Business, Finance & Law Books

Book SynopsisThe substantially revised fourth edition of a widely used text, offering both an introduction to recursive methods and advanced material, mixing tools and sample applications.Recursive methods provide powerful ways to pose and solve problems in dynamic macroeconomics. Recursive Macroeconomic Theory offers both an introduction to recursive methods and more advanced material. Only practice in solving diverse problems fully conveys the advantages of the recursive approach, so the book provides many applications. This fourth edition features two new chapters and substantial revisions to other chapters that demonstrate the power of recursive methods. One new chapter applies the recursive approach to Ramsey taxation and sharply characterizes the time inconsistency of optimal policies. These insights are used in other chapters to simplify recursive formulations of Ramsey plans and credible government policies. The second new chapter explores the mechanics of matc

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Book SynopsisA recent estimate suggests that employees endure a staggering 55 million meetings a day in the United States. This tremendous time investment yields only modest returns. No organization made up of human beings is immune from the all-too-common meeting gripes: those that fail to engage, those that inadvertently encourage participants to tune out, and those that blatantly disregard participants'' time. Most companies and leaders view poor meetings as an inevitable cost of doing business. But managers can take heart: researchers now have a clear understanding of the key drivers that make meetings successful. In The Surprising Science of Meetings, Steven G. Rogelberg, researcher and consultant to some of the world''s most successful companies, draws from extensive research, analytics and data mining, and survey interviews with over 5,000 employees across a range of industries to share the proven practices and techniques that help managers and employees enhance the quality of their meetings. For those who lead and participate in meetings, Rogelberg provides immediate direction, guidance, and relief, offering a how-to guide to change your working life starting today.Trade ReviewSome of the suggestions in the book are easy to implement. Playing music or offering snacks can be a simple fix to lift mood before the meeting begins. Some, on the other hand, require some more effortful reflection, like reviewing attendee feedback on meeting quality. Fortunately, Rogelberg spares readers from the grunt work by providing templates with survey questions and response scales. What the reader needs to do is dedicate time to using those tools... In short, this is a book written for anyone who needs to run a meeting. The benefits you extract from it will depend on the amount of effort you put into applying the recommendations and the amount of buy-in you get from your meeting attendees. Even if you're not surprised by the science presented, it reminds you to re-examine the habitual aspects of meetings that normally go unquestioned. * Vanessa C. T. Nguyen and S. Bartholomew Craig, Department of Psychology, NC State University, Raleigh *You know what might be more useful than sitting through an hourlong department meeting? Taking that hour to read a book about why most workplaces are doing meetings all wrong. * Business Insider *Pointless, exhausting meetings are the bane of most employees' existence. But it does not have to be this way. In The Surprising Science of Meetings, Steven G. Rogelberg, a meetings science researcher with two decades of experience, draws from studies, corporate surveys and success stories to share how you can make meetings actually useful. * The Huffington Post *If one of your New Year's resolutions is to spend less time sitting in or leading useless meetings, this book is for you. * Washington Post *In workplaces around the world, meetings are where productivity and creativity go to die. Steven Rogelberg is the world's leading expert on how to fix them, and here he shares the best evidence on how we can stop wasting time and falling victim to groupthink. * Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Give and Take, Originals, and Option B with Sheryl Sandberg *To achieve bigger impact in your work tomorrow, you can start by making simple changes today. By highlighting the ways that we waste our own and others' time without even thinking about it, and offering solutions for transforming our workdays, Steven Rogelberg shows you how. A game-changer for leaders, this book is unlike any other written about meetings. It is intriguing, highly informative, insightful, and fun to read. * Tasha Eurich, New York Times bestselling author of Insight and Bankable Leadership *Finally! Evidence-based, actionable advice about improving the quality and impact of meetings. Rogelberg has written a tour de force. If you put his sage advice into action, your teams and organizations will accomplish more. * David G. Altman, Chief Operating Officer, Center for Creative Leadership *Steven Rogelberg has done the nearly impossible: translated solid organization science into a well-organized, readable, and often humorous book filled with evidence-based actionable steps that individuals, managers and leaders alike can apply to improve their own lives, their meetings, and ultimately the effectiveness of their organizations. * Alexis Fink, Senior Director of Talent Management, Intel *This book is a must read for anyone who wants to be more effective at work, especially leaders and managers. It offers practical advice on how to harness the power of meetings while avoiding many common pitfalls. I learned some very useful tactics that I will put into practice immediately. * Janine Waclawski, SVP of Human Resources and CHRO, Global Functions and Global Category Groups, PepsiCo *Non-stop meetings can often be the bane of any corporate employee's existence. Steven Rogelberg's evidence-based book offers practical tips for turning these "necessary evils" into efficient and productive interactions that engage the hearts and minds of leaders, teams, and organizations. This book is a great resource. * Robin Cohen, Head of Human Resources, Global Finance, Johnson & Johnson *One of the ten Leadership books to watch in 2019. * The Washington Post *One of the top business books everybody will be reading in 2019. Business InsiderTable of ContentsPrefaceSECTION I: Setting the Meeting StageChapter 01: So Many Meetings and So Much FrustrationChapter 02: Get Rid of Meetings? No, Solve Meetings Through ScienceSECTION II: Evidence-Based Strategies for LeadersChapter 03: The Image in the Mirror is Likely WrongChapter 04: Meet for 48 MinutesChapter 05: Agendas Are a Hollow CrutchChapter 06: The Bigger, The BadderChapter 07: Don't Get Too Comfortable in That ChairChapter 08: Deflate Negative Energy From the StartChapter 09: No More Talking!Chapter 10: The Folly of the Remote Call-in MeetingChapter 11: Putting it All TogetherEpilogue: Trying to Get Ahead of the Science--Using ScienceTool: Meeting Quality Self-AssessmentTool: Sample Engagement Survey and 360 Feedback Questions on MeetingsTool: Good Meeting Facilitation ChecklistTool: Huddle Implementation ChecklistTool: Agenda TemplateTool: Guide to Taking Good Meeting Minutes/NotesTool: Expectations AssessmentAcknowledgmentsReferencesIndex

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Book Synopsis‘And then I saw it. And once I had seen it, I saw it everywhere. Why are men still winning at work? If women have equal leadership ability, why are they so under-represented at the top in business and society? Why are we still living in a man’s world? And why do we accept it? In this provocative book, Gill Whitty-Collins looks beyond the facts and figures on gender bias and uncovers the invisible discrimination that continues to sabotage us in the workplace and limits our shared success. Addressing both men and women and pulling no punches, she sets out the psychology of gender diversity from the perspective of real personal experience and shares her powerful insights on how to tackle gender equality.Trade Review‘A must read for everyone working for a big corporation, this is a powerful & insightful book on the need for true gender equality in the workplace. It will help you better understand your potential as an employee and manager. I only wish I had read it when I was younger, it’s going to be mandatory reading for my daughters & son before they start their careers.’ Lorraine Candy, author of Mum, What’s Wrong with You?’: 101 Things Only Mothers of Teenage Girls Know 'A fantastically astute and compelling exploration of equality that everyone who works needs to read – both men and women.’ Viv Groskop author of How to Own the Room ‘This book has changed my world view on gender equality in a way others have not. I now have a level of awareness and understanding that was simply not there before.’ Jo Scaife CEO of Clearblue® 'This book tells the inconvenient truth about the gender inequality issue, providing some real deep insights into what truly gets in the way of driving diversity - even in companies that are trying to do the right thing. It may be uncomfortable reading for some but crucial for driving the needed change to create a long-term advantage.' Paul Polman Founder & Chair, Imagine & Ex CEO, Unilever 'This sprightly book draws on personal anecdotes and academic research to make a readable and practical case for improving inclusion' Brooke Masters, Chief Business Commentator, Financial Times 'In the tradition of all the most efficient execs, Whitty-Collins sets out an almighty set of recommendations.' Sunday Times Magazine 'Gill Whitty-Collins is 2020’s driving force in the fight against gender discrimination.' Hood Magazine 'A call to action, a real eye-opener and a must-read for everyone.' Books etc 'A fantastically clear and research-backed approach to understanding why everyone should be feminists.' Felicia Willow, CEO, The Fawcett Society 'Packed full of great insights and helpful action-oriented advice.' Jane Cunningham, Co-author of BrandsplainingTable of ContentsForeword by Andy Burnham 11 Preface 15 How this book works 21 1 Yes, it is an issue 25 2 Do you have feminist phobia? 35 3 A few bad men 44 4 Maybe men are just better? 55 5 The invisible power of culture (and other forces) 63 6 The science bit 77 7 The competence vs confidence equation 85 8 Giving good meeting 100 9 The Umbrella Theory 105 10 The women who win at work 121 11 Sisters are (not) doing it for themselves 145 12 The cruel bit 150 13 So why do men win at work? 158 14 And now what the hell are we going to do about it? 166 To Do lists 171 Postscript: Winning at work after Covid 207 A final word 217 Acknowledgements 218 Endnotes 219 Book group discussion points 235 Some useful organisations & web resources 237

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewAbrams’s book is the best, most insightful and comprehensive analysis of the modern-day efforts to manage schools like businesses. It is beautifully written and documented with careful research. -- Diane Ravitch, author of The Death and Life of the Great American School SystemAbrams describes eloquently the disconnect between the optimism underlying for-profit companies’ efforts to improve urban education and the realities that their schools faced. He also describes the history of KIPP charters, their accomplishments, and the limits of the KIPP model as a strategy for improving the life chances of urban children growing up in low-income families. -- Richard J. Murnane, co-author of Restoring OpportunityLucid, thorough, and balanced, Education and the Commercial Mindset is a riveting analysis of current education policy and how we got here. It will serve as an invaluable resource for policymakers involved in urban school reform. -- David Rogers, author of 110 Livingston StreetAbrams provides a comprehensive and insightful analysis of the private sector’s foray into public education. His analysis of Edison Schools, an educational management organization, demonstrates why private sector practices may easily be applied to purchasing scheduling software or contracting bus service, but why they cannot be easily applied to the management of schools where the purpose and process of education is much more complex and opaque. He also examines charter school organizations, the use of publicly funded vouchers for students to attend private schools in Chile and Sweden, and the application of business practices to schools in Finland. Altogether, Abrams makes a compelling case on the limits of private sector practices in public education. -- Russell W. Rumberger, author of Dropping OutGrounded in meticulous research in Finland and Sweden as well as the United States, Education and the Commercial Mindset is a bracing assessment of contemporary education reform and its consequences. -- Pasi Sahlberg, author of Finnish LessonsGiven the near-complete absence of public information and debate about the stealth effort to privatize public schools, this is the right time for the appearance of [this book]. Samuel E. Abrams, a veteran teacher and administrator, has written an elegant analysis of the workings of market forces in education in his book Education and the Commercial Mindset. -- Diane Ravitch * New York Review of Books *[An] outstanding book. -- Carol Burris * Washington Post *In Education and the Commercial Mindset, Abrams provides a detailed, informative and insightful account of the rise and fall of The Edison Project, as a case study of for-profit schools…Abrams demonstrates that for-profit schools have no incentives to consider long term educational or social goals. Obsessed with achievement metrics that might persuade consumers to purchase their product, they often exclude students with cognitive, emotional or behavioral problems. Or with failing grades…Running schools like businesses won’t solve the problem, Samuel Abrams makes clear. -- Glenn C. Altschuler * Huffington Post *In 1962, Raymond Callahan’s classic text Education and the Cult of Efficiency argued that the goal of efficient operations had become a first order priority in public education. Callahan’s work is now joined by a new definitive account, the brilliant book Education and the Commercial Mindset by Samuel E. Abrams...His arguments are exceptionally balanced, meticulously researched, and rooted in a deep understanding of the historical, cultural, and social antecedents of the widespread use of business practices and norms in education...Abrams has provided a thoughtful, critical, and rigorous explanation of crucially important distinctions that will be invaluable to scholars, policymakers, administrators, and teachers alike. -- Megan Tompkins-Stange * Teachers College Record *Education and the Commercial Mindset provides the most detailed and comprehensive analysis of the school privatization movement to date. Students of American education will learn a great deal from it. -- Leo Casey * Dissent *This is a book that all supporters as well as opponents of school choice and educational privatization should read, because the hypotheses and findings are expressed so convincingly that they may serve as a field trial for testing one's own opinions. -- Tommaso Agasisti * Educational Researcher *Essential to understanding the new challenges facing American politics, with the future of the education system being a central issue…Abrams not only offers a historical overview of the education system crisis under the Reagan administration, but also a reminder of the failure of privatization attempts in the 1990s. * Progressive Post *In recent years, several books have been published that explore the corporate influence on public education. Few are as in depth and as evenhanded as Education and the Commercial Mindset. * American Educator *

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Book SynopsisNew York Times bestseller!  There’s a reason this system for time management, goal setting, and intentional living has been adopted by millions around the globe: it works. Not only will you get more done, but you’ll get the right things done. All you need is a pen, paper, and five spare minutes a day. In The Bullet Journal Method, Ryder Carroll, the system’s founder, provides an essential guide to avoiding all-too-common beginner mistakes and building a core discipline from which you can personalize your practice. You’ll not only learn to organize your tasks, but to focus your time and energy in pursuit of what''s truly meaningful to you by following three simple steps: * Track the past. Create a clear and comprehensive record of your thoughts. * Order the present. Find daily calm and clarity by tackling your to-do list in a more mindful, systematic, and productive way. * Design the future. Transform your vague curiosities into meaningful goals, and then break those goals into manageable action steps that lead to big change. Whether you’re a frustrated list maker, an overwhelmed multitasker, or a creative who needs some structure, The Bullet Journal Method will help you go from passenger to pilot of your own life.

