geopolitical tensions that it has created is also discussed.This book sets out the macro and microeconomic innovations that can create a revival in productivity growth in the coming years. It will be relevant to students and researchers interested in global economic trends and the political economy.Table of Contents1. Introduction.- 2. The slowdown and real interest rates.- 3. The slowdown and asset prices.- 4. The slowdown and the share of profits.- 5. The slowdown in the data.- 6. Losing ground to China and other countries.- 7. The pandemic and its aftermath.- 8. Growth to the Rescue.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of new forms of working and new working arrangements largely enabled by technology. The Future of Work is a projection of how work, working, workers and the workplace will evolve in the years ahead from the perspective of different actors in society, influenced by technological, socio-economic, political, and demographic changes.This open access book is a timely exploration of some of the challenges and prospects for the future of work from two main perspectives: how work is changing and how to prepare for work in the future. An evidence-based assessment of these topics offers some critical perspectives that challenge old assumptions and opens up emerging trends and possibilities for work in the future. As part of the Palgrave Studies in Digital Business & Enabling Technologies series, this book is an essential resource for academics of Business, Human Resource Management, Organisational Psychology and Industrial Relations, as well as practitioners and policy makers.Table of ContentsChapter 1 – The Future of Work for Organisations, Jobs and Workers (Introduction) This chapter summarises many of the main challenges and prospects for the future of work. It establishes and summarises the themes to be addressed in the remainder of the book. Prof Edel Conway, Dr Lisa van der Werff (Dublin City University) Part One: The Challenges and Prospects for the Future of Work and Jobs Chapter 2 – Disrupted or Enhanced? The impact of new ways of working on individual and organizational well-being The COVID-19 pandemic has represented a catalyst for new ways of working. This has opened a wide range opportunities such as remote, hybrid, co-working, flexible working and work from anywhere (WFA) approaches. This chapter will consider the range of opportunities and challenges for both workers and organisations in terms of well-being and performance that are created by these new ways of working. Prof Kathy Monks, Prof Yseult Freeney and Prof Edel Conway (Dublin City University) Chapter 3 – Theorizing the Future of Work in Professional Services: An Institutional Perspective This chapter will use a theoretical lens framed in institutional theory to better understand the challenges facing professional services, specifically accounting, law and architecture from digital technologies and specifically machine learning and artificial intelligence. This theoretical exploration will provide a basis for re-imagining the future of work in these professions in the context of digital trends. Dr Brid Murphy and Dr Orla Feeney (Dublin City University) Chapter 4 – Algorithms, Apps & Uncertainty: Navigating Work in the Gig Economy Although some critics consider gig working as simply the latest development in non-standard labour arrangements, its most novel and distinguishing feature, ‘algorithmic management’, disrupts and challenges the most enduring contours of work and people management. This chapter traces the role of digitalisation in creating the gig economy by exploring how algorithmic technologies have replaced human managers in this novel, yet heavily fragmented working arrangement. Dr James Duggan and Dr Stefan Jooss (University College Cork) Chapter 5 – Trust juggling effects of datafication of work: Where are we at and where do we go? Datafication of work fundamentally changes the processes underlying workplace relationships. Our chapter takes perspective of both the technology and human on how datafication helps and hinders trust and collaboration in the workplace. Dr Xuchang Zheng (Dublin City University), Dr Simon Schafheitle (University of St Gallen) Lisa van der Werff (Dublin City University), Part Two: Looking to the Future Chapter 6 – Leadership in digital workplaces This chapter will provide an overview of research (its intellectual structure/past and current trends using bibliometrics) at the intersection of leadership and future of work. It will propose an integrative framework and future outlooks for research and practice. Prof Matej Černe, Amadeja Lamovšek (University of Ljubliana), Prof Irina Nikolova, Prof Sut I Wong (BI Norwegian Business School) Chapter 7 – Diversity and Inclusion in the future of work This chapter will present an overview of extant knowledge about diversity and inclusion at work, with a specific focus on age, gender and race. The chapter will discuss these issues by first explicating how demographic, economic, social, and technological projections will impact the workplace and, second, by examining what specific interventions may promote real change, beyond the rhetoric, toward a more diverse and inclusive future of work. Dr Jean McCarthy (University of Limerick), Prof Janine Bosak (Dublin City University), Prof Emma Parry (Cranfield University) and Prof Jeanette Cleveland (Colorado State University) Chapter 8 – Education and skills for the future of work The chapter will explore a macro-level emphasis on skills required for the future of work as detailed by global policy reports. Specifically, it will explore how these both