Information is at the heart of everything we do as humans. We generate it, we consume it, we share it and we sell it. The careful management of information is therefore key to success in business. An Introduction to information management and technology in business provides a solid overview of the role of information and technology in a business. It gives guidelines on collecting the right information and how to use it wisely and share it with the right people to support the firm's strategic objectives and `oil' the everyday operations of the business.

Appropriate for courses in Knowledge Management. Thoroughly revised to reflect today's latest tools, technologies, and best practices, this hands-on guide walks students through the development of a state-of-the-art enterprise Knowledge Management Platform that can leverage a company's existing investments in intranets, data warehousing, data mining, groupware, and other technologies. It offers a complete roadmap for building KM systems incrementally-with each step delivering new business value, and seamlessly building on the work that preceded it. Students gain hands-on experience by through their own KM projects.

The aim of this book is to equip any person working in an office environment with the basic knowledge, skills and attitudes to communicate effectively in the administrative and office environment. Communication is the basis of all relationships. All business matters depend on the exchange of information, and the success of the organisation's performance depends on the effective exchange of this information.

The advent of globalisation, and the rise of entrepreneurialism and the virtual office, make the ability to communicate independently and effectively increasingly valuable. Against a background of technological innovation, this third edition of The communication handbook sets out the principles underlying effective communication today and then focuses on their application, enabling students in all fields of study to develop and refine their reading, listening, speaking and writing practices.

The advent of the electronic age has brought many changes to the world of marketing and sales. New methods of selling and communicating with customers are invented virtually on a daily basis. And the use of social media is placing new demands on marketers and sales managers around the world. Despite this upheaval, retailers and marketers believe that personal selling as practised over the past decades is here to stay - although it should be adapted to incorporate technological developments. There will however always be a place for the age-old art of person-to-person communication between a salesperson and a prospective customer. In this third edition of Personal Selling, the authors outline the key steps in the selling process that leads to a successful sale, from prospecting for a sale to the follow-up once the sale has been completed. In addition, the book seeks to explain the role and place of personal selling, the impact it has on the economy, and how it ties in with marketing. The importance of communication in the act of selling, as well as different approaches and sales presentation methods, are explained and clarified, and a comprehensive discussion on how sales people should manage themselves and their time is included.

No business exists in a vacuum - it is impacted on by a constantly evolving world which presents new challenges and opportunities every day. To cope with these dynamic challenges and opportunities, a business should be proactive and adaptive - not just at an operational level, but at a functional and strategic level as well. Business management: a contemporary approach focuses specifically on the functions of the organisation and how to respond to changes in the micro-, market-, and macro-environment. The book orientates the reader with an introduction into the field of business management, followed by general management principles applicable to any business manager. The book goes on to cover the various functions of the organisation: financial management; credit management; information management; public relations; operations management; marketing management; human resource management; and, lastly, purchasing management in supply chain management.

How do you approach the functional areas of business such as human resources and finance? Do you know how to channel creativity and generate new business ideas? What do you, as an entrepreneur, need to know about ethical business practices and social responsibility?

Entrepreneurship & New Venture Management explains the theoretical aspects that should be considered when starting a new business venture and offers practical examples to place this theory into a real-life perspective.

The book covers vital elements of entrepreneurship such as how to write a business plan as well as other elements involved in running your own business venture such as financial planning and forecasting.

An invaluable resource for entrepreneurs setting up their own businesses, this book provides a clear explanation of the way in which distribution coordinates the activities of the producer or manufacturer and various intermediaries in order to make the product or service available to customers at the right place, at the right time, and in the right quantity. Key features include case studies of actual businesses, chapter summaries and self-assessment questions, and informative graphs and tables. In this edition, topics include: the definition of distribution, the evolution of the South African distribution system, supply chain, channel design, logistics management, and electronic marketing channels, among others.