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Book SynopsisSolving complex problems and selling their solutions is critical for personal and organizational success. For most of us, however, it doesn’t come naturally and we haven’t been taught how to do it well. Research shows a host of pitfalls trips us up when we try: We’re quick to believe we understand a situation and jump to a flawed solution. We seek to confirm our hypotheses and ignore conflicting evidence. We view challenges incompletely through the frameworks we know instead of with a fresh pair of eyes. And when we communicate our recommendations, we forget our reasoning isn’t obvious to our audience. How can we do it better? In Cracked It!, seasoned strategy professors and consultants Bernard Garrette, Corey Phelps and Olivier Sibony present a rigorous and practical four-step approach to overcome these pitfalls. Building on tried-and-tested (but rarely revealed) methods of top strategy consultants, research in cognitive psychology, and the latest advances in design thinking, they provide a step-by-step process and toolkit that will help readers tackle any challenging business problem. Using compelling stories and detailed case examples, the authors guide readers through each step in the process: from how to state, structure and then solve problems to how to sell the solutions. Written in an engaging style by a trio of experts with decades of experience researching, teaching and consulting on complex business problems, this book will be an indispensable manual for anyone interested in creating value by helping their organizations crack the problems that matter most.Trade ReviewTable of ContentsChapter 1. The most important skill you never learned· Fast and slow problem solving· Problem solving and the expertise trap· Complex problems and “unknown unknowns”· The need for a disciplined problem solving process· Chapter 1 in one page Chapter 2. The five pitfalls of problem solving· Case 1: When the music industry went out of tune· Pitfall 1: Flawed problem definition· Case 2: The Grameen-Danone strengthening yogurt· Pitfall 2: Solution confirmation· Case 3: The call center story· Pitfall 3: Wrong framework· Case 4: New strategy at J.C. Penney· Pitfall 4: Narrow framing· Case 5: A fat chance for sugar· Pitfall 5: Miscommunication· Chapter 2 in one page Chapter 3. The 4S method· Where does the 4S method come from?· An overview of the 4S method· State: A problem well posed is half-solved· Structure: The architecture of problem solving· Solve: Between analysis and creativity · Sell: Choose the approach that suits your audience· Chapter 3 in one page Chapter 4. State the problem: the TOSCA framework· Trouble: What makes this problem real and present?· Owner: Whose problem is this?· Success criteria: What will success look like, and when?· Constraints: what limitations and trade-offs constrain the problem-solving process and the solution?· Actors: who has a say in the way we solve this problem, and what do they want?· Write the core question· Singing TOSCA as a choir· Chapter 4 in one page Chapter 5. Structure the problem: pyramids and trees· Hypothesis-driven problem structuring· Building a hypothesis pyramid· Hypothesis-driven problem structuring: pros and cons· Issue-driven problem structuring· Growing issue trees· Growing a tree or building a pyramid?· Chapter 5 in one page Chapter 6. Structure the problem: analytical frameworks· The power of frameworks: MECE breakdowns of generic problems· The danger of frameworks: Frameworks as mental models· Industry frameworks: value drivers· Functional frameworks· When all else fails, try good old logic· Chapter 6 in one page Chapter 7. Solve the problem: eight degrees of analysis· From structuring to analyses· Eight degrees of analysis· Planning the work· Conducting the analysis· Chapter 7 in one page Chapter 8. Redefine the problem: the design thinking path· Design thinking, and when to use it· Five phases, one mindset· Phase 1: Empathize· Phase 2: Define· Chapter 8 in one page Chapter 9. Structure and solve the problem using design thinking· Phase 3: Ideate· Phase 4: Prototype· Phase 5: Test· Chapter 9 in one page Chapter 10. Sell the solution: core message and storyline· Don’t tell the story of the search, tell the story of the solution· The pyramid principle· Pave the way for a dialogue· Design your “storyline”· Go for either a grouping or an argument· Chapter 10 in one page Chapter 11. Sell the solution: recommendation report and delivery· Manage communications throughout the problem-solving process· Beware the PowerPoint curse· Create an effective, modular report · Develop the content pages· Make quantitative charts relevant and simple· Use conceptual charts sparingly· Trim the deck ruthlessly· Quality control· Beyond slide presentations· Chapter 11 in one page Chapter 12. The 4S method in action· Case study: The Kangaroo opportunity· What is the problem?· Structuring the problem· Solving the problem· Selling the solution· Appendix: First section of a report on the Kangaroo case study Chapter 13. Conclusion: Becoming a problem-solving master

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Book SynopsisA new edition of the classic text explaining the fundamentals of competitive electricity markets?now updated to reflect the evolution of these markets and the large scale deployment of generation from renewable energy sources The introduction of competition in the generation and retail of electricity has changed the ways in which power systems function. The design and operation of successful competitive electricity markets requires a sound understanding of both power systems engineering and underlying economic principles of a competitive market. This extensively revised and updated edition of the classic text on power system economics explains the basic economic principles underpinning the design, operation, and planning of modern power systems in a competitive environment. It also discusses the economics of renewable energy sources in electricity markets, the provision of incentives, and the cost of integrating renewables in the grid. Fundamentals of Power STable of ContentsPreface to the First Edition xiii Preface to the Second Edition xv 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Why Competition? 1 1.2 Market Structures and Participants 2 1.2.1 Traditional Model 2 1.2.2 Introducing Independent Power Producers 4 1.2.3 Wholesale Competition 5 1.2.4 Retail Competition 6 1.2.5 Renewable and Distributed Energy Resources 6 1.3 Dramatis Personae 7 1.4 Competition and Privatization 8 1.5 Experience and Open Questions 9 1.6 Problems 10 Further Reading 11 2 Basic Concepts from Economics 13 2.1 Introduction 13 2.2 Fundamentals of Markets 13 2.2.1 Modeling the Consumers 13 2.2.1.1 Individual Demand 13 2.2.1.2 Surplus 14 2.2.1.3 Demand and Inverse Demand Functions 15 2.2.1.4 Elasticity of Demand 18 2.2.2 Modeling the Producers 18 2.2.2.1 Opportunity Cost 18 2.2.2.2 Supply and Inverse Supply Functions 19 2.2.2.3 Producers’ Revenue 20 2.2.2.4 Elasticity of Supply 20 2.2.3 Market Equilibrium 22 2.2.4 Pareto Efficiency 24 2.2.5 Global Welfare and Deadweight Loss 25 2.2.6 Time-varying Prices 26 2.3 Concepts from the Theory of the Firm 27 2.3.1 Inputs and Outputs 27 2.3.2 Long Run and Short Run 27 2.3.3 Costs 30 2.3.3.1 Short-run Costs 30 2.3.3.2 Long-run Costs 32 2.4 Risk 34 2.5 Types of Markets 34 2.5.1 Spot Market 35 2.5.2 Forward Contracts and Forward Markets 35 2.5.3 Futures Contracts and Futures Markets 37 2.5.4 Options 38 2.5.5 Contracts for Difference 39 2.5.6 Managing the Price Risks 40 2.5.7 Market Efficiency 41 2.6 Markets with Imperfect Competition 41 2.6.1 Market Power 41 2.6.2 Monopoly 42 2.7 Problems 43 Further Reading 49 3 Markets for Electrical Energy 51 3.1 What Is the Difference Between a Megawatt-hour and a Barrel of Oil? 51 3.2 Trading Periods 52 3.3 Forward Markets 53 3.3.1 Bilateral or Decentralized Trading 54 3.3.2 Centralized Trading 57 3.3.2.1 Principles of Centralized Trading 57 3.3.2.2 Day-ahead Centralized Trading 59 3.3.2.3 Formulation as an Optimization Problem 60 3.3.2.4 Market Clearing Price 61 3.3.2.5 Recovering the Fixed Costs 63 3.3.3 Comparison of Centralized and Decentralized Trading 67 3.4 Spot Markets 68 3.4.1 Obtaining Balancing Resources 69 3.4.2 Gate Closure 70 3.4.3 Operation of the Spot Market 70 3.4.4 Interactions Between the Spot Market and the Forward Market 72 3.5 The Settlement Process 73 3.6 Problems 75 References 86 Further Reading 86 4 Participating in Markets for Electrical Energy 89 4.1 Introduction 89 4.2 The Consumer’s Perspective 89 4.3 The Retailer’s Perspective 91 4.4 The Producer’s Perspective 98 4.4.1 Perfect Competition 98 4.4.1.1 Basic Dispatch 98 4.4.1.2 Unit Limits 99 4.4.1.3 Piecewise Linear Cost Curves 100 4.4.1.4 No-load Cost 101 4.4.1.5 Scheduling 102 4.4.1.6 Startup Cost 103 4.4.1.7 Operating Constraints 104 4.4.1.8 Environmental Constraints 105 4.4.1.9 Other Economic Opportunities 105 4.4.1.10 Forecasting Errors 105 4.4.2 The Produce Vs Purchase Decision 105 4.4.3 Imperfect Competition 107 4.4.3.1 Bertrand Model 108 4.4.3.2 Cournot Model 109 4.4.3.3 Supply Functions Equilibria 116 4.4.3.4 Agent-Based Modeling 117 4.4.3.5 Experimental Economics 117 4.4.3.6 Limitations of These Models 117 4.5 Perspective of Plants That Do Not Burn Fossil Fuels 117 4.5.1 Nuclear Power Plants 118 4.5.2 Hydroelectric Power Plants 118 4.5.3 Wind and Solar Generation 119 4.5.3.1 Intermittency and Stochasticity 119 4.5.3.2 Government Policies and Subsidies 119 4.5.3.3 Effect on the Markets 120 4.6 The Storage Owner’s Perspective 121 4.6.1 Self-scheduling 121 4.6.2 Centralized Operation 122 4.7 The Flexible Consumer’s Perspective 125 4.7.1 Flexible Demand Vs Storage 125 4.7.2 Remunerating Flexible Demand 126 4.7.3 Implementation Issues 126 4.8 The Neighbor’s Perspective 131 4.9 An Overall Market Perspective 131 4.9.1 Clearing the Market 131 4.9.2 Exercising Market Power 133 4.9.3 Dealing with Market Power 135 4.10 Problems 136 Further Reading 138 5 Transmission Networks and Electricity Markets 141 5.1 Introduction 141 5.2 Decentralized Trading over a Transmission Network 141 5.2.1 Physical Transmission Rights 142 5.2.2 Problems with Physical Transmission Rights 143 5.2.2.1 Parallel Paths 143 5.2.2.2 Example 144 5.2.2.3 Physical Transmission Rights and Market Power 147 5.3 Centralized Trading over a Transmission Network 148 5.3.1 Centralized Trading in a Two-Bus System 148 5.3.1.1 Unconstrained Transmission 149 5.3.1.2 Constrained Transmission 150 5.3.1.3 Congestion Surplus 153 5.3.2 Centralized Trading in a Three-Bus System 155 5.3.2.1 Economic Dispatch 156 5.3.2.2 Correcting the Economic Dispatch 159 5.3.2.3 Nodal Prices 162 5.3.2.4 Congestion Surplus 167 5.3.2.5 Economically Counterintuitive Flows 167 5.3.2.6 Economically Counterintuitive Prices 169 5.3.2.7 More Economically Counterintuitive Prices 171 5.3.2.8 Nodal Pricing and Market Power 171 5.3.2.9 A Few Comments on Nodal Marginal Prices 173 5.3.3 Losses in Transmission Networks 174 5.3.3.1 Types of Losses 174 5.3.3.2 Marginal Cost of Losses 174 5.3.3.3 Effect of Losses on Generation Dispatch 176 5.3.3.4 Merchandising Surplus 178 5.3.3.5 Combining Losses and Congestion 178 5.3.3.6 Handling of Losses Under Bilateral Trading 179 5.3.4 Mathematical Formulation of Nodal Pricing 179 5.3.4.1 Network with a Single Busbar 179 5.3.4.2 Network of Infinite Capacity with Losses 180 5.3.4.3 Network of Finite Capacity with Losses 182 5.3.4.4 Network of Finite Capacity, DC Power Flow Approximation 184 5.3.4.5 AC Modeling 187 5.3.5 Managing Transmission Risks in a Centralized Trading System 188 5.3.5.1 The Need for Network-Related Contracts 188 5.3.5.2 Financial Transmission Rights 189 5.3.5.3 Point-to-Point Financial Transmission Rights 191 5.3.5.4 Flowgate Rights 195 5.4 Problems 195 References 202 Further Reading 202 6 Power System Operation 203 6.1 Introduction 203 6.1.1 The Need for Operational Reliability 203 6.1.2 The Value of Reliability 204 6.1.3 The Cost of Reliability 204 6.1.4 Procuring Reliability Resources 206 6.1.5 Outline of the Chapter 206 6.2 Operational Issues 207 6.2.1 Balancing Issues 207 6.2.1.1 Balancing Resources 210 6.2.1.2 Effect of Generation from Stochastic Renewable Sources 212 6.2.2 Network Issues 212 6.2.2.1 Limits on Power Transfers 212 6.2.2.2 Voltage Control and Reactive Support 214 6.2.2.3 Stability Services 218 6.2.3 System Restoration 218 6.2.4 Market Models Vs Operational Models 219 6.3 Obtaining Reliability Resources 219 6.3.1 Compulsory Provision 219 6.3.2 Market for Reliability Resources 220 6.3.3 System Balancing with a Significant Proportion of Variable Renewable Generation 221 6.3.4 Creating a Level-playing Field 222 6.4 Buying Reliability Resources 223 6.4.1 Quantifying the Needs 223 6.4.2 Co-optimization of Energy and Reserve in a Centralized Electricity Market 224 6.4.3 Allocation of Transmission Capacity Between Energy and Reserve 232 6.4.4 Allocating the Costs 237 6.4.4.1 Who Should Pay for Reserve? 237 6.4.4.2 Who Should Pay for Regulation and Load Following? 238 6.5 Selling Reliability Resources 238 6.6 Problems 243 References 246 Further Reading 247 7 Investing in Generation 249 7.1 Introduction 249 7.2 Generation Capacity from an Investor’s Perspective 249 7.2.1 Building New Generation Capacity 249 7.2.2 Retiring Generation Capacity 255 7.2.3 Effect of a Cyclical Demand 257 7.3 Generation Capacity from the Customers’ Perspective 260 7.3.1 Expansion Driven by the Market for Electrical Energy 261 7.3.2 Capacity Payments 263 7.3.3 Capacity Market 264 7.3.4 Reliability Contracts 265 7.4 Generation Capacity from Renewable Sources 266 7.4.1 The Investors’ Perspective 266 7.4.2 The Consumers’ Perspective 267 7.5 Problems 267 References 269 Further Reading 270 8 Investing in Transmission 271 8.1 Introduction 271 8.2 The Nature of the Transmission Business 272 8.3 Cost-Based Transmission Expansion 273 8.3.1 Setting the Level of Investment in Transmission Capacity 274 8.3.2 Allocating the Cost of Transmission 274 8.3.2.1 Postage Stamp Method 275 8.3.2.2 Contract Path Method 275 8.3.2.3 MW-mile Method 276 8.3.2.4 Discussion 276 8.4 The Arbitrage Value of Transmission 276 8.4.1 The Transmission Demand Function 278 8.4.2 The Transmission Supply Function 280 8.4.3 Optimal Transmission Capacity 281 8.4.4 Balancing the Cost of Constraints and the Cost of Investments 282 8.4.5 Effect of Load Fluctuations 283 8.4.5.1 Load-duration Curve 284 8.4.5.2 Recovery of Variable Transmission Investment Costs 287 8.4.6 Revenue Recovery for Suboptimal Transmission Capacity 288 8.4.7 Economies of Scale 290 8.4.8 Transmission Expansion in a Meshed Network 292 8.4.9 Concept of Reference Network 298 8.4.9.1 Notations 298 8.4.9.2 Problem Formulation 300 8.4.9.3 Implementation 300 8.4.9.4 Considering Other Factors 303 8.5 Other Sources of Value 303 8.5.1 Sharing Reserve 303 8.5.2 Sharing Balancing Capacity 306 8.5.3 Sharing Generation Capacity Margin 308 8.6 Decentralized Transmission Expansion 310 8.6.1 Concept 310 8.6.2 Illustration on a Two-bus System 311 8.7 Non-wires Alternatives for Transmission Expansion 314 8.8 Problems 315 References 316 Further Reading 317 Index 319

