Search results for """ "5S for SMEs""

Book SynopsisAn invaluable aid to companies and auditors involved in first-time adoption of the new SMEs standard Applying the IFRS for SMEs provides expert insights and explanations of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).Trade Reviewprovides expert insights and explanations of the International Financial Reporting Standards for small and medium enterprises . (Finance & Management Faculty, January 2011).Table of ContentsForeword. Preface. List of Abbreviations. Chapter 1 Scope of the IFRS for SMEs. Chapter 2 Concepts and Pervasive Principles. Chapter 3 Financial Statement Presentation. Chapter 4 Statement of Cash Flows. Chapter 5 Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements. Chapter 6 Business Combinations and Goodwill. Chapter 7 Accounting Policies, Estimates, and Errors. Chapter 8 Inventories. Chapter 9 Investments in Associates. Chapter 10 Investments in Joint Ventures. Chapter 11 Investment Property. Chapter 12 Property, Plant, and Equipment. Chapter 13 Intangible Assets Other than Goodwill. Chapter 14 Impairment of Assets. Chapter 15 Provisions and Contingencies. Chapter 16 Liabilities and Equity. Chapter 17 Financial Instruments. Chapter 18 Leases. Chapter 19 Share-Based Payment. Chapter 20 Employee Benefits. Chapter 21 Income Tax. Chapter 22 Revenue. Chapter 23 Government Grants. Chapter 24 Borrowing Costs. Chapter 25 Foreign Currency Translation. Chapter 26 Hyperinflation. Chapter 27 Events after the End of the Reporting Period. Chapter 28 Related Party Disclosures. Chapter 29 Specialized Activities. Chapter 30 Transition to the IFRS for SMEs. Index.

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Book SynopsisThis book provides a step-by-step guide to implementing lean at SMEs using an approach that has been tested and fine-tuned at over a hundred organizations across India, South East Asia and the Middle East. The book approaches Lean through an implementation project cycle flow and enables the reader to understand the imperative for Lean, how to diagnose current operations, how to plan and deploy Lean and shows a path for long-term sustenance. Diverse situations such as meeting the demand fluctuations, designing a facility, or improving profit margin etc. are included in the case studies from multiple sectors, to ensure that every reader finds a situation similar to their organizational situation. While the publicly available literature on lean offers a large collection of tools and techniques, given each organization’s unique context, the choice of the right sequence of tools differ. The book offers guidelines in terms of which solutions work in which context, backed by real-cases, which is a big help to the resource constrained SMEs. This book is an equally good resource for the organizations that have already implemented lean, as it provides realistic pointers about sustaining, tackling supply chain uncertainties and going beyond Lean by integrating emerging technologies and management principles. It is an excellent resource for students and researchers studying this area and also for corporates, professionals and industry watchers.Table of Contents​ MODULE I: INTRODUCTION 1. History of Lean Management - Origination of Toyota Production System - Adaptation by the Western world - The competitive imperative and compelling value proposition - Cross-linkage of chapters, cases and sectors 2. Lean Management Principles - 14 principles of lean management - Customer focus - Understanding value and waste - Muda, Muri and Mura - Culture of a lean enterprise - Key Metrics MODULE II: SMEs and Lean Management 3. Overview of Small and Medium Enterprises - Definition and economic role - Challenges and constraints, Ownership and Management styles - Barriers and Enablers to Lean implementation - Targeted Lean Interventions – NCMP Lean Cluster scheme in India, Similar programs in other countries 4. Generic Framework for Lean implementation - The five stage Lean implementation framework ( Assessment, Create Flow, Enable and Support Flow, Standardize and Sustain) - Approaches to implementation · Problem Solving · The Focused Improvement Workshop · Advisory & Hand holding - Pros & Cons – what works best when MODULE III: IMPLEMENTATION 5. Commencing the Lean Journey - Diagnosis - Understanding management goals and objectives - Core Team formation – getting the buy-in - Gemba walk and identification of sources of value - Measuring the current state using tools & templates such as VSM, MFD, OEE etc. - Measuring Key metrics; Industry-specific key attributes 6. Designing the Lean Intervention & Developing Project Plan - Create a Lean Roadmap for the enterprise - Prioritizing projects – The importance of quick wins - Set-up project management organization – Lean Champions, Pillar Heads 7. Implementation - Team formation & taking ownership - Kick starting through Focused Improvement Workshops / Events - Create Flow – Core concepts such as One piece flow, process and layout design - Enable Flow – Lean tools including Cycle time reduction, line balancing, Pull systems (kanban) etc - Support Flow through SMED, Problem Solving, Jidoka etc - Validating results and updating standards - Feedback from implementation to back to plan MODULE IV: MONITORING & SUSTENANCE 8. Post-implementation Monitoring - Causes and prevention of slip-back - Post-implementation reporting - Standardizing processes through tools such as 5S, Poka-Yoke, AM, & PM etc. - Tools & Templates 9. Sustaining Lean - Why Lean journeys often fail to sustain - Building Continual Improvement culture through kaizen - Periodic Lean Assessments - Beyond Operations - Expanding lean to the rest of the organization - Commitment of senior management - Tools & Templates MODULE V: ACHIEVING LEAN EXCELLENCE 10. Turbo charging lean - Six Sigma - Industry 4.0, - Theory of Constraints - Sustainability 11. Leveraging Lean to tackle uncertainty - Increasing occurrence and intensity of supply chain disruptions - Supply Chain Risk Management - Extending lean to supply chain - Lean and flexibility - Extending lean principles to achieve supply chain resilience Appendix – Detailed Case Studies i. Animal Feed (process industry) – Company turnaround through Lean intervention ii. White Goods - Commercial refrigerator manufacturer – Classic Lean journey Tactical to Strategic; implement in existing plant to designing a new plant) iii. Restaurant (Service operations) – customer delight through service and a template to growth iv. Electronic products (High-speed discrete manufacturing) – reducing costs and building in flexibility v. Plastic toys – Lead Design for a new product and facility vi. Bulk Drugs (Pharmaceuticals) – applying problem-solving techniques for targeted improvements VIII. Agricultural Seed Processing – Lean approach for a highly seasonal industry

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Book SynopsisDraws on empirical evident to illustrate how SMEs can become more innovative through the introduction of new products and services. This book discusses the effective and efficient use of information technology by broadening management skills and knowledge.Table of ContentsBiographies Preface 1 Introduction: SMEs, Policy and Competitiveness (Fiona Tilley and Jane Tonge). Section 1 General Management Issues 2 Competitive Advantage in SMEs: Towards a Conceptual Framework (Oswald Jones). 3 Strategic Management for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) (Alan Marsden and Carole Forbes). 4 Corporate Governance for Competitive Advantage in SMEs (Richard Warren). 5 Sustainability and Competitiveness: Are There Mutual Advantages for SMEs? (Fiona Tilley, Paul Hooper and Liz Walley). Section 2 Managing People 6 Human Resource Management: Managing People in Smaller Organisations (Scott Taylor, Sue Shaw and Carol Atkinson). 7 Employee Share Ownership in SMEs (Andrew Pendleton). 8 Managing Creativity and Competitive Advantage in SMEs: Examining Creative, New Media Firms (Mark Banks, Meg Elliott and Julia Owen). 9 Innovation in SMEs: Intrapreneurship and New Routines (Oswald Jones ). 10 Network Capability: The Competitive Advantage of Small Firms (David Taylor and Krsto Pandza). Section 3 Functional Management 11 The Adoption of e-business Technologies by SMEs (Paul Windrum and Pascale de Berranger). 12 Supply Chain Management: Improving Competitive Advantage in SMEs (Allan Macpherson and Alison Wilson). 13 Sustaining Viability in SMEs: Perspectives on Innovation in Financial Management (Bob Sweeting, Tony Berry and Jitsuo Goto). 14 Retail and Services Marketing (Steve Baron). 15 Conclusion: The Search for Competitive Advantage (Oswald Jones and Fiona Tilley). Index.