For undergraduate and graduate consumer behavior courses. The text that set the standard for consumer behavior study. Consumer Behavior explores how the examination and application of consumer behavior is central to the planning, development, and implementation of marketing strategies. MyMarketingLab for Consumer Behavior is a total learning package. MyMarketingLab is an online homework, tutorial, and assessment program that truly engages students in learning. It helps students better prepare for class, quizzes, and exams-resulting in better performance in the course-and provides educators a dynamic set of tools for gauging individual and class progress. This program will provide a better teaching and learning experience-for you and your students. Here's how: * Improve Results with MyMarketingLab: MyMarketingLab delivers proven results in helping students succeed and provides engaging experiences that personalize learning.* Bring Concepts to Life with Cases: End-of-chapter cases show students the real-life application of the concepts just covered so that they can see how real companies use consumer behavior to create marketing strategies, * Global Coverage Focus: Discussions and examples appear throughout the text demonstrating the importance of cultural differences in both domestic and multinational marketing. * Keep Your Course Current and Relevant: New examples, exercises, and research findings appear throughout the text. Note: You are purchasing a standalone product; MyMarketingLab does not come packaged with this content. If you would like to purchase both the physical text and MyMarketingLab search for ISBN-10: 0133131033/ISBN-13: 9780133131031. That package includes ISBN-10: 0132544369/ISBN-13: 9780132544368 and ISBN-10: 0132552000/ISBN-13: 9780132552004. MyMarketingLab is not a self-paced technology and should only be purchased when required by an instructor.

Packed with real-world examples and business cases, ELECTRONIC COMMERCE, 11E continues to lead the market with its cutting-edge coverage of all things e-commerce.

Comprehensive coverage of emerging online business strategies, up-to-the-minute technologies, and the latest developments from the field equips readers with a solid understanding of the dynamics of this fast-paced industry.

The new edition offers thorough discussions of e-commerce growth in China and the developing world, social media and online marketing strategies, technology-enabled outsourcing, online payment processing systems, and much more. In addition, "Business Case Approaches" and "Learning From Failure" boxes highlight the experiences of actual companies to illustrate real-world practice in action.

Market-defining since it was introduced, International Business: Competing in the Global Marketplace by Charles W. L. Hill, sets the standard. Hill draws upon his experience to deliver a complete solution-print and digital-for instructors & students by being: Integrated - Progression of Topics Application Rich - Strong on Strategy Current - Thought Provoking Relevant - Actual Practice of International Business

Unlike any other MIS textbook franchise, our Baltzan texts (Business Driven Technology, Business Driven Information Systems and M: Information Systems) discuss various business initiatives first and how technology supports those initiatives second. The premise for this unique approach is that business initiatives should drive technology choices. Every discussion in these texts first addresses the business needs and then addresses the technology that supports those needs. Business Driven Technology 6e offers you the flexibility to customize your course according to your needs and the needs of your students by covering only essential concepts and topics in the five core units with 20 chapters, while providing additional in-depth coverage in the 20 business and the 12 technology plug-ins. Business Driven Technology 6e provides the ultimate flexibility in tailoring content to the exact needs of your MIS or IT course! Plug-ins are fully developed modules of text that include student learning outcomes, case studies, business vignettes, and end-of-chapter material such as key terms, individual and group questions and projects, and case study exercises. We realise that instructors today require the ability to cover a blended mix of topics in their courses. While some instructors like to focus on networks and infrastructure throughout their course, others choose to focus on ethics and security. Business Driven Technology was developed to easily adapt to your needs. Each chapter and plug-in is independent so you can: Cover any or all of the chapters as they suit your purpose. Cover any or all of the business plug-ins as they suit your purpose. Cover any or all of the technology plug-ins as they suit your purpose. Cover the plug-ins in any order you wish.

Why do ethics make business sense? What is the social responsibility of business? What is the role of ethics within corporate governance? How should organisations manage ethics from within? Business Ethics fifth edition is suitable for BCom students following courses in ethics, and can also be used for graduate or postgraduate modules in business management and human resource management. Given the growing emphasis on corporate governance, the book is also of relevance to business ethics practitioners as it addresses key ethical issues affecting corporations in the twenty-first century. Business Ethics tracks global developments in areas such as corporate ethical culture and highlights the relevance thereof within the southern African context.

Sales management is a management function that plays an important role in any marketing and sales organisation. The profitability of the organisation depends on how successfully sales managers lead their salespeople. The sales manager is responsible for the strategic planning of the sales force that includes the management of the selling process and organising the sales activities within the sales department. Also included in this book are two other functions that are becoming important for sales managers in performing their management tasks, namely sales promotions and sales metrics. Each chapter includes specific outcomes, case studies and discussion questions.