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Book SynopsisDirty data is a problem that costs businesses thousands, if not millions, every year. In organisations large and small across the globe you will hear talk of data quality issues. What you will rarely hear about is the consequences or how to fix it.Between the Spreadsheets: Classifying and Fixing Dirty Data draws on classification expert Susan Walsh’s decade of experience in data classification to present a fool-proof method for cleaning and classifying your data. The book covers everything from the very basics of data classification to normalisation and taxonomies, and presents the author’s proven COAT methodology, helping ensure an organisation’s data is Consistent, Organised, Accurate and Trustworthy. A series of data horror stories outlines what can go wrong in managing data, and if it does, how it can be fixed. After reading this book, regardless of your level of experience, not only will you be able to work with your data more efficiently, but you will also understand the impact the work you do with it has, and how it affects the rest of the organisation.Written in an engaging and highly practical manner, Between the Spreadsheets gives readers of all levels a deep understanding of the dangers of dirty data and the confidence and skills to work more efficiently and effectively with it. Trade Review'If you are teaching data science then all your students should be made aware of this book. When it comes to organisations. I can’t see any reason for not making sure that anyone managing an Excel data base has a copy to refer to.... Excellent value for the price' -Martin White, Informer 'I gained many practical tips for using a spreadsheet to clean data, and alternate ways of approaching classification while reading this book - there is hope for cleaner data!' - Mary Silvia Whittaker, SLA Taxonomy'I have rarely found such a brilliant argument about the importance of COAT - the overall approach to the management of data. The author approaches all her topics with palpable humour and presents them in lively and attractive style. A relevant acquisition for business information departments or their equivalents in public libraries as much as putting it on the desks of the people dealing with all kinds of business data.'Elena Maceviciute, Swedish School of Library and Information ScienceTable of ContentsBetween the Spreadsheets: Classifying and Fixing Dirty Data

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A fascinating study of an overlooked topic."---Andrew Stuttaford, Wall Street Journal"[Bankers and Bolsheviks] is lucidly written, meticulously researched and painstakingly edited. It meets its stated aim of usefully filling a gap in the historiography of the Russian revolution."---Francis King, European History Quarterly

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Book SynopsisThe Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go card deck is an interactive tool built to accompany the bestselling book by Beverly Kaye and Julie Winkle Giulioni. These fifty-six cards share the most insightful career development questions that leaders around the world have been asked--or wish they had been asked.Questions range from "What do you predict will be the ''next big thing'' in your field?" to "What one skill would help you be twice as effective?" and even, "When do you feel most alive?" Use them to assess your career development style, engage others, plan a career conversation with your own manager, and more!

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Book SynopsisSelf-awareness is the bedrock of emotional intelligence that enables you to see your talents, shortcomings, and potential. But you won't be able to achieve true self-awareness with the usual quarterly feedback and self-reflection alone.This book will teach you how to understand your thoughts and emotions, how to persuade your colleagues to share what they really think of you, and why self-awareness will spark more productive and rewarding relationships with your employees and bosses.This volume includes the work of: Daniel Goleman Robert Steven Kaplan Susan David HOW TO BE HUMAN AT WORK.The HBR Emotional Intelligence Series features smart, essential reading on the human side of professional life from the pages of Harvard Business Review. Each book in the series offers proven research showing how our emotions impact our work lives, practical advice for managing difficult people and situations, and inspiring essays on what it means to tend to our emotional well-being at work. Uplifting and practical, these books describe the social skills that are critical for ambitious professionals to master.

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Book SynopsisTake your handmade business to a truly professional level with practical advice from industry experts! Best-selling author Virginia Lindsay teaches you how to sell your handmade items for a real profit. This hands-on guide to the sewing business includes sixteen new sewing patterns, all copyright- and royalty-free, ready to customise for craft fairs or online shops. Make the most of your fabric, time, and resources when selling handmade totes, aprons, quilts, and more!

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Book SynopsisInnovators have long recognised that constraints very often stimulate or guide the process of creativity and innovation. When you work with limitation, creativity often comes to the surface organically as the most ultimate and natural solution. Restraints should never be a reason not to innovate. Often the contrary is true: restraints accelerate creativity, the driving force behind innovation. This book provides multiple inspiring examples from different industries, and offers the reader a real suite of techniques on how to use natural or self-imposed constraints to the benefit of creativity and innovation. The book is aimed at every professional who’s convinced that creativity plays a crucial role in the daily work environment, but is also aware of the boundaries that take away the illusion of ‘the sky is the limit’. Turning undeniable reality into a real creative advantage is the ultimate goal of this book.

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Book SynopsisThe Real Deal Seth Godin, New York Times bestselling author of LinchpinI''d rather hire someone who has studied [Peters''] writings than someone who has an MBA Matthew Kelly, CEO of Floyd Consulting and New York Times bestselling author of The Dream ManagerThe Excellence Dividend is a critical work from one of today''s leading visionaries in business. Winner of the Thinkers50 Lifetime Achievement Award and the CEO Reads Lifetime Contribution to the Business Book Industry Award, Tom Peters is one of the world''s most revered management gurus and global business thinkers.For decades, he has been preaching the gospel of putting people first, and in today''s rapidly changing business environment, this message is more important than ever. Studies show that fewer than one-third of employees feel engaged with their work and that half of all jobs are at risk due to technology. But Peters has a solution: aTrade ReviewWell-polished nuggets and anecdotes about how to build and maintain a culture of excellence. * Financial Times *Tom Peters is a unique and compelling voice of passion, enthusiasm, and insight into organizational and managerial life. The Excellence Dividend proves that his thoughts are as vital now as they ever were. -- Stuart Crainer, co-founder, Thinkers50Tom Peters continues to push our thinking and shape our practices. His passion for people, innovation and leadership - critical ingredients fueling a culture of excellence - is contagious. -- Marianne Lewis, Dean and Professor of Management, Cass Business SchoolI'd rather hire someone who has studied [Peters'] writings than someone who has an MBA. -- Matthew Kelly, CEO of Floyd Consulting and New York Times bestselling author of The Dream ManagerMakes me glad to be alive in 2018. -- Sally Helgesen, author of The Female Advantage and The Female Vision, co-author How Women RiseA bundle of beautiful dynamite. While I've been a CEO for 30 years, I still learned much worth knowing from The Excellence Dividend. You will too. -- John C. Bogle, founder, VanguardEver since the 1982 publication of In Search of Excellence, Tom Peters has shaped the way an entire generation of entrepreneurs looks at business. Now, thank goodness, he's back at it, applying his unquenchable passion for excellence to an utterly transformed world that needs his wisdom more than ever. -- Bo Burlingham, former Inc. editor and author of Small Giants and Finish BigWow jumps off every page of Tom Peters' book, The Excellence Dividend, delivering brilliant insights and imploring business leaders to change before it's too late. -- Cheryl Burgess, CEO of Blue Focus Marketing and author of The Social Employee