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Book SynopsisE-Business Issues, Challenges and Opportunities for SMEs: Driving Competitiveness discusses the main issues, challenges, opportunities, and solutions related to electronic business adoption, with a special focus on SMEs. Addressing technological, organizational, and legal perspectives in a very comprehensive way, this text aims to disseminate current developments, case studies, new integrated approaches, and practical solutions and applications for SMEs.

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Book SynopsisManagers and entrepreneurs know they have a great product or service - but they may not know how best to sell it.Useful for nearly any sector or industry, this book is a thoroughly practical guide on how to build an excellent sales organisation, brick by brick. Creating an effective sales organisation is a challenge for many businesses, and it's easy to waste resources on ineffective approaches. Many MBA and executive education programmes do not cover sales management in any depth. Filling this knowledge gap, this guide will help readers to create their own unique high-performing sales organisation that fits their product and market environment. Evidence-based and field-tested, it will gives answers to critical questions, including: Which sales process should we use? How do we recruit, retain and inspire our sales team? What should we measure, and how should we manage it? What do great sales managers do? Rich with case studies fr

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Book SynopsisIn recent years, entrepreneurs and SMEs have been forced to adapt to a rapidly changing, increasingly globalized world, an evolution that has had a profound impact on marketing strategies. This timely volume identifies the many new opportunities available to entrepreneurs and SMEs in the global marketplace, and offers tactical and strategic marketing approaches to help them succeed in the modern business world.The book provides solutions to current marketing challenges and leads the reader through the marketing process, supported with real-life examples. Discussions of hyper competition and the opportunities arising from information-communication technology offer a deeper understanding of modern consumers and ways to create added value through products, services and other entities. The authors stress the importance of an SME's web presence and internationalization, as well as innovation and branding processes. Additional key topics include the development of services and experiences with customer co-creation, value-based pricing using new market channels and adapted communication tools (including social media), and how these approaches can lead to increased customer engagement and improved long-term relationships.This comprehensive book will be a useful resource for both scholars and practitioners with an interest in entrepreneurship, marketing, and business and management.Contents: Preface Part I: Understanding Marketing for Entrepreneurs and SMEs and the Challenges they Face 1. An Understanding of Marketing for Entrepreneurs and SMEs 2. Value, Satisfaction and Customer Loyalty 3. Marketing Plan 4. The Trends and Challenges for SMEs Marketing in the 21st Century Part II: Understanding the Market and Consumers 5. Analyzing the Marketing Environment 6. Conducting Market Research and Forecasting Demand in SMEs 7. Consumer Purchase Behavior Part III: Developing an Approach to Strategic Marketing 8. Target Marketing: Segmentation, Targeting and Positioning 9. Challenges and Opportunities for SMEs to Market Diverse Entities 10. Innovation Process in SMEs 11. Branding in SMEs 12. Setting the Price in SMEs 13. Designing Marketing Channels in SMEs 14. Marketing Communications in SMEs IndexTrade ReviewA timely text, which presents key marketing concepts, frameworks, and tools in an easy-to-follow manner. The case vignettes, drawn from contemporary marketing practices of entrepreneurial companies around the world, provide nice illustrations of the issues discussed in the chapters. The book is an appropriate anchor text for courses in marketing, entrepreneurship, and small business management, and a great reference for practitioners. --Tatiana Manolova, Bentley UniversityTable of ContentsContents: Preface Part I: Understanding Marketing for Entrepreneurs and SMEs and the Challenges they Face 1. An Understanding of Marketing for Entrepreneurs and SMEs 2. Value, Satisfaction and Customer Loyalty 3. Marketing Plan 4. The Trends and Challenges for SMEs Marketing in the 21st Century Part II: Understanding the Market and Consumers 5. Analyzing the Marketing Environment 6. Conducting Market Research and Forecasting Demand in SMEs 7. Consumer Purchase Behavior Part III: Developing an Approach to Strategic Marketing 8. Target Marketing: Segmentation, Targeting and Positioning 9. Challenges and Opportunities for SMEs to Market Diverse Entities 10. Innovation Process in SMEs 11. Branding in SMEs 12. Setting the Price in SMEs 13. Designing Marketing Channels in SMEs 14. Marketing Communications in SMEs Index

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Book SynopsisIn recent years, entrepreneurs and SMEs have been forced to adapt to a rapidly changing, increasingly globalized world, an evolution that has had a profound impact on marketing strategies. This timely volume identifies the many new opportunities available to entrepreneurs and SMEs in the global marketplace, and offers tactical and strategic marketing approaches to help them succeed in the modern business world.The book provides solutions to current marketing challenges and leads the reader through the marketing process, supported with real-life examples. Discussions of hyper competition and the opportunities arising from information-communication technology offer a deeper understanding of modern consumers and ways to create added value through products, services and other entities. The authors stress the importance of an SME's web presence and internationalization, as well as innovation and branding processes. Additional key topics include the development of services and experiences with customer co-creation, value-based pricing using new market channels and adapted communication tools (including social media), and how these approaches can lead to increased customer engagement and improved long-term relationships.This comprehensive book will be a useful resource for both scholars and practitioners with an interest in entrepreneurship, marketing, and business and management.Contents: Preface Part I: Understanding Marketing for Entrepreneurs and SMEs and the Challenges they Face 1. An Understanding of Marketing for Entrepreneurs and SMEs 2. Value, Satisfaction and Customer Loyalty 3. Marketing Plan 4. The Trends and Challenges for SMEs Marketing in the 21st Century Part II: Understanding the Market and Consumers 5. Analyzing the Marketing Environment 6. Conducting Market Research and Forecasting Demand in SMEs 7. Consumer Purchase Behavior Part III: Developing an Approach to Strategic Marketing 8. Target Marketing: Segmentation, Targeting and Positioning 9. Challenges and Opportunities for SMEs to Market Diverse Entities 10. Innovation Process in SMEs 11. Branding in SMEs 12. Setting the Price in SMEs 13. Designing Marketing Channels in SMEs 14. Marketing Communications in SMEs IndexTrade ReviewA timely text, which presents key marketing concepts, frameworks, and tools in an easy-to-follow manner. The case vignettes, drawn from contemporary marketing practices of entrepreneurial companies around the world, provide nice illustrations of the issues discussed in the chapters. The book is an appropriate anchor text for courses in marketing, entrepreneurship, and small business management, and a great reference for practitioners. --Tatiana Manolova, Bentley UniversityTable of ContentsContents: Preface Part I: Understanding Marketing for Entrepreneurs and SMEs and the Challenges they Face 1. An Understanding of Marketing for Entrepreneurs and SMEs 2. Value, Satisfaction and Customer Loyalty 3. Marketing Plan 4. The Trends and Challenges for SMEs Marketing in the 21st Century Part II: Understanding the Market and Consumers 5. Analyzing the Marketing Environment 6. Conducting Market Research and Forecasting Demand in SMEs 7. Consumer Purchase Behavior Part III: Developing an Approach to Strategic Marketing 8. Target Marketing: Segmentation, Targeting and Positioning 9. Challenges and Opportunities for SMEs to Market Diverse Entities 10. Innovation Process in SMEs 11. Branding in SMEs 12. Setting the Price in SMEs 13. Designing Marketing Channels in SMEs 14. Marketing Communications in SMEs Index

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Book SynopsisThis thorough guide is essential reading for all owners, directors and senior professionals of SMEs as well as public sector organisations, including bid managers and coordinators.