impact on, and can be fostered/co-created, through education. Our focus is purposefully on skills for the future (not of the future) and on futures (plural). A key underpinning to our argument is the need for a narrative that moves away from an economic focus on skill development to a broader holistic view of human centered development. This is also reflected in the increase realization by organizations that human capital development (HCD) in FoW is linked to positive societal impacts. Dr Shirley Davey (Ulster University), Prof Brian Harney (Dublin City University) Chapter 9 - Learning and Development This chapter draws on the principles of congruence and adaptation in open systems theory to discuss the future of organizational learning and development and argue where the emphasis should be placed. We argue that the emphasis needs to be on learning and development processes at the individual level which are more learner-driven, informal, continuous and social; a focus on knowledge pull as opposed to knowledge push. In tandem at the organizational level this emphasis needs to position the learning and development function as focusing on processes to enable an environment for learner-driven learning and to focus on why and where and how learning enables a fluid business strategy as opposed to driving learning for learning sake. Prof Claire Gubbins (Dublin City University), Prof Thomas Garavan (University College Cork) Chapter 10 – Ethics in the Future of Work A general misunderstanding regarding the essence of the ethical analysis lead to a misconception of ethics as a set of principles that need to be integrated in the way machines are designed. This chapter reviews existing literature on the topic, highlighting the shortcomings of unclear definitions of ethics, and suggests a framework to analyze the emerging areas of research in the future of work in light of a holistic approach to ethics. Dr Marta Rocci (Dublin City University) and Dr Caleb M. Bernacchio, California State University Monterey Bay Chapter 11 – Outlook for Work in the Future Conclusion: This chapter provides a summary of some of the main issues raised, key learning points, and further avenues for research. Prof Theo Lynn and Dr Pierangelo Rosati (Dublin City University)

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book comprehensively assesses the growing importance of project data for project scheduling, risk analysis and control. It discusses the relevance of project data for both researchers and professionals, and illustrates why the collection, processing and use of such data is not as straightforward as most people think. The theme of this book is known in the literature as data-driven project management and includes the discussion of using computer algorithms, human intuition, and project data for managing projects under risk. The book reviews the basic components of data-driven project management by summarizing the current state-of-the-art methodologies, including the latest computer and machine learning algorithms and statistical methodologies, for project risk and control. It highlights the importance of artificial project data for academics, and describes the specific requirements such data must meet. In turn, the book discusses a wide variety of statistical methods available to generate these artificial data and shows how they have helped researchers to develop algorithms and tools to improve decision-making in project management. Moreover, it examines the relevance of project data from a professional standpoint and describes how professionals should collect empirical project data for better decision-making. Finally, the book introduces a new approach to data collection, generation, and analysis for creating project databases, making it relevant for academic researchers and professional project managers alike.Table of ContentsA tentative ToC is available. Please refer to the attachment.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book pursues an interdisciplinary approach to studying family firms as a particular type of business strongly embedded in the territories in which they are located. Featuring an in-depth analysis of original research, the book employs both theoretical and empirical approaches to explore family firms and their relationships with their home territories. The book shows that family firms have unique bonds with their local areas, and these bonds profoundly shape their decision-making and outcomes.The book addresses two research questions, namely, how the connections between family firms and their home territories originate and develop, and how they influence firms’ economic performance and their corporate social responsibility initiatives. Uniquely, it seeks to develop an integrated framework that brings together family firms, local contexts, and places while also presenting new empirical evidence of relevance to scholars, managers, and policymakers alike. In addition, the book responds to the need for a greater understanding of what anchors entrepreneurial families to their home territories and the conditioning effect of local roots on such firms’ behavior.Table of ContentsIntroduction.- Defining and Understanding the Family Firm.- The Spatial Dimension of Firm’s Economic Activity.- Firms in Territories: the Local Roots of Family Firms.- Family Firms, Corporate Social Responsibility and Place-Based Enterprises.- Unveiling the Origins of Local Roots: A Case Study in the Chianti Classico Wine Cluster.- The Role of Local Roots on the Economic Performance and Corporate Social Responsibility of Family Firms: a Quantitative Analysis.- Conclusions

Read more less