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Book SynopsisThe 'bioeconomy' is the idea of an economy based on the sustainable exploitation of biological resources. Within this concept, there is increasing emphasis on issues such as climate change, depletion of natural resources and growing world food needs. The bioeconomy builds on the recognition of advances in technology, particularly in the life sciences, but at the same time covers issues such as innovation management, ecosystem services, development and governance. This book explores the development of the bioeconomy across the world from an economic and policy perspective, as well as identifying potential future pathways and issues. It uses a broad definition, covering all sectors using biological resources except health, and rather than focusing on individual sectors, it explores the breadth of interconnections that make the bioeconomy a new and challenging subject. Divided into two parts, the book initially outlines the current definitions, strategies, policy and economic information related to the world's bioeconomy. The second part describes current economic analysis and research efforts in qualifying and understanding the economics of the bioeconomy. This includes the contributions of technology, research and innovation; driving forces and demand-side economics; supply-side economics, and the role of markets and public policy in matching demand and supply. The political economy, regulation and transitions are considered, as well as the contribution of the bioeconomy to society, including growth, development and sustainability. Key features include: - An analysis of varied international approaches to the bioeconomy. - A joint consideration of biotechnology, agriculture, food energy and bio-materials. - An assessment of sustainability in the bioeconomy. - A comprehensive view of the issues from an economic and policy perspective. This book will be of interest to students and researchers in agricultural and natural resource economics, agricultural and environmental policy, as well as policy-makers, practitioners and economists.Table of Contents1: Introduction and Overview 2: What is the Bioeconomy 3: Technology and Innovation in the Bioeconomy 4: Approaches to (the Economics of) the Bioeconomy 5: Driving Forces and Demand-side Economics 6: Supply-side Economics 7: Matching Demand and Supply: Markets, Policies and Beyond 8: The Political Economy of the Bioeconomy, Regulation, Public Policy and Transition 9: The Bioeconomy and Sustainable Development 10: Impact Evaluation and Management Tools 11: At the Boundary of Economics 12: Final Thoughts and Outlook

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Book SynopsisAndrew Hayward is a lawyer with more than a dozen years' experience of compliance roles across sectors. Having previously worked for AstraZeneca and Balfour Beatty, he is now Head of Compliance and Ethics at Subsea 7, an engineering, construction and services contractor to the offshore energy industry. He worked with the British Standards Institute to develop the first anti-bribery standard (BS10500) and was part of the UK delegation on the development of the International Anti-Bribery Standard (BS ISO 37001:2016).Tony Osborn is an award-winning writer, creative consultant and content developer. He has worked with leading global corporations to help them find and tell their stories and connect with stakeholders. He helped shape and write Serco's online and printed Code of Conduct, and, with Andrew Hayward, the award-winning Balfour Beatty Code of Conduct.Trade Review"The 'masters and apprentices' book of compliance - practical insights for the professional and lay person alike."" * Christopher Wright, Head of Compliance, LafargeHolcim *"The authors of this book succeeded in explaining precisely, pleasantly and in an easily understandable way what everybody should know and practice in compliance and ethics. Nobody may say anymore: 'I didn't know how to do it'." * François Vincke, Member of the Brussels Bar, Vice-Chair ICC Commission Corporate Responsibility and Anti-corruption *"The engaging style of this book will take its audience beyond the word 'compliance' - seen as so negative by so many demonstrates how to win over hearts and minds. The stories are a useful and practical way to make learning more memorable and therefore effective. The authors are to be commended for their approach in delivering a must read for every CECO... A seminal textbook for those teaching business ethics at universities and business schools." * Philippa Foster Back CBE, Director, Institute of Business Ethics *"Just as importantly, the work provides the right balance between ethics and values on the one hand and compliance programme elements on the other in discussing what works and what hasn't. Brilliantly written and easy to understand, it provides meaningful insight for both the experienced compliance professional and newcomers to the field. It masterfully weaves real stories and anecdotes into the materials in an entertaining way, bringing the discussion to life. Destined to become a classic in the compliance literature, it is required reading for anyone on the compliance journey." * Keith M. Korenchuk, VP & Chief Compliance Officer, Diagnostic Platform, Danaher Corporation/Beckman Coulter Inc. and former partner, Arnold & Porter LLP *"The authors provide such depth of understanding necessary to help entities navigate ethics and compliance in an effective and integrated way. They have managed to do so in a light and upbeat tone with some fun references ranging from rock 'n' roll to Lewis Carroll and a healthy poke at legalese." * Cécilia Fellouse-Guenkel, General Manager, Compliance For Good *Table of Contents Section - ONE: Chapter - 01: Why compliance isn’t working; Chapter - 02: The meaning, origins and role of compliance and ethics; Chapter - 03: Barriers to success; Chapter - 04: Looking for answers; Section - TWO: Chapter - 05: The anatomy of a compliance and ethics programme; Chapter - 06: Top-level commitment; Chapter - 07: Risk assessment and due diligence; Chapter - 08: Code of conduct and policies; Chapter - 09: Communication, education and training; Chapter - 10: Whistle-blowing hotline and speak-up culture; Chapter - 11: Procedures and controls; Chapter - 12: Investigations, remediation and enforcement; Chapter - 13: Assurance and continuous improvement; Chapter - 14: Implementation – The compliance and ethics function – and everyone else;

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Book SynopsisThis practical book takes you through many commonly encountered visualization problems, and it provides guidelines on how to turn large datasets into clear and compelling figures.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the Immanuel Wallerstein Memorial Book Award, Political Economy of the World-System Section of the American Sociological Association""Roos has given us a thought-provoking book that will repay the investment of any reader with an interest in sovereign debt."---Michael Reddell, Central Banking Journal"[A] fresh and painstakingly researched approach that raises vital questions for economists, political scientists and policymakers."---Aleksandr V. Gevorkyan, LSE Review of Books"[A] timely and thoroughly researched book—destined to become an obligatory reference in the field."---Veronica Santarosa, Journal of Economic History"[I've] been reading Why Not Default? at an excruciating pace for the best reason: every page or so I get inspired some subtheme or footnote and go off chasing it down."---Quinn Slobodian"Roos makes a powerful and provocative argument." * Survival: Global Politics and Strategy *"A fantastic contribution to the growing literature on sovereign debt. . . . Why Not Default? will be a mandatory reference for scholars working on financialization, debt, and structural power."---José Tomás Labarca, Finance and Society"[Why Not Default?] does a great service . . . by synthesizing a huge amount of detailed information about these crises in one place, and by clarifying the interlocking effects of a host of social, economic and political changes over the past century."---Shaina Potts, Antipode

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Book SynopsisMany on the Left see the European Union as a fundamentally benign project with the potential to underpin ever greater cooperation and progress. If it has drifted rightward, the answer is to fight for reform from within. In this iconoclastic polemic, economist Costas Lapavitsas demolishes this view. He contends that the EU’s response to the Eurozone crisis represents the ultimate transformation of the union into a neoliberal citadel that institutionally embeds austerity, privatization, and wage cuts. Concurrently, the rise of German hegemony has divided the EU into an unstable core and dependent peripheries. These related developments make the EU impervious to meaningful reform. The solution is therefore a direct challenge to the EU project that stresses popular and national sovereignty as preconditions for true internationalist socialism. Lapavitsas’s powerful manifesto for a left opposition to the EU upends the wishful thinking that often characterizes the debate and will be a challenging read for all on the Left interested in the future of Europe.Trade Review"For those wanting a clear and concise summary of the left case against the euro and of the misrepresentation of German European hegemony as the consummation of the 'European idea', there is no way around this book. Nowhere has the political economy of the common currency and of German ascendancy in Europe been more clearly exposed."—Wolfgang Streeck, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies "Costas Lapavitsas is the most important commentator on the EU and its current crises, including Brexit. This is one of the most significant books on modern politics to appear in the last decade, and virtually the only one fully to grasp the nature of our present situation."—Richard Tuck, Harvard University "Important and timely"—E-International Relations "In 2015, a left-wing government in Athens was wrestling with Berlin and Brussels. Two prominent economists took part in the scuffle: one, Yanis Varoufakis, became Minister of Finance; the other, Costas Lapavitsas, was a member of the ruling party, Syriza. The first was a Europhile who viewed the capitulation of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras as an invitation to struggle for 'another Europe'. The second, always the sceptic, saw his views confirmed by the debacle."—Le Monde Diplomatique "Expedient, informed and lucid."—LSE Review of BooksTable of ContentsCh. 1. The European Union and the Left 1.1 Fragmentation and retreat of democracy 1.2 The challenge for the Left Ch. 2. The evolution of the EU since Maastricht 2.1. Neoliberalism and hegemony in the EU – drawing on Hayek 2.2. Neoliberalism and state monopoly over money 2.3. Creating the euro: A lever of neoliberalism and conditional German hegemony 2.4. The “architectural flaws” of the euro 2.5. The broader context of conditional German hegemony Ch. 3. The ascendancy of Germany and the division of Europe 3.1. A distinctive financialised economy 3.2. The defeat of German labour in the 1990s 3.3. The competitive advantage of Germany and the creation of the Southern periphery 3.4. The unstable core of the EMU and the Central European periphery Ch. 4. The Eurozone crisis: Class interests and hegemonic power 4.1. Crisis erupts 4.2. Imposing a neoliberal agenda 4.3. An unstable and fraught equilibrium Ch. 5. Greece in the iron trap of the euro 5.1 The proximate causes of the Greek crisis 5.2 Long-term weaknesses of the Greek economy 5.3. The lenders impose bail-outs and bring disaster 5.4. Class and national interests in the Greek disaster 5.5 The political debacle of SYRIZA Ch. 6. Seeking democracy, sovereignty, and socialism 6.1. Democracy and sovereignty in the EU, once again 6.2 The impossibility of radical reform 6.3. A class-based stance for the Left 6.4. What to do?

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Book SynopsisIt’s no good having a good idea if you cannot communicate it to someone else. John Simmons, in this stimulating and readable book, demonstrates how we can write and use words more creatively and persuasively in business today. From differentiating your company from another, to injecting life and vibrancy into your products and services, to writing everyday emails, this cult business book by the modern-day guru of business writing (now released as a new 21st anniversary edition) shows ways in which we can use words to gain competitive advantage in business life through “tone of voice”. John Simmons’ method of writing powerfully for business is based on his “WE, ME, THEM and IT” model, which over the past 25 years has been adopted by tens of thousands of marketers and other professionals around of the world. Simmons argues that effective business writing is about learning to love writing and words, and bringing more of our real selves to working life.

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Book SynopsisWhen South Africa’s golden girl of broadcasting, Tracy Going’s battered face was splashed across the media back in the late 1990s, the nation was shocked. South Africans had become accustomed to seeing Going, glamorous and groomed on television or hearing her resonant voice on Radio Metro and Kaya FM. Sensational headlines of a whirlwind love relationship turned horrendously violent threw the “perfect” life of the household star into disarray. What had started off as a fairy-tale romance with a man who appeared to be everything that Going was looking for – charming, handsome and successful – had quickly descended into a violent, abusive relationship. “As I stood before him all I could see were the lies, the disappearing for days without warning, the screaming, the threats, the terror, the hostage-holding, the keeping me up all night, the dragging me through the house by my hair, the choking, the doors locked around me, the phones disconnected, the isolation, the fear and the uncertainty.” The rosy love cloud burst just five months after meeting her “Prince Charming” when she staggered into the local police station, bruised and battered. A short relationship became a two-and-a-half-year legal ordeal played out in the public eye. In mesmerising detail, Going takes us through the harrowing court process – a system seeped in injustice – her decline into depression, the immediate collapse of her career due to the highly public nature of her assault and the decades-long journey to undo the psychological damages in the search for safety and the reclaiming of self. The roots of violence form the backdrop of the book, tracing Going’s childhood on a plot in Brits, laced with the unpredictable violence of an alcoholic father who regularly terrorised the family with his fists of rage. “I was ashamed of my father, the drunk. If he wasn’t throwing back the liquid in the lounge then he’d be finding comfort and consort in his cans at the golf club. With that came the uncertainty as I lay in my bed and waited for him to return. I would lie there holding my curtain tight in my small hand. I would pull the fabric down, almost straight, forming a strained sliver and I would peer into the blackness, unblinking. It seemed I was always watching and waiting. Sometimes I searched for satellites between the twinkles of light, but mostly the fear in my tummy distracted me.” Brilliantly penned, this highly skilled debut memoir, is ultimately uplifting in the realisation that healing is a lengthy and often arduous process and that self-forgiveness and acceptance is essential in order to fully embrace life.Trade Review“Searing, heartbreaking, triumphant: Brutal Legacy is for anyone who’s been punched in the face by someone they loved and then stood up again. It’s for every mother who has run, every sister who has picked up the pieces and every friend who hasn’t fled. It’s for every brother who’s cried and for the children who have watched. Every South African should read it.” – Sisonke Msimang, author of Always Another Country. “On average, one in five South African women older than 18 has experienced physical violence, but the picture of gender-based attacks varies according to marital status and wealth. Four in 10 divorced or separated women reported physical violence, as has one in three women in the poorest households. It’s a complex picture that emerges in Statistics SA’s 2016 Demographic and Health Survey ... And it is one that not only challenges societal attitudes of patriarchy and chauvinism, but also the effectiveness of government programmes and interventions.” – Marianne Merten, Daily Maverick