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Book SynopsisIn order to survive in their market and differentiate themselves from the competition, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which represent more than 90% of companies worldwide, need to be creative and innovative. This book presents a conceptual framework for thinking about innovation and creativity in SMEs. It takes into account their strategic relation to their environment and the economic, technological and social changes that they face. Their ability to enhance their creativity with new ideas and to legitimize them during their implementation is also taken into accountTable of Contents1. External Environment of an SME: From Determinism to Strategic Innovation. 2. Stimulating the Innovative Capabilities of SMEs in an Ever-Changing World. 3. Innovation and Creative Slack in SMEs. 4. Innovation and Social Construction of a New Idea in SMEs.

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Book SynopsisThis open access book addresses the practical challenges that Industry 4.0 presents for SMEs. While large companies are already responding to the changes resulting from the fourth industrial revolution , small businesses are in danger of falling behind due to the lack of examples, best practices and established methods and tools. Following on from the publication of the previous book ‘Industry 4.0 for SMEs: Challenges, Opportunities and Requirements’, the authors offer in this new book innovative results from research on smart manufacturing, smart logistics and managerial models for SMEs. Based on a large scale EU-funded research project involving seven academic institutions from three continents and a network of over fifty small and medium sized enterprises, the book reveals the methods and tools required to support the successful implementation of Industry 4.0 along with practical examples.Table of ContentsSection I: Implementing Industry 4.0 for Smart Manufacturing in SMEs.-1. Status of the Implementation of Industry 4.0 in SMEs and Framework for Smart Manufacturing (Erwin Rauch, Dominik T. Matt).- 2. Computational Intelligence in the Context of Industry 4.0 (Alexander Hošovský, Ján Piteľ, Monika Trojanová, Kamil Židek).-3. AI and ML for Human-Robot Cooperation in Intelligent and Flexible Manufacturing (Manuel A. Ruiz Garcia, Erwin Rauch, Renato Vidoni, Dominik T. Matt).- 4. Industrial Assistance Systems to Enhance Human-Machine Interaction and Operator’s Capabilities in Assembly (Benedikt G. Mark, Erwin Rauch, Dominik T. Matt).- Section II: Implementing Industry 4.0 for Smart Logistics in SMEs.-5. Investigation of the Potential to Use Real-Time Data in Production Planning and Control of MTO Manufacturing Companies (Manuel Woschank, Patrick Dallasega, Johannes A. Kapeller).-6. Readiness Model for Integration of ICT and CPS for SMEs Smart Logistics (Sakgasit Ramingwong, Lachana Ramingwong, Trasapong Thaiupathump, Rungchat Chompu-inwai).- 7. Automated Performance Measurement in Internal Logistics Systems (Chiara Raith, Manuel Woschank, Helmut Zsifkovits).- 8. A Case Study: Industry 4.0 and Human Factors in SMEs (Helmut Zsifkovits, Manuel Woschank, Corina Pacher).-Section III: Organizational and Management Models for Smart SMEs.-9. Transition of SMEs Towards Smart Factories: Business Models and Concepts (Vladimír Modrák, Zuzana Šoltysová).-10. Towards SME 4.0: The Impact of Industry 4.0 Technologies on SMEs’ Business Models (Philipp C. Sauer, Guido Orzes, Laura Davi).-11. General Assessment of Industry 4.0 Awareness in South India – A Precondition for Efficient Organization Models? (Korrakot Tippayawong, Leoš Šafár, Jakub Sopko, Darya Dancaková, Manuel Woschank).-12. Implementation Strategies for SME 4.0: Insights on Thailand (Apichat Sopadang, Sakgasem Ramingwong, Tanyanuparb Anantana, Krisana Tamvimol)

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Book SynopsisStrategic Alliances for SME Development is a volume in the book series Research in Strategic Alliances that focuses on providing a robust and comprehensive forum for new scholarship in the field of strategic alliances. In particular, the books in the series cover new views of interdisciplinary theoretical frameworks and models, significant practical problems of alliance organization and management, and emerging areas of inquiry. The series also includes comprehensive empirical studies of selected segments of business, economic, industrial, government, and non-profit activities with wide prevalence of strategic alliances. Through the ongoing release of focused topical titles, this book series seeks to disseminate theoretical insights and practical management information that should enable interested professionals to gain a rigorous and comprehensive understanding of the field of strategic alliances.Strategic Alliances for SME Development contains contributions by leading scholars in the field of strategic alliance research. The 12 chapters in this volume deal with the increasingly significant role of strategic alliances in the development of SMEs, covering such diverse topics as management capability and internationalization of alliance portfolios, building alliances, development drivers, founder ties, competitive edge, strategic alignment, technology and innovative firms, and temporary project alliances. The chapters contain empirical as well as conceptual treatments of the selected topics, and collectively present a wide-ranging review of the noteworthy research perspectives on the role of strategic alliances for the development of small and medium-sized enterprises.

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Book SynopsisThis book focuses in on the dominant role of SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) in the tourism and hospitality industry. It explores their impact on consumer perceptions of a destination, drawing on examples of small hotels, guesthouses, cafes and restaurants. It also highlights the challenges faced by SMEs to promote destination business growth - with discussion of competitiveness, quality and standards. With its entity-relationship model of a destination, this edited collection of international papers fully explores the dynamics SMEs. Case studies from around the world also puts SMEs research into a global context.Table of Contents1: Tourism SMEs, service quality and destination competitiveness, E Jones and C Haven, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, UK 2: Integrated tourism in Europe's rural destinations: Competition or cooperation: T Oliver and T Jenkins, University of Wales, Aberystwyth, UK 3: The peripherality, tourism and competitiveness mix: Contradictory or confirmed? F Williams and M Macleod, Scottish Agricultural College, Aberdeen, UK 4: Policy options for the development of an indigenous tourism SME sector in Kenya, G Manyara, University of Wales, Cardiff, UK and E Jones 5: Quality issues for the family business, D Getz, University of Calgary, Canada, J Carlsen, Curtin University of Technology, Western Australia and A Morrison, University of Strathclyde, Scotland, UK 6: Capability-based growth: The case of UK tourism SMEs, M M Augustyn, University of Wolverhampton, Walsall, UK and J Pheby, University of Luton, Luton, UK 7: Producing hospitality, consuming lifestyles: Lifestyle entrepreneurship in urban Scotland, M L Di Domenico, University of Westminster, London, UK 8: Modelling the integration of information and communication technologies in small and medium hospitality enterprises, H C Murphy, Swansea Institute of Higher Education, Swansea, UK 9: Business goals in the small-scale accommodation sector in New Zealand, C M Hall and K Rusher, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand 10: The future of the tourism and hospitality workforce begins at home, C Haven and D Botterill, University of Wales, Cardiff, UK 11: HRM behaviour and economic performance - small versus large enterprises, A-M Hjalger, Advance/1 Science Park, Aarhus C, Denmark 12: Insights into skill shortages and skill gaps in tourism - a study in Greater Manchester, C Lashley, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK 13: A typology of approaches towards training in the Southeast Wales hospitality industry, S Moore, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, UK 14: The utilization of human resources in tourism SMEs: A comparison between Mexico and Central Florida, A Pizam and D V Tesone, University of Central Florida, Florida, USA 15: Investment support for tourism SMEs: A review of theory and practice, S Wanhill, Bournemouth University, Poole, UK 16: Business confidence in Wales - the Wales Tourism Business Monitor, H Smith, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK 17: The role of a National Tourism Organisation in developing a National Tourism Quality Scheme: The case of Hungary, Z Behringer and T Mester, Hungarian Tourist Office, Budapest, Hungary 18: Leadership and co-ordination: A strategy to achieve professionalism in the Welsh tourism industry, D James, Tourism Training Forum for Wales, Cardiff Bay, UK 19: Identifying and exploiting potentially lucrative niche markets: The case of planned impulse travellers in Hong Kong, E Chan and S Wong, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong 20: Small and medium-sized Libyan tourism enterprises and the National Tourism Development Plan for Libya, M Jwaili, B Thomas and E Jones, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, UK 21: 'A virtual huanying, selamat dating and herzlich willkommen!' The Internet as a cross-cultural promotional tool for tourism, W G W G Arlt, University of Applied Sciences, Stralsund, Germany 22: The heterodoxy of tourism SMEs and the challenges of destination competitiveness, C Haven and E Jones