The world of integrated marketing communication (IMC) has changed dramatically over the last 10 years, due in large part to the expansion and advances in digital media technology. These changes have affected clients, consumers and advertisers alike. While offering the main marketing communication tools, Marketing communication: An integrated approach deals with the past, present and future of IMC and the impact this has had on the pace and demands of effective persuasive communication in the current digital age. It is also the first IMC textbook to cover in detail alternative communication strategies and how their unconventional and disruptive tactics have been integrated into our daily lives.

As the primary focus of the global economy has moved from agriculture to manufacturing to services-dominated economies, the realisation that 'we are all in services' has finally dawned. Services marketing has developed, as a result, and is now a well-established sub-discipline of marketing, with its own theories and body of knowledge.

This volume deals with the unique difficulties of marketing what is essentially an intangible entity and focuses on the most contemporary debates, research and managerial demands in this very challenging business domain. This second edition offers new case studies from contemporary business situations, where consumers are highly informed and discriminating.

These real world examples illustrate how service providers should refine their marketing approach and practice in order to remain competitive in the global market.

This second edition addresses the evolving skills development landscape, which has profound implications for training and development in the workplace.

It offers a sound theoretical and practical framework for both experienced professionals and those new to the outcomes-based, occupation-directed and work-based approach to workplace learning design.

Companies and other business structures in South Africa, third edition, offers a clear and practical introduction to the law relating to companies, close corporations, business trusts, partnerships and financial markets. The third edition is comprehensively revised and updated to offer deeper explanation and analysis, and to address the recent developments in the field: The text discusses recent cases in which the Companies act 71 of 2008 has been applied, analysing the insights and common law developments which arise from these cases; an entirely new chapter on corporate finance addresses the subject matter in a multifaceted way, bringing together legal, accounting and management accounting perspectives; the text now provides a new chapter which addresses the winding up and deregistration of companies; following the repeal of the Securities services act 36 of 2004, the text offers comprehensive guidance relating to the recently promulgated Financial markets act 19 of 2012, and discusses the impact of this new legislation within the context of insider trading and financial markets. The text offers a clear pedagogical structure, which includes a comprehensive glossary of terms. This framework supports learning and develops independent, critical and reflective engagement with the subject matter. An expanded test bank and PowerPoint slide presentation complement the text, and are available to lecturers to support teaching. Companies and other business structures in South Africa is eminently suitable as a core text for students who are studying company law as a module of the BCom, BCompt, BAcc (Accounting) programmes, or of the LLB degree. It may also be a useful resource for post-graduate students, and for legal practitioners wishing to clarify new or foundational principles of the field. Companies and other business structures in South Africa complies with the competency framework for commercial law as indicated in the SAICA education requirements for part 1 of the qualifying examination.

Publisher's Note: Products purchased from Third Party sellers are not guaranteed by the publisher for quality, authenticity, or access to any online entitlements included with the product. The Latest Tools and Techniques for Managing Infrastructure AssetsFully updated throughout, this practical resource provides a proven, cost-effective infrastructureasset management framework that integrates planning, design, construction, maintenance, rehabilitation, and renovation. Public Infrastructure Asset Management,Second Edition, describes the most current methodologies for effectively managing roads, bridges, airports, utility services, water and waste facilities, parks, public buildings, and sports complexes. This comprehensive guide covers information management and decision support systems, including proprietary solutions and new technological developments such ascloud storage. The book discusses total quality management, economics, life-cycle analysis, and maintenance, rehabilitation, and reconstruction programming. Up-to-date examples and real-world case studies illustrate the practical applications of the concepts presented in this thoroughly revised reference. This new edition features: Planning, needs assessment, and performance indicators Database management, data needs, and analysis Inventory, historical, and environmental data In-service monitoring and evaluation data Performance modeling and failure analysis Design for infrastructure service life Construction Maintenance, rehabilitation, and reconstruction strategies, policies, and treatment alternatives Dealing with new or alternate concepts Prioritization, optimization, and work programs Integrated infrastructure asset management systems Visual IMS: an illustrative infrastructure management system and applications Available asset management system and commercial off-the-shelf providers Benefits of implementing an asset management system Sustainability, environmental stewardship, and asset management Future directions for infrastructure asset management