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Book SynopsisEstate and Trust Administration For Dummies, 2nd Edition (9781119543879) was previously published as Estate and Trust Administration For Dummies, 2nd Edition (9781118412251). While this version features a new Dummies cover and design, the content is the same as the prior release and should not be considered a new or updated product. Your plain-English guide to administering an estate and/or trust As more and more of the population reach senior agesincluding baby boomers, many of whom do not have willsan increasing number of people are being thrust into the role of executor, administrator, personal representative of an estate, or trustee of a trust after the death of a loved one. This updated edition of Estate & Trust Administration For Dummies guides you through the confusing process of administering an estate and/or trust. Settling an estate and administering a trust can be complicated, messy,Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 About This Book 1 Conventions Used in This Book 2 What You’re Not to Read 3 Foolish Assumptions 3 How This Book Is Organized 3 Part 1: Getting Started with Estate and Trust Administration 4 Part 2: Administering an Estate 4 Part 3: Operating a Revocable or Irrevocable Trust 4 Part 4: Paying the Taxes 4 Part 5: The Part of Tens 5 Icons Used in This Book 5 Beyond the Book 6 Where to Go from Here 6 Part 1: Getting Started with Estate and Trust Administration 7 Chapter 1: Operating in a Fiduciary World 9 Identifying the Players 10 Determining an estate’s fiduciaries 10 Knowing who the trustees are 11 Lining up your team of advisors 13 Estate of Change: Delving into Estates 13 Altering the status quo 14 Probating an estate 14 Collecting the estate’s assets 14 Paying expenses and making distributions 15 Tying up the estate’s loose ends 15 Operating a Trust 15 Understanding your duties as trustee 16 Putting assets into trust 16 Putting the trust to work 16 Discovering the purpose of the trust 16 Compiling and organizing trust records 17 Bringing the trust to its conclusion 17 Paying Uncle Sam 17 Compiling the estate tax return 17 Figuring out the income taxes 18 Planning an income tax strategy 18 Whipping together Schedule K-1 18 Chapter 2: Exploring the Ins and Outs of Estates 19 Defining the Estate for Probate Administration Purposes 20 Will Power: Understanding How a Will (Or No Will) Affects an Estate 21 Dying testate 21 Dying intestate 22 Taking a Look at Who Can Inherit 23 Surviving spouse 23 Individuals omitted from the decedent’s will (including intentional disinheritance) 25 The other players: Devisees and legatees 26 Heirs-at-law 26 Defining the Estate for Tax Purposes 27 Transfer taxes 27 Other taxes 30 Chapter 3: Identifying Different Types of Trusts 31 Differentiating for Income Taxes: Grantor versus Non-Grantor Trusts 32 Grantor trusts 32 Non-grantor trusts 33 Intentionally defective grantor trusts 33 Creating Trusts during Lifetime and after Death 34 Trusts created during lifetime 34 Trusts created under a last will 35 Grasping Revocable Trusts 35 Still breathing: Living trusts 36 Tackling Totten Trusts 37 Going incognito: Nominee trusts 38 Understanding Irrevocable Trusts 38 Making gifts to an irrevocable trust 39 Getting the maximum tax benefit out of dying: Marital trusts 40 Protecting the estate tax exemption: Credit shelter trusts 44 Grandpa (or Grandma) knows best: Grandchildren’s trusts 45 Better safe than sorry: Insurance trusts 45 It’s only a name, not a description: Crummey trusts 47 Keeping a finger in the pie: Grantor-retained interest trusts 48 Exploring Charitable Trusts 50 Split-interest charitable trusts 51 Non-operating charitable foundations 52 Owning SubChapter S Shares in Trust 53 Qualified SubChapter S Trusts (QSSTs) 53 Electing Small Business Trusts (ESBTs) 54 Chapter 4: Assembling Your Team Members and Knowing When to Use Them 57 Finding What You Need to Go It Alone 57 Finding an Attorney 59 Knowing where to look 59 Asking the right questions 61 Discussing payment options 62 Finalizing your decision 63 Working with your attorney 63 Hiring a Tax Professional 65 Discovering where to look 65 Discussing payment options 66 Considering Help from Other Pros 66 Determining whether you need an investment advisor 67 Obtaining appraisers where necessary 69 Consulting with other miscellaneous pros 70 Recognizing Malpractice 71 Surveying why malpractice occurs 71 Covering your ass ets 72 Part 2: Administering an Estate 73 Chapter 5: Taking the First Steps after Death 75 Addressing the Immediate Concerns When Someone Dies 76 Honoring anatomical gifts 76 Having an autopsy performed 76 Arranging the Funeral 77 Making important decisions 77 Obtaining copies of the death certificate 82 Understanding How Death Changes Everything about the Decedent’s Assets 83 Bank accounts and the need for funds 83 Powers of attorney 84 Locating the Estate-Planning Documents 84 The Last Will and testament (The Will) 84 Trust agreements and amendments 85 Letters of intent 86 Other documents that dispose of property 86 Notifying Those Who Need to Be Notified 86 Creating Calendars and Files 89 Eyeing what kind of calendar to create 89 Setting up a filing system 90 Chapter 6: Navigating the Probate Process 93 Filing the Last Will with the Probate (Or Equivalent) Court 94 Figuring Out Whether Administration Is Necessary 95 Do you need a temporary executor? 95 Do you need a special administrator? 97 Determining domicile 98 Accessing ancillary administration 99 Deciding What Shape Your Probate Procedure Should Take 100 Taking small estate shortcuts 101 Traveling the traditional probate route 103 Taking Important First Steps after Your Appointment 107 Eyeing the Surviving Spouse’s Rights and Decisions Regarding Property 109 Exercising rights ahead of the provisions of the will 109 Electing against the will 109 Claiming dower 110 Chapter 7: Marshalling and Liquidating Assets 111 Understanding Why You Need to Determine What the Decedent Owned 112 Observing the Obvious: Big-Ticket Items 113 The bricks and mortar: Real estate 113 Things that move: Cars, boats, and cycles 114 Small (and closely held) businesses 114 Tracking Down All the Other Assets 115 Reading the mail 116 Perusing other personal papers 118 Finding the hiding places 118 Emptying the safe deposit box 119 Sleuthing for digital assets and info 120 Checking over prior tax returns 121 Listing Personal and Household Effects 122 Appraising the Property 123 Tangibles 124 Intangibles 125 Real estate 127 Contacting the Employer about Employee Benefits 127 Locating and Collecting Insurance Proceeds 129 Ascertaining Any Other Death Benefits 130 Preparing and Filing the Probate Inventory 132 Liquidating Assets 132 Selling stocks, bonds, and other securities 133 Disposing of real estate 134 Chapter 8: Paying the Debts, Expenses, Bequests, and Devises from the Estate 135 Determining and Paying Debts of the Decedent and Administration Expenses 136 Finding out how and when to pay claims 136 Prioritizing payment 138 Declaring the estate insolvent 140 Informing Potential Beneficiaries of Their Right to Consider Disclaimer 140 Segregating and Distributing Specific Property 142 Treading slowly before distributing 142 Making the distributions 143 Considering tangible property 144 Looking at intangible property 144 Fulfilling bequests of specific dollar amounts 145 Dividing Other Personal Property Equitably 146 Basing division on letter of intent 146 Creating a system for heirs to choose 147 Disposing of unwanted personal property 147 Slicing Up the Residue 147 Chapter 9: Closing the Estate 149 Obtaining Tax Closing Letters 149 Acquiring Releases of Lien for Real Estate 150 Paying Final Administration Expenses 151 Making Final Distributions to Residuary Beneficiaries 152 Preparing and Filing Final Estate Income Tax Returns 153 Readying Accounts for Allowance by the Probate Court 153 Using the appropriate form of accounting 154 Following the proper probate procedures 155 Remembering filing fees 158 Appointing a guardian ad litem, if needed 158 Filing a military affidavit, if necessary 158 Notifying the surety 158 Part 3: Operating a Revocable or Irrevocable Trust 159 Chapter 10: Understanding the Trustee’s Duties 161 Getting Acquainted with the Trust Instrument 162 Creating a plan based on the trust’s terms 162 Identifying the players 163 Reforming the trust 164 Empowering the Trustee 165 Buying and selling assets 165 Determining distributions to beneficiaries 165 Hiring and firing advisors 167 Coloring Inside the Lines: Understanding Fiduciary Duty and Limitations 168 Exercising discretion 168 Obtaining errors and omissions insurance 169 Protecting the Trust’s Assets 169 Diversifying the assets 170 Asking for help 170 Preparing and Filing Annual Income Tax Returns and Accounts 171 Chapter 11: Funding the Trust 173 Putting Assets in Trust during Life 173 Signing It Over: Giving the Trust Asset Ownership 174 Cash and securities 175 Privately held stocks, promissory notes, and limited partnership interests 177 Real estate 178 Life insurance policies 180 Personal and household property in trust 183 Rolling Property into Trust after Death 185 Chapter 12: Investing the Trust’s Assets and Paying Its Expenses 187 Appreciating the Importance of Income and Principal in Trust Administration 188 Defining principal and income 188 Distinguishing between the two 189 Using Investment Advisors Effectively 191 Holding and Diversifying Assets 192 Stocks 193 Bonds 193 Mutual funds 195 Cash needs 197 Real estate 198 Small business stocks 198 Going Green in a Trust 199 Socially conscious 200 Politically aware 200 Looking to the Beneficiaries’ Needs 201 Age 202 Purpose of trust 202 Paying the Trust’s Expenses 204 Trustee’s fees 204 Investment advice 205 Accounting fees 205 Taxes 205 Chapter 13: Paying Trust Beneficiaries 207 Notifying Beneficiaries of the Trust 208 Obtaining addresses and Social Security numbers 208 Verifying dates of birth 209 Determining Scheduled Distributions 209 Figuring out how much to pay 210 Creating a payment schedule 213 Distributing When the Beneficiary Reaches a Specific Age 214 When Beneficiaries Request More Money: Paying Out Extra Distributions 215 Making the Decision to Distribute Discretionally: Eyeing the Trust’s Terms 217 Ensuring health and well-being 217 Paying for education 217 Buying a home 218 Starting a business 219 Using trustee discretion 219 Chapter 14: Creating and Keeping Trust Records 221 Creating a Filing System 221 Getting started: Organizing the right way 222 Keeping the trust instrument handy 224 Compiling correspondence 224 Filing financial records 225 Preserving annual accounts 225 Referencing tax returns 226 Preparing an Initial Inventory and Valuing the Assets 227 Arriving directly from the donor 227 Coming from the donor’s estate 228 Compiling Records of All Transactions 228 Knowing the difference between income and principal 228 Filing income tax returns annually 229 Producing Annual Trust Accounts 230 Assembling the desired information 230 Obtaining assents of beneficiaries 232 Filing with the probate court 232 Chapter 15: Terminating the Trust 235 Distributing All Assets According to the Trust Instrument 235 Calculating final income distributions 236 Holding back funds for final taxes and fees 237 Paying the remaindermen 238 Submitting the Final Income Tax Returns 240 Determining any final tax liability 241 Filing a short-year return 241 Preparing Final Accounting and Obtaining Assents of All Remaindermen 242 Finally finishing a non-probate trust 242 Polishing off a probate trust 243 Dealing with Outliers after the Trust Terminates 244 Part 4: Paying the Taxes 245 Chapter 16: Preparing the Estate Tax Return, Part 1 247 Figuring Out Which Estates Must File 248 Who must file 248 Who actually files Form 706 and when 249 Obtaining a Release from Personal Liability 250 Understanding Some of the Nitty-Gritty Rules for Filing Form 706 251 Where and how to file 251 How to pay the tax 251 Penalties for late filing, late payment, and understatement of valuation 252 Signature and verification 253 Extensions of time to file and pay tax 253 Supplemental documents 255 Completing the Form 706, Pages 1–4 257 Part 1: Decedent and Executor 257 Part 2: Tax Computation 257 Signature of executor(s) 259 Signature of preparer other than the executor 259 Part 3: Elections by the executor 259 Part 4: General Information 262 Part 5: Recapitulation 265 Part 6: Portability of Deceased Spousal Unused Exclusion (DSUE) 265 Being Ready for and Handling an Audit 266 Getting an Estate Tax Closing Letter 267 Chapter 17: Preparing the Estate Tax Return, Part 2 269 Tackling the Most Common Schedules 269 Focusing on real estate: Schedule A 270 Identifying stocks and bonds: Schedule B 271 Addressing mortgages, notes, and cash: Schedule C 276 Considering life insurance: Schedule D 277 Eyeing jointly owned property: Schedule E 278 Considering other property: Schedule F 279 Touching on funeral and administration expenses: Schedule J 281 Recording debts, mortgages, and liens: Schedule K 285 Listing net losses and such: Schedule L 286 Covering bequests to a surviving spouse: Schedule M 287 Recording charitable, public, and similar gifts and bequests: Schedule O 289 Knowing When to Ask for Help 290 Listing transfers during life: Schedule G 290 Exercising powers of appointment: Schedule H 291 Considering annuities: Schedule I 291 Claiming a credit for foreign death taxes: Schedule P 292 Getting a credit for tax on prior transfers: Schedule Q 292 Generation-Skipping Transfer tax: Schedule R 292 Electing a qualified conservation easement exclusion: Schedule U 293 Filing a protective claim for refund: Schedule PC 293 Chapter 18: Filing Income Tax Returns for a Decedent, Estate, or Trust 295 Before You Begin: What You Need to Do 296 Obtain a federal tax ID number 296 Choose a tax year-end 297 Calculating the Income 298 Interest 298 Dividends 299 Business income 299 Capital gains and losses 300 Income from rents, royalties, partnerships, and other estates and trusts 302 Farm income or loss 303 Ordinary gain or loss 303 Other income 304 Deducing Deductions 304 Interest 305 Taxes 306 Fiduciary fees 306 Charitable deductions 307 Attorney, accountant, and preparer fees 308 Miscellaneous itemized deductions 308 The Income Distribution Deduction (Schedule B) 309 The estate tax deduction 311 Taxes owed 311 Credits 315 Additional taxes 316 Answering the Questions on the Back of Page 2 (Form 1041) 317 Chapter 19: Weighing Income Tax Implications 319 Timing Payments In and Out of an Estate 320 Benefitting from the estate’s fiscal year 320 Balancing the estate’s taxable income against the beneficiary’s 321 Timing the receipt of income 323 Paying the ongoing expenses of the estate 323 Investing to Minimize Income Taxes 324 Limiting the fiduciary’s income taxes 324 Protecting the beneficiary 326 Introducing the Unearned Income Medicare Contribution (UIMC) Tax 327 Calculating the tax 328 Lessening the tax’s impact 328 Chapter 20: Reporting Tax Info on Schedule K-1 331 Understanding Schedule K-1 331 General information 332 Income items 335 Deductions and credits 336 Alternative minimum tax information 337 Allocating Types of Income on the K-1 338 Preparing Supplements to Schedule K-1 339 Showing foreign tax allocations 339 Providing state tax information 340 Creating Nominee Form 1099s 340 Part 5: The Part of Tens 343 Chapter 21: Ten Pitfalls for the Unwary 345 Failing to Terminate an Existing Real Estate Purchase and Sale Agreement 345 Taking a Lump Sum Distribution from a Pension Plan, IRA, or Deferred Compensation Plan 346 Creating a Feeding Frenzy When Splitting Personal Property 347 Missing Court Deadlines 348 Forgetting Tax Filing Deadlines 348 Failing to Communicate with the Heirs and Legatees 349 Exercising Poor Fiduciary Judgment 349 Underestimating the Devotion Required 350 Taking Nonsanctioned Shortcuts 350 Paying from the Wrong Pocket 351 Chapter 22: Ten Types of Taxes You May Have to Pay 353 Federal Gift Tax 354 Federal Estate Tax 354 Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax 354 State Inheritance or Estate Tax 355 Estate and Trust Income Taxes (Federal and State) 356 Decedent’s Final Federal and State Income Taxes 356 Local Income Taxes 357 Local Real Estate Taxes 357 State Intangibles Taxes 357 Excise Taxes 358 Appendix A: Glossary 359 Appendix B: State-By-State Rules of Intestacy and Estate or Inheritance Tax 369 Index 401