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Book SynopsisThis insightful book shows how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from some of the traditionally less dynamic peripheral economies of the ?old? EU ? namely Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain ? have responded to the twin challenges of globalisation and industrial restructuring. Through a series of unique case studies the contributing authors discuss how these economies, and in particular the SME sector, can be transformed. The book begins by examining the key drivers of the globally competitive SME sector in the EU, before moving on to explore the relationship between multinational enterprises (MNEs), SMEs and industrial development. The authors investigate important policy implications and provide lessons for SME development and growth.With empirical and theoretical contributions on SMEs in both the manufacturing and the services sectors, this essential book will be invaluable for researchers and policymakers in small business economics and management. Postgraduate students of entrepreneurship, business economics, industrial economics and European studies will appreciate this unique set of insights.Table of ContentsContents: Preface 1. SMEs in a Globalised World: Conceptual Issues Helena Lenihan, Bernadette Andreosso-O’Callaghan and Mark Hart PART I: KEY DRIVERS OF A GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE SME SECTOR IN THE EU 2. Why do SMEs Grow? A Rejection of Gibrat’s Law for Spanish Firms (1994–2002) Mercedes Teruel-Carrizosa 3. Access of Small Firms to Knowledge Networks as a Determinant of Local Economic Development Miren Larrea, Alazne Mujika and Mari Jose Aranguren 4. Innovation Behaviour of Spanish Fashion Manufacturing SMEs José L. Calvo and Angel L. Culebras de Mesa 5. Family-based Firms: Evidence from the Portuguese Furniture and Events Organisation Industries Vitor Braga and Bernadette Andreosso-O’Callaghan 6. Forms of Industrial Development in Chinese Specialized Towns and Types of Challenges to European Manufacturing SMEs: An Italian Perspective Marco Bellandi and Annalisa Caloffi PART II: MNEs, SMEs AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT 7. MNE Subsidiaries, Productivity Spillovers and SMEs Rita Buckley 8. Entrepreneurship and Inward Foreign Direct Investment in Portugal Natália Barbosa and Vasco Eiriz 9. The Large Leader Firm: Good or Bad? A Case Study of a Leader Firm–Supplier Relationship Helen McGrath and David Jacobson 10. Dynamics of the SME Sector in Ireland: A Driver of Growth in the Irish Economy Since 1994? Helena Lenihan, Briga Hynes and Mark Hart Index

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Book SynopsisThis volume presents detailed analyses of the role and significance of Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the economies of East Asia. Various aspects of SME operations are studied, including: the role and significance of networking in the conduct of business the contribution of culture to business acumen and entrepreneurialism human resource development constraints and issues technology transfer processes the utilisation and application of information technology by SMEs the impact of electronic commerce the policy framework needed to stimulate the growth of the SME sector. A common framework is adopted between the different studies, enabling substantive lessons to be derived and policy measures to be identified.The Role of SMEs in National Economies in East Asia will be of interest to academics and researchers of industrial organisation, Asian economics and Asian studies as well as policymakers concerned with SME growth in the area.Trade Review'The book deserves to be read by those who take an interest in industrial development and SMEs in the region. It provides good basic reading before executing more in-depth study into a particular country or sector.' -- Henry Sandee, ASEAN Economic BulletinTable of ContentsContents: 1. East Asian SMEs: Contemporary Issues and Developments – An Overview 2. Profile of SMEs and SME Issues in East Asia 3. China’s SMEs: Their Evolution and Future Prospects in an Evolving Market Economy 4. The Limping Tiger: Problems in Transition for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in Vietnam 5. SMEs and the New Economy: Philippine Manufacturing in the 1990s 6. Old Policy Challenges for a New Administration: SMEs in Indonesia 7. An Overview of the Macroeconomic Contribution of Small and Medium Enterprises in Malaysia 8. Policies for SME Recovery in Thailand 9. Promoting SMEs in Korea: Government Response to the Asian Financial Crisis 10. Government Policies and Programs for Small and Medium Enterprises in Taiwan 11. Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in Australia 12. Japan: The Role of SMEs in the Mature Economy 13. Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in New Zealand 14. Small and Medium Enterprises in Singapore and the New Economy Index