As the general public has become more aware of pricing and the pricing actions of organisations in recent years, the focus on pricing as a marketing decision area has intensified. Price management introduces the fundamental principles of pricing in a clear, accessible manner. The approach is that pricing is a long-term decision that must be made in a thorough and systematic way. Businesses should adopt a proactive approach to pricing in order for them to achieve their marketing and organisational goals.

In today's competitive milieu, the product function along with continuous product innovation, are critical parameters for a company's success. Product Management provides its readers with the insight to ultimately design customer-centric products that fit the exact needs of an individual customer. This introductory book focuses on the critical issues of product management that enable better product performance in the marketplace. It deals with many product-related issues that challenge management, be it in South Africa or elsewhere in the world. The text covers topics such as competitive product targeting, positioning, product management strategies, metrics and various other issues. Product management recognises that the responsibility of a product manager is to integrate the various segments of a business into a strategically focused whole, maximising the value of a product by coordinating its production with an understanding of the market's and the customers' needs. A product manager must oversee all aspects of a product line in order to deliver superior customer satisfaction while simultaneously providing a long-term competitive advantage for the company.

Full-color, completely current, and packed with practical applications, RETAILING, 8E, International Edition puts students on the inside track to success in the fast-moving retail industry. RETAILING, 8E, International Edition is written by a seasoned author team whose expertise informs every page and whose innovative approach has earned this market-leading text endorsement by the National Retailing Federation. While others may focus on lackluster descriptions of retailers and their most mundane tasks, Dunne, Lusch, and Carver bring retailing to life, covering the latest developments in the field and detailing behind-the-scenes stories in a conversational style enlivened by full-color pictures and illustrations. RETAILING, 8E, International Edition emphasizes the impact of technology and the Internet, as well as giving solid coverage to international topics and issues unique to service providers. The text also includes a thorough, integrated study guide with review questions, writing and speaking exercises, cases covering diverse retail operations, a computer spreadsheet case, and more. In addition, "Planning Your Own Retail Business" exercises focus on problems small business managers and owners face in day-to-day operations, helping students appreciate the financial impact of retail decisions. This engaging, reader-friendly text vividly illustrates how fun, exciting, challenging, and rewarding a career in retailing can be, even while helping students hone their skills and creativity to stay ahead of the competition and navigate an ever-changing economic environment.

There are thousands of books and gurus on the subject of performance management. Yet, there are so few examples of where it is practised well.

Everyone knows what performance management is, have read the books, have heard the gurus, yet there are so few outstanding success stories. This book is different for the following reasons:

• It is based on years of personal experience in implementing hundreds of performance management systems in companies.
• Contributors to the book have actually done and experienced what they are writing about, with particular experience in emerging markets.
• It is underpinned by empirical research.
• It is practical and, for once, tells you how to do it, with no missing steps or information. There are tool kits, forms and check lists that can be used instantly.
• It is written in plain English with no bamboozling jargon, with many practical examples and templates that you can amend to suit your needs.

It also includes practical examples of different types of performance appraisal methodologies, namely the Outputs Approach; Traditional Approach; Balanced Scorecard and Multirater/360o.

Organization Theory offers a clear and comprehensive introduction to the study of organizations and organizing processes. It encourages an even-handed appreciation of the main perspectives defining our knowledge of organizations and challenges readers to broaden their intellectual reach. Organization Theory is presented in three parts: Part I introduces the reader to theorizing using the multi-perspective approach. Part II presents different core concepts useful for analysing and understanding organizations - as entities within an environment, as social structures, technologies, cultures and physical structures, and as the products of power and political processes. Part III explores applications of organization theory to the practical matters of organizational design and change, and introduces the latest ideas, including organizational identity theory, process and practice theories, and aesthetics. An Online Resource Centre accompanies this text and includes: For students: Multiple Choice Questions For registered adopters: Lecturer's guide PowerPoint slides Figures and tables from the book