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Book SynopsisGain the competitive edge by conducting a valuation of your company every yearâquickly, accurately, and inexpensivelyBusiness leaders who know their companyâs value at any given moment are more likely to seize the competitive edgeâespecially these days, when adding digital capabilities can dramatically affect value. But most businesses drop the ball because traditional valuation is complex, time-consuming, and expensive.Not anymore. Reed Phillips, Chairman of Oaklins International, one of the worldâs largest mid-market M&A firms, lays out a straightforward method for gaining a clear understanding of your companyâs current value in a fraction of the time and at a fraction of the cost of traditional methods. He walks you through three easy steps: Identify the key value drivers behind the companyâs value and rate them to develop a Value Driver Score. Perform a careful examination of comparable businesses, including their market-rate multiples forTable of ContentsForeword by Mike Perlis Acknowledgments PART ONE: GETTING READYCHAPTER 1 Why Valuation Matters CHAPTER 2 Understanding Traditional Valuation CHAPTER Preparing Your Company for QuickValue PART TWO: DISCOVER YOUR VALUE IN THREE STEPSCHAPTER 4 Step 1. Find and Rate Your Value Drivers CHAPTER 5 Step 2. Determine Your Multiples Range CHAPTER 6 Step 3. Calculate Your Value PART THREE: USING QUICKVALUECHAPTER 7 Special Situations CHAPTER 8 Private Equity CEOs CHAPTER 9 Guiding Your Strategy CHAPTER 10 Selling Your Company EPILOGUE The Company You Are Now APPENDIX 1 Income Statement Adjustments APPENDIX 2 Resources for Finding Your Industry’sPublic and Private Multiples APPENDIX 3 Additional Resources Notes Index

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Book SynopsisIn her #1 NYT bestsellers, Brené Brown taught us what it means to dare greatly, rise strong and brave the wilderness. Now, based on new research conducted with leaders, change makers and culture shifters, she’s showing us how to put those ideas into practice so we can step up and lead. Leadership is not about titles, status and power over people. Leaders are people who hold themselves accountable for recognising the potential in people and ideas, and developing that potential. This is a book for everyone who is ready to choose courage over comfort, make a difference and lead. When we dare to lead, we don't pretend to have the right answers; we stay curious and ask the right questions. We don't see power as finite and hoard it; we know that power becomes infinite when we share it and work to align authority and accountability. We don't avoid difficult conversations and situations; we lean into the vulnerability that’s necessary to do good work.But daring leadership in a culture that's defined by scarcity, fear and uncertainty requires building courage skills, which are uniquely human. The irony is that we're choosing not to invest in developing the hearts and minds of leaders at the same time we're scrambling to figure out what we have to offer that machines can't do better and faster. What can we do better? Empathy, connection and courage to start.Brené Brown spent the past two decades researching the emotions that give meaning to our lives. Over the past seven years, she found that leaders in organisations ranging from small entrepreneurial start-ups and family-owned businesses to non-profits, civic organisations and Fortune 50 companies, are asking the same questions: How do you cultivate braver, more daring leaders? And, how do you embed the value of courage in your culture?Dare to Lead answers these questions and gives us actionable strategies and real examples from her new research-based, courage-building programme. Brené writes, ‘One of the most important findings of my career is that courage can be taught, developed and measured. Courage is a collection of four skill sets supported by twenty-eight behaviours. All it requires is a commitment to doing bold work, having tough conversations and showing up with our whole hearts. Easy? No. Choosing courage over comfort is not easy. Worth it? Always. We want to be brave with our lives and work. It's why we're here.’Trade ReviewWith Dare to Lead, Brené brings decades of research to bear in a practical and insightful guide to courageous leadership. This book is a road map for anyone who wants to lead mindfully, live bravely, and dare to lead. * Sheryl Sandberg, COO, Facebook, founder of LeanIn.Org and OptionB.Org *Brené visited Pixar to talk with our filmmakers. Her message was important, as movies are best when they come from a place of vulnerability, when the people who make them encounter setbacks and are forced to overcome them, when they are willing to have their asses handed to them. It is easy to sit back and talk about the values of a safe and meaningful culture, but extraordinarily difficult to pull it off. You don’t achieve good culture without constant attention, without an environment of safety, courage, and vulnerability. These are hard skills, but they are teachable skills. Start with this book. * Ed Catmull, president, Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios *Whether you’re leading a movement or a start-up, if you’re trying to change an organizational culture or the world, Dare to Lead will challenge everything you think you know about brave leadership and give you honest, straightforward, actionable tools for choosing courage over comfort. * Tarana Burke, senior director, Girls for Gender Equity, founder, the Me Too movement *We asked Brené to bring her work on courage and vulnerability to our Air Force base. This is a tough audience, many of them with significant combat experience. Within five minutes, you could have heard a pin drop. Brené cuts through the noise and speaks to what makes us human and makes the mission happen. Dare to Lead is about real leadership: tenacious, from the heart, and full of grit. * Brigadier General Brook J. Leonard, United States Air Force *Brené is Google Empathy Lab’s Obi-Wan Kenobi. She has profoundly inspired our product leaders to design in and embrace vulnerability, rather than engineer it out. It’s a critical and transformative act to bring your alive, messy, wholehearted human self to work every day. Dare to Lead is the skillful and empowering Jedi training we have all been waiting for. * Danielle Krettek, founder, Google Empathy Lab *

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Book SynopsisDaniel Rowles, based in Jersey, has more than 25 years of digital marketing experience on both client and agency sides. He is a CIM fellow and course director and the lead judge for the CIM Marketing Excellence Awards. Rowles also lectures at Imperial College London and Cranfield School of Management and co-hosts the Digital Marketing Podcast, a global top-10 business podcast on iTunes. His digital marketing company, TargetInternet.com, supports clients such as the BBC, Vodafone, Sony, Oracle and Tesco. He is also the author of Building Digital Culture, Mobile Marketing and Podcasting Marketing Strategy, also published by Kogan Page.Trade Review"In the fast-paced world of digital media, every marketer needs a bible - I can't recommend it enough." * Gemma Butler, Marketing Director, Chartered Institute of Marketing *"Worthy of a spot on your desk if you're passionate about delivering results through digital channels. A practical yet strategically minded guide - I highly recommend." * Tim Ruthven, Director of Marketing and Communications at Imperial College Business School *"The definitive hands-on guide to digital tactics and strategy." * Ciaran Rogers, Host of the Digital Marketing Podcast *Table of Contents Chapter - 00: Introduction; Section - PART ONE: Digital branding in perspective; Chapter - 01: What digital branding really means; Section - 02: Focusing on value; Section - 03: Considering the user journey; Section - 04: Objectives and authenticity; Section - PART TWO: The digital toolkit; Section - 05: Social media; Section - 06: Search; Section - 07: Mobile; Section - 08: Online advertising; Section - 09: Email marketing; Section - 10: CRM and marketing automation; Section - 11: From integration to transmedia campaigns; Section - PART THREE: Digital brand strategy and measurement; Section - 12: Measuring digital branding; Section - 13: Primaries and indicators; Section - 14: The role of analytics; Section - 15: Bridging the gaps; Section - 16: The importance of asking questions; Section - 17: Conclusion;

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Book SynopsisA Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®) Guide is the go-to resource for project management practitioners. Over the past few years, the project management profession has significantly evolved due to emerging technology, new approaches and rapid market changes. Reflecting this evolution, The Standard for Project Management enumerates 12 principles of project management and the PMBOK® Guide – Seventh Edition is structured around eight project performance domains. Both the standard and the guide reflect the wide range of development approaches that lead to value delivery. This edition is designed to address practitioners’ current and future needs and to help them be more proactive, innovative and nimble in enabling desired project outcomes. This edition of the PMBOK® Guide: Reflects the full range of development approaches (predictive, adaptive, hybrid, etc.) Provides an entire section devoted to tailoring the development approach and processes Includes an expanded list of models, methods, and artifacts Focuses on not just delivering project outputs but also enabling outcomes; and Integrates with PMIstandards+ for information and standards application content based on project type, development approach, and industry sector.