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Book SynopsisWith an interdisciplinary approach, this book elaborates and discusses the strategic, regulatory and economic scenario that the sponsorship of a European Digital Single Market has been generating for small- and medium-sized companies (SMEs). Encompassing expert innovative analysis of the regulatory framework, economic dynamics and organizational processes, SMEs in the Digital Era highlights the effects that these have and the complex process through which SMEs can enter and successfully compete in the digital market. With contributions from international scholars, this insightful book takes a deep dive into the current most relevant debates taking place in management, economics and law using original evidence from a variety of fields and countries. Chapters offer a fresh look at the new policies and regulatory tools required to meet the challenges of digitalization, reflecting on the effects on employment, competition and organizational processes, and how imbalances can impact the future of the technological revolution. Providing insights into the most advanced and recent research on digital markets, this will be an excellent resource for academics, practitioners, managers and policymakers in fields ranging from organization theory and organizational behaviour to strategy and economic analysis as well as economics and business law.Trade Review‘The necessary digitalization of small- and medium-sized companies in the single digital market of the EU leads them into a risky and disruptive interaction with the internet giants and widens the wage gap between the high and the low skilled. This highly recommended and pioneering book provides comprehensive insights into these and related issues, and the legal and economic policy responses in the European Union.’ -- Hans-Bernd Schäfer, Bucerius Law School, Germany‘The digital revolution is transforming economic and social relationships at a furious pace, creating exciting new opportunities but, of course, ubiquitous challenges. The potential for SMEs to be a vibrant source of growth and innovation is clear, and yet they are ostensibly falling short in the process. This excellent book offers insights as to the impact of the digital revolution on SMEs as well as means for them to discover their potential in a truly integrated European economy.’ -- – Michael G. Plummer, Johns Hopkins University SAIS Europe, ItalyTable of ContentsContents: Introduction: opportunities and challenges of the digital single market 1 Emanuela Carbonara and Maria Rita Tagliaventi PART I THE EVOLUTION OF ORGANIZATIONS IN THE DIGITAL ERA 1 Business models and organizational choices for SMEs in the digital single market 24 Giacomo Carli, Jeanette Hartley, and Maria Rita Tagliaventi 2 Digital technologies and female-led small and medium-sized enterprises: a possible new growth area 45 Luisa De Vita 3 Digital transformation of SMEs in agriculture 65 Nicoleta Darra, Aikaterini Kasimati, Michael Koutsiaras, Vasilis Psiroukis, and Spyros Fountas 4 Beyond the myths of digitalization: labor, space, and ecology in the digital age 84 Marco Marrone, Gianmarco Peterlongo, and Giorgio Pirina PART II AN ECONOMIC VIEWPOINT: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, PLATFORMS, AND ECONOMIC POLICIES 5 Artificial Intelligence and robots: a threat or an opportunity for SMEs and entrepreneurship? 104 Emanuela Carbonara and Enrico Santarelli 6 Small-firm acquisitions, merger control, and digital markets: the Meta/Kustomer case 122 Giuseppina Gianfreda and Luisa Scorciarini Coppola 7 Digital platforms, multi-sided markets, and the anticommon problem 139 Matteo Alvisi 8 Tax challenges in the digital era 157 Alice Guerra PART III REGULATING DIGITALIZATION: THE EU APPROACH 9 Digital innovation in the legal framework of SMEs 176 Maria Alessandra Stefanelli 10 The disintermediation of small and medium-sized enterprises’ financing sources in the digital era 192 Beatrice Bertarini 11 The logistics industry in the digital era: problems and opportunities for the SMEs of the transport sector 208 Stefano Zunarelli 12 Simplifying the formation of companies in light of Digitalization Directive 2019/1151: an analysis of benefits and risks 224 Umberto Michele Carbonara Conclusions: digital technologies, organizational processes and enterprises: opportunities or challenges? 243 Emanuela Carbonara and Maria Rita Tagliaventi Index 251

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Book SynopsisStrategic Alliances for SME Development is a volume in the book series Research in Strategic Alliances that focuses on providing a robust and comprehensive forum for new scholarship in the field of strategic alliances. In particular, the books in the series cover new views of interdisciplinary theoretical frameworks and models, significant practical problems of alliance organization and management, and emerging areas of inquiry. The series also includes comprehensive empirical studies of selected segments of business, economic, industrial, government, and non-profit activities with wide prevalence of strategic alliances. Through the ongoing release of focused topical titles, this book series seeks to disseminate theoretical insights and practical management information that should enable interested professionals to gain a rigorous and comprehensive understanding of the field of strategic alliances.Strategic Alliances for SME Development contains contributions by leading scholars in the field of strategic alliance research. The 12 chapters in this volume deal with the increasingly significant role of strategic alliances in the development of SMEs, covering such diverse topics as management capability and internationalization of alliance portfolios, building alliances, development drivers, founder ties, competitive edge, strategic alignment, technology and innovative firms, and temporary project alliances. The chapters contain empirical as well as conceptual treatments of the selected topics, and collectively present a wide-ranging review of the noteworthy research perspectives on the role of strategic alliances for the development of small and medium-sized enterprises.

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Book SynopsisExploring the process of university collaboration from the perspective of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), this book offers an in-depth examination of the collaboration process, dispelling the myth of the disengagement of these firms. Andrew Johnston and Robert Huggins present a thorough account of how SMEs can “unlock the ivory tower” and gain access to university knowledge to support their own innovation.Outlining and discussing the intellectual roots of research in this field in an accessible way, the book focuses on SMEs to provide insight to an often overlooked group of firms. Chapters show how the closeness of the partners in terms of network membership, working culture and practice, and technical language drive the formation and function of these collaborative links, offering a holistic account of this from idea generation to the completion of projects.This will be an essential read for academics researching innovation and the role of universities, as well as knowledge exchange practitioners wishing to further their understanding of collaboration processes. Policymakers seeking to explore how and why SMEs engage in open innovation practices will also find this an invigorating book.Trade Review‘Fostering university–industry collaboration has become an important concern for regional policymakers over recent decades in the context of the rise of systemic approaches to innovation and the evolution of university roles to integrate a “third mission” alongside their teaching and research functions. In focusing specifically on the relationship between universities and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), this book by Andrew Johnston and Rob Huggins addresses a subset of university–industry collaboration that is underrepresented in the existing literature, but of key policy importance given the predominance of SMEs in regional economies. Indeed, in the context of societal challenges related to green, digital and demographic transitions that require more sophisticated cooperation within territorial innovation systems, there is a pressing need to understand the specific characteristics of effective collaborative relationships between academia and SMEs. The book is informed by empirical analysis that is in many ways specific to the UK context, and will therefore be of special interest to UK academics and policymakers.’ -- James R. Wilson, Regional Studies Journal’This is a much needed book on university-industry collaboration. Compellingly, it is rooted in research on this topic, but it also develops the practical implications of how university-industry collaboration should be approached. A must-read for both researchers and practitioners in university-industry collaboration and technology transfer.’ -- - Markus Perkmann, Imperial College London, UK‘This detailed study of university industry links focuses on the ways in which a diverse set of SMEs collaborate with universities. Often such studies emphasise particular technology sectors or high tech regions, but this book is refreshing in its study of varied SMEs across the UK, and draws out implications for all kinds of universities and places. Johnston and Huggins bring a detailed insight into university-industry links and the evolution of UK policy to develop important findings on the importance of proximity in future policy.’ -- - David Charles, Northumbria University, UK‘This important new book highlights how SMEs working in tandem with universities can deliver an innovative impact way beyond their size. Through their penetrating analysis, Johnston and Huggins highlight a new strategy for cities and regions to ignite the innovative potential of SMEs through fostering key relationships with universities.’ -- - David B. Audretsch, Indiana University, USTable of ContentsContents: Foreword by Tamsin Mann 1. University–industry collaboration: why it matters 2. Framing collaboration: alliances, networks, and open innovation 3. Collaboration and the ‘engaged’ university 4. University–industry collaboration: formation and function 5. Universities and the UK economy 6. Ideation and motivation 7. Partner selection and assessing credibility 8. Absorbing and utilising knowledge 9. Understanding the results of collaboration 10. Conclusions and implications References Index

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Book SynopsisMuch is said about the crucial role of learning in the success of businesses today. Since the best instructional design thrives on acquiring precise content, it is imperative that practitioners find the most efficient and productive ways to work with subject matter experts (SMEs). Building on the design principles highlighted in his previous work ISD from the Ground Up, Chuck Hodell provides a practical, realistic guide to building working, productive relationships with SMEs in SMEs from the Ground Up. It isn’t enough to ask our experts for a “brain dump,” so this book is packed with tips for building great courses by fully incorporating the talents of SMEs into the actual course design process. As Hodell states, “a talented content expert could be just as rich an asset as the best instructional designer or facilitator.” This book will show practitioners how to: Select the right technical SMEs Welcome SMEs into the training design process Define roles and responsibilities Evaluate the performance of SMEs Migrate experts into mainstream ISD roles

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Book SynopsisThis book provides an in-depth introduction to crisis management and leadership in SMEs, as well as methods, approaches and cases against the background of different crises; external ones in particular. Featuring contributions from research and practice, this book covers a plethora of SMEs from different sectors to match the diverse nature of small business practice. The combination of a sound theoretical framework for small firm crisis management along with practical instruments/methods and cases, help to improve the organizational resilience of SMEs. The authors also guide the reader to resources beyond the book, including an online “Crisis Toolkit” comprised of material such as further publications, crisis management blueprints, guidelines, checklists, and company cases on crisis management-related issues. Table of Contents1. Crisis management – From a theoretical point of view.- 2. Crisis management Practices in Small and Medium-sized Firms.- 3. Crisis: A Philosophical Insight.- 4. Managing crisis in SMEs.- 5. Crisis management and leadership: A search for competencies in SMEs.- 6. Crisis management from the perspective of sustainable supply chains.- 7. Different crises in family SMEs and how to prepare for them.- 8. Crisis management in the Public Sector in Times of COVID-19 – Insights from Peru.- 9. Crisis management in SMEs from a leadership perspective.- 10. Crisis management in German Leasing Companies.- 11. Preparing for Crises – Enhancing Resilience.- 12. Crisis management and risk management in SMEs: towards an integrated early warning system.- 13. Conclusions & Outlook.

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Book SynopsisIslamic Social Finance provides an introduction to the Waqf system, which has played a significant socio-economic role throughout the history of Islamic civilization. In a contemporary framework, Waqf creates new networks between micro-entrepreneurs, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs), and entrepreneurship through voluntary donations made by individuals in a society. In other contexts, Waqf supports the financial system and contributes to the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs).The authors explore the relationship between the roles Waqf plays in realizing the SDGs, its contributions in many sectors of the economy, and the Waqf practices among the Southeast Asia countries, particularly Malaysia. They highlight the existing Waqf models and framework that have been used by many countries for entrepreneurship that can be used or adapted for the benefits of SMEs.This book is a comprehensive overview for academics, postgraduate students, entrepreneurs, and policy makers who wish to understand how Waqf can contribute to the economic progress of individuals and society at large.Trade Review‘The merits of Waqf Islamic endowments have been rediscovered in recent years and they are now found world-wide wherever there are Muslim communities. It is the adaptability of Waqf, including the ability to change the share of benefactors, which has encouraged many to become founders. Of particular interest is the experience of Southeast Asia, a focus of this book, from which lessons can be learnt.’ -- Rodney Wilson, Durham University, UK‘The authors provide a comprehensive overview of the importance of Waqf financing to MSEs. In a post COVID-19 world, a wide array of economic solutions is needed to support entrepreneurs as economies recover from the devastating global pandemic. Situating this need within the global economy, the authors provide case examples from Malaysia and Indonesia, primarily, to support their argument. A very compelling and important look into ways socially conscious financial options can build back stronger economies.’ -- Karen Hunt Ahmed, Nashville International Academy, US‘Being one of the “purest” Islamic Finance branches, Waqf indeed could contribute enormously to achieving SDGs, such as eliminating poverty, reducing income inequality and other goals. In this book, Waqf, or to be exact contemporary Waqf, in the dynamic global scene, is presented in an interesting and clear way. The book demonstrates how it is able to help SMEs to not only grow and be sustainable, but also contribute to the economic growth of the nation, and strengthening of the society.’ -- Baharom Abdul Hamid, INCEIF University, Malaysia‘I highly recommend this book to academicians, practitioners, and policymakers to shape the post-pandemic landscape of Waqf and SMEs. The fascinating about this book is the way the authors present waqf roles in different sectors such as agriculture, education, tourism etc. and synthesizing it with capital market instruments such as REITS and stocks, promoting social development and sustainability.’ -- Raditya Sukmana, Universitas Airlangga, IndonesiaTable of ContentsContents: Forewords Introduction to Islamic Social Finance 1. The concept of waqf 2. The role of waqf in sustainable economic development 3. Waqf contributions to sectors 4. Exploring waqf practices in Southeast Asia 5. Waqf development in Malaysia 6. Waqf for small and medium enterprises Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisMore visibility in the market with content marketing.- Compact foundational knowledge.- Rules for content marketing in B2B SMEs.- Content marketing in five steps: goals, analysis, planning, production, management.- Generative AI in content marketing: tools, prompting, areas of application, ethics, data protection, copyright.- Practical example.

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Book SynopsisDistils the body of knowledge that characterizes mining engineering as a disciplinary field and has subsequently helped to inspire and inform generations of mining professionals. Virtually all of the information is original content, representing the latest information from more than 250 internationally recognised mining industry experts.Trade ReviewThis comprehensive reference work distills the entire body of knowledge that characterizes mining engineering as a disciplinary field. While it may serve as a textbook for advanced students, its primary function is to provide professional practitioners with an authoritative reference and design source. The book also serves mining nonprofessionals who seek technical knowledge of the industry. The handbook devotes attention to all branches of mining- metal, coal, and nonmetal- and to all locates of mining- surface, underground, and hybrid. Although the main emphasis is US mining, numerous references are made to international practice.""- Publisher Comments;""Practical rather than theoretical, international in approach and examples, expansive in scope yet not encyclopedic- this reference continues the legacy of its predecessors as the handbook of choice among mining engineers. The original reference was published in 1918, by John Wiley & Sons, which, after a couple of editions, ceded publication to the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration. First and second editions were published by SME in 1973 and 1992. This third edition occupies two volumes and covers market economics, exploration, deposit assessment, mining method selection, ground mechanics, surface extraction, underground development, and health and safety, among other topics; concluding chapters cover (for the first time) social and environmental issues, including how to mitigate and manage negative impact. UK-based editor Peter Darling has had a 30-year career first as a mining engineer and then as a technical writer specializing in mining issues.""- Book News Inc. Portland, OR

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Book SynopsisFeaturies tried-and-true, ready-to-use tools, examples, and resources, this guide teaches the nuts and bolts of HR for small businesses and startups and is the perfect desk reference for any organization who may not have the financial resources to invest in a fully-staffed HR department.Guides readers through the HR essentials, including developingpolicies and organizational best practices, managing and measuring performance, driving engagement and cultivating a culture, understanding legal obligations, assessing, risk, and guidance for developing leaders.