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Book SynopsisIn today's digital age, where we are bombarded with more information than ever before, the power to influence has never been more important. whatever walk of life, you will need to draw on your influencing skills to get people to agree with your point of view. 'The Influence Book' is an inspiring and engaging handbook packed with expert advice, practical tools, and exercises to help you become a master of influence. This book will help you develop your emotional intelligence so you can become a highly skilled influencer in all areas of your life - whether you're influencing customers, colleagues, family, or friends.Trade Review"Whether you're influencing at work of informally, The Influence Book is a practical and engaging guide with an easy-to-apply framework to help you put influencing theory to practice on a daily basis. We all need to influence others and this is the very best handbook on how to excel at it!" --Dr. Duncan Garrood, CEO Bills Restaurants, formerly CEO of Punch Taverns "Nicole Soames is proving to be as dynamic in print as she is in the classroom. If you're looking to find that extra yard in life, The Influence Book is time extremely well-invested." --Olly Dale, Commerical Director, Liverpool Football "A great read and a ton of practical takeaways. This book shows the real power of harnessing your EQ to listen with empathy, put yourself in the other person's shoes, and build effective rapport. Soames shows convincingly how you can motivate people to establish a shared point of view and achieve so much more." --Dr. Martyn Newman, Clinical Psychologist specializing in emotional intelligence and mindfulness, and author of The Mindfulness Book

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisContemporary capitalism produces more and more money, debt, and inequality. These three trends have a common cause: the privilege of private banks to create money by means of accounting - by the stroke of a key. Why was this privilege not addressed politically for so long - and who benefited from it? At the heart of the answer lies the realization that the power to create money has been hidden by the way we commonly think and talk about capitalism. The book traces the omission of money creation from theories of capitalism and maps its consequences. By expanding the manoeuvring space for the banks to use their privilege, the capitalist countries have financed a transformation of the economy known as financialization. As a result, the real economy and private households became a debt supplier to a monetary system whose returns accumulate at the top. It is not simply "the markets" but money itself that transfers economic benefits from the masses to a minority. Increasing inequality of income and wealth can therefore only be combated if one does not only correct distributive results of markets-redistribution-, but addresses predistribution: the modalities of money creation.Trade ReviewIn the money-creation privilege of private banks, Aaron Sahr discovers a precarious mechanism of inequality reinforcement to which the regulation of capitalist economic activity has paid far too little attention to date. -- Hanno Pahl, University of Bonn, Germany * Neue soziologische Beiträge zur Kapitalismusanalyse: Ein Einblick. In: Soziologische Revue 42 (3), S. 405–417. DOI: 10.1515/srsr-2019-0050 *Sahr has successfully identified the structures that privilege so few and put so many at a disadvantage. The way in which the author presents these issues, unravels the connections and structures, and elucidates the illegitimacy of the money-production privilege adds up to an outstanding piece of sociological scholarship. -- Stefan Freichel * Monetative Blog *The uncontrolled creation of money by private banks should interest us all, because it creates a permanent redistribution from the poor to the rich, says the highly interesting 'Keystroke Capitalism'. -- Mathias Sonne * Information (Newspaper), DK *This book an accessible synthesis of a good deal of the literature, with interesting although by no means final political ideas. -- Wolfgang StreeckAaron Sahr's book provides a highly accessible synthesis of the state of knowledge on modern money and how it affects the political economy. Readers learn about the nature of fiat money and fiat credit and their contribution the financialization of contemporary capitalism, the conflicts it generates, and the consequences for the state and public policy. -- Wolfgang StreeckWhy and how did a company with a huge cash pile in the bank - Apple Inc - set out to borrow $17 billion in 2013? How did the world's billionaire class accumulate $418 trillion US dollars - an amount five times world income - in the blink of an eye? The answers can be found in this admirably accessible book on the way the globalised, private financial system generates 'keystroke wealth' and 'keystroke capital gains' - but also its nemesis - 'keystroke debt'. A must-read for all those fretting about the likely next crisis in the evolution of financialised capitalism. -- Ann Pettifor

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Book SynopsisIf you want to be the best, you have to have the right skillset. From influencing and persuading to choosing a negotiating style and using NLP, THE ULTIMATE NEGOTIATION BOOK is a dynamic collection of tools, techniques, and strategies for success. Discover the main themes and key ideas, and bring it all together with practical exercises.This is your complete course in negotiation. ABOUT THE SERIESULTIMATE books are for managers, leaders, and business executives who want to succeed at work. From marketing and sales to management and finance, each title gives comprehensive coverage of the essential business skills you need to get ahead in your career. Written in straightforward English, each book is designed to help you quickly master the subject, with fun quizzes embedded so that you can check how you''re doing.

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Book Synopsis‘In many ways, being a fashion model can be compared to the life of a professional footballer. You might get signed, but the work doesn’t stop there. In fact, it’s only just begun.’ Interested in working in the fashion industry? Do you want to be a model, designer, photographer or stylist? Want a rare look at the industry from the inside? Supermodel Eunice Olumide MBE was signed when she was just 16. She has since graced catwalks all over the world, working with top design powerhouses including Christopher Kane, Harris Tweed, Alexander McQueen, and Mulberry. How to Get into Fashion is for you, whether you are looking to become a model or wish to pursue one of the many other careers in fashion – or just want to know what goes on behind the scenes. With stunning photographs and the knowledge of someone who’s been there and done it, this is your essential guide to the industry.Trade ReviewThis book is a breath of fresh air; essential, engaging and full of good advice. Elinor Perry-Smith, Associate Editor, SEEN LondonA helpful overview for all those interested in modelling, from someone who has navigated the complex territory of surviving in a demanding industry. Caryn Franklin MBE MSc (Psych) MBPsS, Fashion Commentator

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 About This Book 2 Conventions Used in This Book 2 What You’re Not to Read 2 Foolish Assumptions 3 Icons Used in This Book 3 Beyond the Book 4 Where to Go from Here 4 Part 1: Getting Started with Financial Reports 5 Chapter 1: Opening the Cornucopia of Reports 7 Figuring Out Financial Reporting 8 Preparing the reports 8 Seeing why financial reporting counts (and who’s counting) 9 Checking Out Types of Reporting 11 Keeping everyone informed 11 Following the rules: Government requirements 12 Going global 13 Staying within the walls of the company: Internal reporting 14 Dissecting the Annual Report to Shareholders 15 Breaking down the parts 15 Getting to the meat of the matter 16 Keeping the number crunchers in line 17 Chapter 2: Recognizing Business Types and Their Tax Rules 19 Flying Solo: Sole Proprietorships 20 Keeping taxes personal 20 Reviewing requirements for reporting 21 Joining Forces: Partnerships 21 Partnering up on taxes 22 Meeting reporting requirements 22 Seeking Protection with Limited Liability Companies 22 Taking stock of taxes 23 Reviewing reporting requirements 23 Shielding Your Assets: S and C Corporations 23 Paying taxes the corporate way 24 Getting familiar with reporting requirements 25 Chapter 3: Public or Private: How Company Structure Affects the Books 27 Investigating Private Companies 28 Checking out the benefits 29 Defining disadvantages 30 Figuring out reporting 31 Understanding Public Companies 32 Examining the perks 33 Looking at the negative side 34 Filing and More Filing: Government and Shareholder Reports 35 Quarterly reports 35 Yearly report 35 The rules of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act 36 Dodd-Frank’s impact on financial industry regulation 39 Entering a Whole New World: How a Company Goes from Private to Public 41 Teaming up with an investment banker 41 Making a public offering 42 Chapter 4: Digging into Accounting Basics 45 Making Sense of Accounting Methods 45 Cash-basis accounting 46 Accrual accounting 46 Why method matters 46 Understanding Debits and Credits 48 Double-entry accounting 49 Profit and loss statements 50 The effect of debits and credits on sales 50 Depreciation and amortization 51 Checking Out the Chart of Accounts 52 Asset accounts 54 Liability accounts 56 Equity accounts 57 Revenue accounts 58 Expense accounts 59 Differentiating Profit Types 60 Gross profit 60 Operating profit 60 Net profit 61 Part 2: The Big Show: Annual Reports 63 Chapter 5: Exploring the Anatomy of an Annual Report 65 Everything but the Numbers 66 Debunking the letter to shareholders 66 Making sense of the corporate message 67 Meeting the people in charge 68 Finding basic shareholder information 68 Getting the skinny from management 68 Getting guarantees from management 72 Bringing the auditors’ answers to light 73 Presenting the Financial Picture 76 Summarizing the Financial Data 77 Finding the highlights 77 Reading the notes 78 Chapter 6: Balancing Assets against Liabilities and Equity 79 Understanding the Balance Equation 80 Introducing the Balance Sheet 80 Digging into dates 80 Nailing down the numbers 81 Figuring out format 82 Ogling Assets 84 Current assets 84 Long-term assets 88 Accumulated depreciation 90 Looking at Liabilities 91 Current liabilities 91 Long-term liabilities 92 Navigating the Equity Maze 93 Stock 93 Retained earnings 94 Capital 94 Drawing 94 Chapter 7: Using the Income Statement 95 Introducing the Income Statement 96 Digging into dates 97 Figuring out format 97 Delving into the Tricky Business of Revenues 100 Defining revenue 100 Adjusting sales 101 Considering cost of goods sold 103 Gauging gross profit 104 Acknowledging Expenses 105 Sorting Out the Profit and Loss Types 107 EBITDA 107 Nonoperating income or expense 108 Net profit or loss 109 Calculating Earnings per Share 109 Chapter 8: The Statement of Cash Flows 111 Digging into the Statement of Cash Flows 112 The parts 112 The formats 113 Checking Out Operating Activities 115 Depreciation 116 Inventory 116 Accounts receivable 116 Accounts payable 117 The cash flow from activities section, summed up 117 Investigating Investing Activities 118 Understanding Financing Activities 119 Issuing stock 119 Buying back stock 119 Paying dividends 120 Incurring new debt 120 Paying off debt 121 Recognizing the Special Line Items 121 Discontinued operations 121 Foreign currency exchange 122 Adding It All Up 122 Chapter 9: Scouring the Notes to the Financial Statements 123 Deciphering the Small Print 124 Accounting Policies Note: Laying out the Rules of the Road 125 Depreciation 126 Revenue 126 Expenses 127 Figuring out Financial Borrowings and Other Commitments 128 Long-term obligations 128 Short-term debt 129 Lease obligations 130 Mergers and Acquisitions: Finding Noteworthy Information 131 Pondering Pension and Retirement Benefits 132 Breaking Down Business Breakdowns 134 Reviewing Significant Events 135 Finding the Red Flags 137 Finding out about valuing assets and liabilities 138 Considering changes in accounting policies 138 Decoding obligations to retirees and future retirees 139 Chapter 10: Considering Consolidated Financial Statements 141 Getting a Grip on Consolidation 141 Looking at Methods of Buying Up Companies 147 Reading Consolidated Financial Statements 148 Looking to the Notes 150 Mergers and acquisitions 152 Goodwill 152 Liquidations or discontinued operations 152 Part 3: Analyzing the Numbers 155 Chapter 11: Testing the Profits and Market Value 157 The Price/Earnings Ratio 158 Figuring out earnings per share 158 Calculating the P/E ratio 159 Practicing the P/E ratio calculation 160 Using the P/E ratio to judge company market value (stock price) 162 Understanding variation among ratios 163 The Dividend Payout Ratio 164 Determining dividend payout 165 Digging into companies’ profits with dividends 165 Return on Sales 167 Figuring out ROS 167 Reaching the truth about profits with ROS 168 Return on Assets 168 Doing some dividing to get ROA 169 Ranking companies with the help of ROA 169 Return on Equity 169 Calculating ROE 170 Testing companies using ROE 170 The Big Three: Margins 171 Dissecting gross margin 171 Investigating operating margin 172 Catching the leftover money: Net profit margin 173 Chapter 12: Looking at Liquidity 175 Finding the Current Ratio 177 Calculating the current ratio 177 What do the numbers mean? 178 Determining the Quick Ratio 178 Calculating the quick ratio 178 What do the numbers mean? 179 Investigating the Interest Coverage Ratio 180 Calculating the interest coverage ratio 180 What do the numbers mean? 181 Comparing Debt to Shareholders’ Equity 182 Calculating debt to shareholders’ equity 182 What do the numbers mean? 183 Determining Debt-to-Capital Ratio 184 Calculating the debt-to-capital ratio 184 What do the numbers mean? 186 Chapter 13: Making Sure the Company Has Cash to Carry On 187 Measuring Income Success 188 Calculating free cash flow 188 Figuring out cash return on sales ratio 190 Checking Out Debt 191 Determining current cash debt coverage ratio 192 Computing cash debt coverage ratio 194 Calculating Cash Flow Coverage 196 Finding out the cash flow coverage ratio 196 Mattel 197 Hasbro 198 What do the numbers mean? 198 Part 4: How Companies Optimize Operations 199 Chapter 14: Turning Up Clues in Turnover and Assets 201 Exploring Inventory Valuation Methods 201 Applying Three Inventory Valuation Methods 204 Average costing 205 FIFO 206 LIFO 206 How to compare inventory methods and financial statements 207 Determining Inventory Turnover 208 Calculating inventory turnover 208 What do the numbers mean? 210 Investigating Fixed Assets Turnover 210 Calculating fixed assets turnover 210 What do the numbers mean? 211 Tracking Total Asset Turnover 211 Calculating total asset turnover 212 What do the numbers mean? 212 Chapter 15: Examining Cash Inflow and Outflow 213 Assessing Accounts Receivable Turnover 213 Calculating accounts receivable turnover 214 What do the numbers mean? 216 Taking a Close Look at Customer Accounts 217 Finding the Accounts Payable Ratio 218 Calculating the ratio 218 What do the numbers mean? 219 Determining the Number of Days in Accounts Payable 219 Calculating the ratio 220 What do the numbers mean? 220 Deciding Whether Discount Offers Make Good Financial Sense 221 Calculating the annual interest rate 221 What do the numbers mean? 222 Chapter 16: How Companies Keep the Cash Flowing 223 Slowing Bill Payments 223 Speeding Up Collecting Accounts Receivables 224 Borrowing on Receivables 226 Reducing Inventory 227 Getting Cash More Quickly 228 Part 5: The Many Ways Companies Answer to Others 231 Chapter 17: How Companies Find Errors: The Auditing Process 233 Inspecting Audits and Auditors 234 Looking for mistakes 234 Meeting Mr or Ms Auditor 234 Examining Records: The Role of the Auditor 235 Preliminary review 236 Fieldwork 236 Audit report 238 Filling the GAAP 238 Accounting standards: Four important qualities 239 Changing principles: More work for the FASB 240 Getting more involved internationally 241 Chapter 18: Government Regulations and Reporting Requirements 243 Checking Out the 10-Q 244 Financial information 244 Other critical matters 245 Introducing the 10-K 246 Business operations 246 Financial data 246 Information about directors and executives 247 The extras 248 Investigating Internal Controls 248 Uncovering the Ways Companies Keep in Compliance 250 Digging into Board Operations 252 Understanding the nominating process 253 Contacting board members 254 Finding Out about Insider Ownership 254 Chapter 19: Creating a Global Financial Reporting Standard 255 Why Develop a Worldwide Financial Standard? 256 Key Moves to Reshape Global Financial Reporting 256 Who Benefits from a Global Standard and How? 258 Investors 258 Capital Markets 258 Companies 258 Key Differences between GAAP and IFRS 259 Accounting framework 259 Financial statements 260 Revenue recognition 262 Assets 262 Inventory 262 Related-party transactions disclosures 263 Discontinued operations 263 Impairment charges 264 Chapter 20: Understanding the Analyst–Corporation Connection 265 Typecasting the Analysts 266 Buy-side analysts 266 Sell-side analysts 267 Independent analysts 270 Bond analysts 270 Regarding Bond-Rating Agencies 271 Delving into Stock Rating 273 Taking a Look at How Companies Talk to Analysts 274 Analyst calls 274 Press releases 275 Mobile apps 276 Road shows 276 Chapter 21: How Companies Communicate with Shareholders 277 Making the Most of Meetings 278 Checking Out How the Board Runs the Company 279 Watching the directors 279 Speaking out at meetings 281 Moving away from duking it out 282 Sorting through Reports 282 Catching Up on Corporate Actions 283 Culling Information from Analyst Calls 285 Listening between the lines 286 Knowing when to expect analyst calls 289 Staying Up-to-Date Using Company Websites 289 Regarding Reinvestment Plans 290 Dividend reinvestment plans 290 Direct stock purchase plans 290 Chapter 22: Keeping Score When Companies Play Games with Numbers 291 Getting to the Bottom of Creative Accounting 292 Defining the scope of the problem 292 Seeing through cooked books 293 Unearthing the Games Played with Earnings 295 Reading between the revenue lines 296 Detecting creative revenue accounting 300 Exploring Exploitations of Expenses 302 Advertising expenses 303 Research and development costs 303 Patents and licenses 304 Asset impairment 304 Restructuring charges 305 Finding Funny Business in Assets and Liabilities 306 Recognizing overstated assets 306 Looking for undervalued liabilities 309 Playing Detective with Cash Flow 311 Discontinued operations 311 Income taxes paid 312 Part 6: The Part of Tens 315 Chapter 23: Ten Financial Scandals That Rocked the World 317 Enron 318 Madoff 319 Citigroup 319 Adelphia 320 WorldCom/MCI 320 Tyco 321 Waste Management 322 Bristol-Myers Squibb 323 Halliburton 324 Arthur Andersen 325 Chapter 24: Ten Signs That a Company’s in Trouble 327 Lower Liquidity 327 Low Cash Flow 328 Disappearing Profit Margins 328 Revenue Game Playing 329 Too Much Debt 330 Unrealistic Values for Assets and Liabilities 330 A Change in Accounting Methods 330 Questionable Mergers and Acquisitions 331 Slow Inventory Turnover 332 Slow-Paying Customers 332 Glossary 333 Index 341