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Book SynopsisForeword by Bill GatesFrom the authors of New York Times bestsellers, The Alliance and The Start-up of You, comes a smart and accessible must-have guide for budding entrepreneurs everywhere.Silicon Valley is renowned for its striking number of businesses which have grown from garage start-ups into global giants; Apple, Cisco, Google, HP and Intel to name a few. But what is the secret to their outstanding success? Hoffman and Yeh explain that it's simple: they've learnt how to blitzscale.Featuring case studies from numerous prominent tech businesses such as AirBnB and WeChat, this book offers a specific set of practices for catalysing and managing dizzying growth in bourgeoning start-ups. Prioritising speed over efficiency in an environment of uncertainty, Blitzscaling illustrates how businesses can accelerate to the stage in a company's life cycle where the most value is generated. Using the framework provided by Hoffman and Yeh, readers will learn how to design business models which simultaneously support growth at a furious pace and capture the market, as well as how to navigate the necessary shifts in strategy needed at each level of scale.Trade Review“The case studies you’re about to explore and the tools you’re about to gain have never been more relevant. This is an ideal moment to be reading this book.”– Bill Gates “The book the start-up world has been waiting for. I can’t think of any other that so perfectly captures the specific challenges – and opportunities – that a company faces at every stage of growth. This book shares some of the key secrets for building mission-oriented, global businesses at speed.”– Brian Chesky, cofounder and CEO, AirBnb “Blitzscaling shows how companies can build value for customers and shareholders in the digital age. A compelling inside view of how the new economy is being built and is transforming global business.”– Sheryl Sandberg, New York Times bestselling author of Lean In and Option B “The secret of Silicon Valley is that it keeps updating the playbook. Each new success – from Google to Facebook to Airbnb and Uber – develops new techniques for world-transforming products. Blitzscaling paints the picture, with key case studies, of what it really takes to build a market-leading company. If you want to learn how to manage growth amid the controlled chaos that has become the new normal for startups and legacy businesses alike, read this book.”– Eric Schmidt, executive chairman and former CEO, Alphabet “This is the best book I’ve ever read on how to grow a company rapidly – and when that’s even worth trying in the first place. With a rare combination of fresh insights, vivid cases, and actionable advice, it’s a must-read for entrepreneurs and executives.”– Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Originals, Give and Take, and Option B with Sheryl Sandberg

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Book SynopsisDistils the body of knowledge that characterizes mineral processing and extractive metallurgy as disciplinary fields. These books will inspire and inform current and future generations of minerals and metallurgy professionals.Table of Contents Mineral Characterization and Analysis Management and Reporting Comminution Classifi cation and Washing Transport and Storage Physical Separations Flotation Solid and Liquid Separation Disposal Hydrometallurgy Pyrometallurgy Processing of Selected Metals, Minerals, and Materials

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Book SynopsisWritten in partnership with SAP, this is the first IS book that provides the right introductory content and combines it with hands-on practice in the form of a simulated SAP environment. It also offers a unique perspective by discussing both the typical processes in organizations and the role of information systems in supporting these processes.Table of ContentsChapter 1: Organizations, Processes, and Information Systems. Chapter 2: Enterprise Systems. Chapter 3: The Procurement Process. Chapter 4: The Fulfillment Process. Chapter 5: The Production Process. Chapter 6: Integrated Processes.

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Book SynopsisGain the knowledge and practical skills needed to deploy a fully functional, secure, and scalable application in AWS EKS. This book is a hands-on guide designed to help you navigate and manage infrastructure in the AWS EKS environment. The book starts by reviewing the concept of DevOps flexibility, emphasizing adaptability to manage changes effectively. It covers foundational elements like IAM basics, user management, and the use of Terraform for infrastructure as code, highlighting the importance of version stability and unique CIDR blocks. Moving forward, you'll explore Kubernetes, and its initial set-up steps, such as configuration management, access control, and storage. You'll also see how to bridge Kubernetes with AWS resources, touching upon service accounts, identity federation, and policy assignment.In the final chapters, the book guides you through the complete setup of a fully working application using Terraform. The book culminates with a step-by-step walkthrough of deploying a complete application environment where you'll generate and distribute access credentials, configure persistent storage, and manage RBAC for users, all using Terraform. Zero-Maintenance Strategies for AWS EKS will provide you with a solid foundation and a toolkit of proven strategies for managing cloud infrastructure. What You Will LearnUnderstand the concept of DevOps flexibility and its practical applicationsAcquire foundational knowledge in IAM basics anduser management. Manage external access to your applications while consolidating load balancing through a single, entry point. Securely configure DNS and SSL, ensuring your application is both accessible and protected. Who This Book Is ForDevOps professionals, IT managers, and software developers who are looking to adopt or improve their DevOps practices, and students and educators in IT-related fields.

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Book SynopsisThis strategic guide for business and IT executives focuses on how today’s most disruptive technologies (including social, mobile, analytics, cloud, wearables, intelligent automation, robotics, and the IoT) can be applied in powerful combinations, together with platform business models, mastery of digital services, and leading practices in corporate innovation, to help you develop and execute your digital strategies for competitive advantage.Trade Review'Nicholas Evans is a magician, weaving together the complexities of the digital world into a tapestry of opportunities for alert companies and managers. And like a good magician, he makes it look easy. Get started on your digital transformation with this book NOW.' -- Henry Chesbrough * Professor at UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, Author of 'Open Innovation: The New Imperative for Creating and Profiting from Technology' *'The digital transformation, based on vast data from cheap sensors and cloud intelligence, will enable new business models, new strategies, and new empires in all industries. Using insight and case studies, Mastering Digital Business does a superb job guiding us through the changes coming, and helping us think through not only new product and logistics strategies, but how management itself must evolve to thrive in the coming decades.' -- R. Preston McAfee * Chief Economist. Microsoft *'By their very nature, transformations require disruptive changes. Digital transformations requires companies to be in a state of constant change. Mastering Digital Business shows that successful digital transformation goes beyond leading edge technology to include disruptive business models, redesigned processes, and – most importantly –cultural change.' -- Jonathan Becher * Chief Digital Officer, SAP *'Mastering Digital Businesses is a highly topical book and a must read for both business and IT executives looking to come out on top by leveraging disruptive technologies. Nick is a brilliant writer and in this book he combines case studies with in-depth analysis to provide valuable insights for digital leaders. The importance for traditional players to swiftly move towards a more agile and flexible digital environment while blending the 'new' with the 'old' can't be understated and Nick takes the reader through a straightforward thought process for how to do this successfully.' -- Robert Eriksson * Head of Engineering, Digital & Transformation, Lloyds Banking Group *'Much talk is happening about digital transformation and innovation. Rarely does this talk cover pragmatic steps regarding how to ‘make sense’ and ‘take action’ on the new opportunities that today’s most disruptive technologies catalyze. Nick’s book does that – providing “blueprints for action” – helping those who take advantage of Nick’s insights move from conceptual discussions to pragmatic action, with speed and scale. Of particular value is his distillation of patterns – or what he calls “palette” – of options of which technologies to use in which combination to take advantage of different business opportunities.' -- Ralph Welborn * CEO, Imaginatik *'With 52% of the Fortune 500, merged, acquired, gone bankrupt, or fallen off the list since 2000, the digital revolution has transformed business models. Leaders need pragmatic advice from strategy to execution on digital transformation. Nicholas’ book Mastering Digital Business provides practitioners with not only the first principles required to succeed but also a pragmatic approach to addressing the change management requirement for success in decoding digital business.' -- R “Ray” Wang * Principal Analyst & Founder, Constellation Research *'Mastering Digital Business is a real wakeup call. For company leaders willing to see, react to and foresee the signals of change, this is a must-read manual.' -- Sanjay Sarma * Professor of Mechanical Engineering, MIT *'In today's world, successful organisations recognise that technology is a force which makes scarce resources abundant. And those same organisations have put technology capability at the heart of business strategy. Nicholas D. Evans' book goes beyond the theory of the digital disruption which is impacting our lives, and provides business leaders with compelling, practical advice for redesigning our organisations, strategies, environments, and workforce to not only compete but to thrive in an age of ever increasing complexity and technical innovation. Read it. Then share it with your team!' -- Stephen Foreshew-Cain * COO, Co-op Digital *'Nicholas has managed to take the world of innovation and digital transformation and make it simple enough to understand at all levels within the business, which is no mean feat. The book covers a number of insights and strategies that will allow c-level execs and techies alike to decode the transformation of businesses in the digital age.' -- Matt Harris * Head of IT, Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team *'Mastering Digital Business is fundamentally about innovation. Whether you want new products, services, processes, or business models, this book can help jump start business growth through tapping into the power of digital business.' -- Soren Kaplan * Bestselling & Award Winning Author of The Invisible Advantage *'Digital disruption is THE business issue! Leaders need to be armed with how to think about this to succeed in the future. Evans provides straightforward recipes to navigate through this important transition.' -- Mark Sherman * Managing Director, Telstra Ventures *Table of ContentsIntroduction Part I: INSIGHT – Setting Your Digital Transformation Vision Chapter 1: Designing your digital business strategy and vision Chapter 2: Re-thinking and re-designing your business models and processes Chapter 3: Maximizing the potential of today’s disruptive technologies for digital business Chapter 4: The new platform ecosystem for digital business Part II: PLANNING – Leading and Organizing for Digital Transformation Chapter 5: Organizing and adapting corporate innovation processes for digital transformation Chapter 6: Identifying and prioritizing opportunities with Innovation Workshops Chapter 7: Timing your move based on technology maturity Part III: ACTION – Digital Transformation Strategies for specific Target Business Outcomes Chapter 8: Enhancing the digital customer experience Chapter 9: Transforming the digital workplace Chapter 10: Gaining insights from analytics Chapter 11: Optimizing infrastructure and simplifying management Part IV: ROADMAP – Taking an Agile Journey to the New Platform Ecosystem Chapter 12: Mastering the digital services lifecycle and speeding time-to-market Chapter 13: The agile journey to the new platform Conclusion Appendix

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Book SynopsisDigital infrastructures are the commonly used technologies, systems, products, and platforms which businesses use to conduct commerce, partnerships, and transactions. Chief among these infrastructures is the Internet â an infrastructure which is remarkable for its allâpervasive presence in our daily lives â while others include cloud computing, social media, mobile technology, blockchain technologies, and cryptocurrencies.This book introduces the key concepts and models to help you understand digital infrastructures, their technologies, their dynamic evolution, and the ways that businesses can exploit them. The primary focus is on processes of innovation and change that are embodied in new digital infrastructures. The book takes a balanced approach, presenting easyâtoâunderstand technical information and pragmatic business analysis. The bookâs concise chapters develop the topics carefully, with clear language and many realâworld examples.The intended audience includes

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Book SynopsisFinance is as fundamental to the IT world as it is to most other aspects of life. However, many IT professionals lack knowledge of the particular financial principles on which decisions about IT should be based. Assuming no prior knowledge, this new edition covers all relevant aspects of finance and is updated with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) terminology. It is ideal for all IT decision makers who wish to conquer their fear of finance or refresh existing knowledge.Trade ReviewIt is written in plain language and contains many practical examples. -- KybernetesThis is a practical, readable and enjoyable guide to the financial factors that IT decision makers should consider when making an investment and how these relate to business operations. -- Geoff Berridge * Knowledge Based Solutions *This book bridges the gap between the IT professional and the accountant, demystifying finance for those involved in making decisions about IT. [...] an easy-to-read guide to finance for any IT professional involved or interested in financially justifying IT. -- Mehmet Hurer MBCS CITP * BT *Table of Contents1 Finance and accounts: the basics 2 Decisions, decisions... 3 Financial cases and business cases 4 When is a benefit not a benefit? 5 How financial cases are evaluated: Part 1 6 How financial cases are evaluated: Part 2 7 The effects of taxation 8 Depreciation of IT assets 9 IT Financing and leasing 10 Outsourcing: financial aspects 11 Budgeting, costing and pricing: the basics 12 Financial analysis: the basics APPENDICES A1 Discount tables A2 Financial characteristics of different businesses A3 Published accounts A4 Accounting for long-term contracts A5 Debit and credit Glossary Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisNearly every recent article on tailings starts by mentioning a large tailings dam failure. We are left to question how we address the risks associated with tailings disposal, and in so doing, transform the image of the mining industry. With this as a backdrop, SME challenged professionals to re-imagine the future of tailings.Table of Contents Tailings Dam Failures—Lessons Learned from Technical and Governance Realities State of Practice Tailings Governance Tailings Continuum—Selection of the Right Tailings Technology The Importance of Culture in Safe Tailings Management

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Book SynopsisA leader in the field of data visualization, Stephen Few exposes the common problems in dashboard design and describes its best practices in great detail and with a multitude of examples in this updated second edition. According to the author, dashboards have become a popular means to present critical information at a glance, yet few do so effectively. He purports that when designed well, dashboards engage the power of visual perception to communicate a dense collection of information efficiently and with exceptional clarity and that visual design skills that address the unique challenges of dashboards are not intuitive but rather learned. The book not only teaches how to design dashboards but also gives a deep understanding of the concepts—rooted in brain science—that explain the why behind the how. This revised edition offers six new chapters with sections that focus on fundamental considerations while assessing requirements, in-depth instruction in the design of bullet graphs and sparklines, and critical steps to follow during the design process. Examples of graphics and dashboards have been updated throughout, including additional samples of well-designed dashboards.Trade Review"Stephen Few is the master of creating simplicity and meaning through the clear visualization of data." --Garr Reynolds, author, The Naked Presenter and Presentation Zen"Design does not happen by accident. It is the product of careful and deliberate planning. Stephen Few demonstrates this through examples and best practices that are easy to understand and will improve how we display and communicate information. Businesses that value design will leap ahead because they will be able to quickly assimilate information, efficiently focus time and efforts, and create alignment, agility, and effectiveness. This book provides a running head start!" --Eleanor Taylor, strategist, SAS Institute"Written by one of the foremost expert in the field of data visualization, this is one of those rare books that seem to make the publication of other works on the same topic unnecessary. This is a very complete book and was obviously developed with great care. I highly recommend Stephen Few's Information Dashboard Design to any information designers who are focusing on the visual display of data and, more particularly, to dashboard designers." --Pabini Gabriel-Petit, CEO and Principal User Experience Architect, Spirit Softworks"How nice to find a book in which the best practices for dashboard design are all thoughtfully packaged. You are advised to make these mandatory reading for your designers." --Claudia Imhoff, president, Intelligent Solutions, Inc.

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Book SynopsisNow in its fifth edition, this popular text for secondary social studies methods courses integrates discussions of educational goals and the nature of history and social studies with ideas for organizing social studies curricula, units, lessons, projects, and activities. Advocating an inquiry and activity-based view of social studies teaching that respects the points of view of students and teachers, it offers systematic support and open, honest advice for new teachers.Based in practice and experience, lesson ideas and materials in the book and online are designed to help new teachers address Common Core learning standards, to work in inclusive settings, and to promote literacy and the use of technology in social studies classrooms. Chapters include highlighted Learning Activities, Teaching Activities, and Classroom Activities designed to provoke discussion and illustrate different approaches to teaching social studies and conclude with recommendations for further reading. Fe

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Book SynopsisIdentifies the tools available for characterizing mine and processing wastes that can be useful in predicting drainage quality. This volume shows how effective and accurate characterization and prediction work will result in a mine-life waste management plan that minimizes the exposure of problematic wastes to the environment.

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisThis indispensable resource covers all aspects of plant design - from concept to pilot plant to full-scale production. Valuable guidance is provided on overall project management, and on the design, optimization, and control of all related processes.

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