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE FOR POLITICAL WRITING 2019''A near miracle'' Ha-Joon Chang, author of 23 Things They Don''t Tell You About CapitalismAccording to the economy, we have never been wealthier or happier. So why doesn't it feel that way? The Growth Delusion explores how we prioritise growth maximisation without stopping to think about the costs. So much of what is important to our well-being, from safe streets to sound minds, lies outside the purview of statistics. In a book that is both thought-provoking and entertaining, David Pilling argues that our steadfast loyalty to growth is informing misguided policies, and proposes different criteria for measuring our success.Trade ReviewA most thoughtful and profound philosophical reflection on how we live our lives, organise our societies and shape the future of humanity. It should be compulsory reading for everyone who is interested in making the world a better place -- Ha-Joon Chang, author of '23 Things They Don't Tell You About Capitalism'A welcome antidote to the gospel according to GDP -- David Smith * Sunday Times *A witty, well-informed and well-travelled guide to our obsession with growth ... If he sometimes makes fun of measurement, he also makes measurement fun. A real achievement -- Angus Deaton, Winner of the Nobel Prize in EconomicsEngaging and enlightening, The Growth Delusion explains not only why the emperor has no clothes, but why he wasn’t really the emperor in the first place -- David Mitchell, author of 'Cloud Atlas'If you thought that GDP did not necessarily translate into increased welfare, David Pilling shows you convincingly why you were right. One of the Financial Times' most brilliant columnists, Pilling has produced a book that will become a classic -- Jagdish Bhagwati, author of 'Why Growth Matters' and 'In Defense of Globalization'Excellent. The argument for better ways of measuring prosperity is steadily gathering momentum -- Rohan Silva * Evening Standard *A rare beast: a book on economics that is well written, accessible and – whisper it – entertaining! Witty, widely travelled and well-informed, David Pilling is an excellent guide to the pitfalls and shortcomings of GDP and a trenchant exponent of the need to move beyond the ‘cult of growth’ * New Internationalist *Sharp and engaging ... Pilling argues that gross domestic product (GDP) is an arbitrary, oversimplified human invention that we slavishly follow, and growth is a modern "cult". Like all cults, it requires unquestioning allegiance - in this case the one-decimal-point figure produced by national statisticians every three months. Pilling, who has written about GDP from five continents over 20 years for the FT, started asking questions about the cult and couldn't stop ... Pilling is right that the spell needs to be broken ... Entertaining and well-argued -- Philip Aldrich * The Times *A surprisingly zippy book that has the potential to take a smart riposte of mindless growth into mainstream debate … Pilling isn’t afraid to make the well-worn criticisms of GDP, and does with clarity and force. But the real beauty of the book is how effortlessly he takes this argument a step further, demonstrating how GDP often makes no sense whatsoever, even taken on its own terms … A wonderful book … A surprisingly addictive page turner, capable of captivating the general reader on a subject known for making eyes glaze over … By injecting a credible dose of ambivalence into common assumptions about GDP he offers a very welcome entry into post-2008 economic writing * Resurgence Ecologist *Briskly and engagingly, David Pilling alerts us to our impoverished sense of reality in an age that has sacrificed quality to quantity. The Growth Delusion should be read by everyone who wants to make sense of the political earthquakes of our time -- Pankaj Mishra, author of 'Age of Anger'This is an excellent and timely book which should be mandatory reading for policymakers, economists, investors and, yes, journalists. It exposes the folly of our modern obsession with a narrow concept of economics and our reliance on gross domestic product data as a sign of well being - and does this in a lively, well written, and easy-to-understand way -- Gillian Tett, author of 'Fool's Gold' and 'The Silo Effect'Entertaining and well-argued -- Book of the Week * The Week *In The Growth Delusion Pilling makes an important yet complicated subject accessible to experts and non-experts alike. The book offers a most insightful and at times witty guide to the essential question: what precisely is economic growth for and how can it be harnessed to improve the lives of people in poor countries as well as rich ones? -- Kofi Annan, seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations and Winner of the Nobel Peace PrizeThis is a fascinating and extremely readable book which engagingly challenges many of our assumptions about what makes for a successful economy and a happy life -- Chris Patten, the last Governor of Hong Kong and author of 'East and 'West'What economics needs now, what we all need, are people who can bring it back to life. In The Growth Delusion Pilling does exactly that, charting the idea of economic growth from its birth to the present through countless vivid stories -- Joe Earle, author of 'The Econocracy'

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Book Synopsis"You are not born an entrepreneur. It's a skill that you learn along the way."When the skincare company Rodial launched its cult 'snake' serum, the press quickly called the business an 'overnight success'. However, Rodial's founder Maria Hatzistefanis had been toiling for 18 years, building the company from scratch in her bedroom. Now, the beauty boss sets out to demonstrate in this very accessible book that its success stemmed from sheer hard work, tireless efforts and a lot of patience.Fashion-loving Maria set out with a dream to build a beauty business and - despite not excelling at school, and being fired from her first job - she has achieved it. She did it by dreaming big, working hard, surrounding herself with the best, taking risks, creating buzz and building her own personal brand, which is now a favourite with high-profile models and media personalities including Poppy Delevingne, Daisy Lowe and Kylie Jenner. Crucially, she believes anyone can do this and her book, brimming with good sense, great advice, tips and secrets - all presented in an easy, friendly style - shows how.

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Book SynopsisThe highly practical lessons in How to Get to Great Ideas are based on neuroscience, psychology and sociology. Written by former advertising creative director Dave Birss, this book offers a brilliant new system for conceiving original and valuable ideas. It looks at how to frame a problem, how to push your thinking, how to sell the idea, how to build support for it and how to inspire others to have great ideas. It proves that any organization - and any individual or department within an organization - can create a fertile environment for ideas. Combining a practical research-based system with fascinating insights and inspiring and humorous writing, the book also includes the problem-solving system RIGHT Thinking. This is a tool which enables a more effective way to generate more effective ideas, and is one that anyone can use to transform themselves or their business. Training on this system is also available in person from the author. And will be released soon as an Trade ReviewMakes you sit up and listen. * Rachel Evans, Experian Data Quality *One of the most original speakers I've ever seen. Dave is one of the most creative minds off and on the stage. * Darko Buldioski, Allweb Events *Brilliant and thought provoking. I love Dave's ability to open my mind to new concepts and ways of thinking. * Graham Ruddick, Digital Doughnut *

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