This book presents conscious business as a constantly expanding and powerful approach to reinvent and shape organizations in a human and beneficial manner. In particular it examines the core characteristics, main drivers and challenges of conscious businesses in Germany. The book offers a structured overview of the current situation of the concept and outlines important issues that need to be considered in order to make independent decisions. Four case studies of successful conscious companies - differing in terms of their size, industry, legal form and international orientation - reveal concrete best practices and provide evidence for the approach's ability to deliver business paradigms that are simultaneously purposeful and profitable.

Organizational change is still an issue of high importance for organizations, yet many change initiatives fail. These failures are often attributed to a lack of consideration of existing organizational culture. This book explores ways to undertake cultural change within a shorter time span without losing sight of complexity and sustainability.

"Over the past years social entrepreneurship has grown as a research field. In this third edited volume we have collected contributions studying particularly questions of values in Social Entrepreneurship as well as the identification and exploitation of Social Venturing Opportunities"--

World economy globalization is driven by multiple interactive forces. They give rise to a number of paradoxes that impact the functional and developmental characteristics of firms. This book offers for the first time an in-depth study of the logical contradictions that stream from economic integration on the supranational level.

Process Management, with its key concepts of internal customer and process ownership, is becoming one of the most important competitive weapons for firms and can determine a strategic change in the way business is carried out (Business Process Reengineering - B.P.R.). In this context, the flow of information increases, passes through the internal departments, to then extend beyond the traditional boundaries of the enterprise and form operational and knowledge networks with other business units, selected suppliers and clients, etc. These (internal and external) networks harness the great power offered by Web technologies (Internet, Intranet, Extranet) and create the Extended Enterprise.

This book explores innovative themes that will trace the business paths for many firms in the near future. It is based on research and experience in several major companies, in particular the Snaidero Group (Europe 's leading company in the kitchen sector), with contributions by leading Information & Communication Technologies (ICT) companies.

Scenario planning is the principles, methods, and techniques for looking forward into the future and trying to anticipate and influence what is to come next. This book provides students and line managers in organizations with the means to create better scenarios and to use them to create winning business strategies. The purpose is to shed new light on scenarios and scenario-like thinking in organizations for managers at every level within a company. The book covers scenarios such as: economic outlooks; political environments; acquisitions; downsizing, and more.

This book contains the full proceedings of the 2015 Academy of Marketing Science Annual Conference held in Denver, Colorado. Marketing has become ubiquitous: it doesn't matter who you are, where you are or what you are doing, you cannot escape it. In these times of instantaneous news, information and entertainment, everyone is exposed to messages from the moment they awake until the minute they drift off to sleep. America spends the most money in the world on advertising and other marketing communication. So, it could be said that marketing is America's pastime, as much so as the classics: baseball, hot dogs, and apple pie. Under the theme of " Celebrating America's Pastimes: Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie and Marketing", this volume discusses all of the good things that marketing can do. Showcasing research from academics, scholars and practitioners from around the world, this volume provides insight and strategies that will help marketers move forward and focus on the positive that marketing can provide to consumers, stakeholders and society. Founded in 1971, the Academy of Marketing Science is an international organization dedicated to promoting timely explorations of phenomena related to the science of marketing in theory, research, and practice. Among its services to members and the community at large, the Academy offers conferences, congresses and symposia that attract delegates from around the world. Presentations from these events are published in this Proceedings series, which offers a comprehensive archive of volumes reflecting the evolution of the field. Volumes deliver cutting-edge research and insights, complimenting the Academy's flagship journals, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science (JAMS) and AMS Review. Volumes are edited by leading scholars and practitioners across a wide range of subject areas in marketing science.

This work presents the latest developments in knowledge creation and management theory. The book expands on existing knowledge-based theory and explores process theory in ten case studies of successful Japanese firms, including Honda, Toyota and Canon. The authors look at knowledge management as a global concept.

Examining the regulatory issues of fostering technological innovation and its applications, this book combines legal, economic and administrative science perspectives. It answers important questions such as what type of regulatory framework would best fit the needs of technology and innovation developments?

When leadership teams do not perform at their best, everyone suffers. Low employee engagement levels, failure to meet strategic targets and inconsistent company growth are signs that leadership teams are not highly effective. Executive Ownershift is a transformative growth program that enables leadership teams to deliver peak performance: When leadership teams perform at their best, so can everyone else. This book introduces a top-down team approach that enables leadership teams to dramatically improve their performance. It highlights how leadership teams can transform their own businesses and how they can master what must go right and what can go wrong on their path to high performance. With examples and cases provide evidence that results come fast to leadership teams that recognize that they are the starting point for improvement and growth, the book is an excellent guide that allows struggling leadership teams to become good, and good leadership teams to become great.

Innovation underpins competitiveness, is crucial to addressing societal challenges, and its support has become a major public policy goal. But what really works in innovation policy, and why? This Handbook, compiled by leading experts in the field, is the first comprehensive guide to understanding the logic and effects of innovation polices. The Handbook develops a conceptualization and typology of innovation policies, presents meta-evaluations for 16 key innovation policy instruments and analyses evidence on policy-mix. For each policy instrument, underlying rationales and examples are presented, along with a critical analysis of the available impact evidence. Providing access to primary sources of impact analysis, the book offers an insightful assessment of innovation policy practice and its evaluation. The Handbook's final chapter draws overall conclusions, reflects on the merits and limits of evaluation and impact analysis in innovation policy and suggests tangible improvements. This Handbook is an indispensable source for researchers, analysts, students and practitioners of innovation policy at all levels, as well as all those interested in policy analysis and evaluation more generally. Contributors include: K. Blind, J. Cassingena Harper, P. Cunningham, J. Edler, K. Flanagan, A. Goek, D. Grimshaw, B. Jones, C. Koehler, P. Laredo, R. Ramlogan, C. Rammer, J. Rigby, P. Shapira, E. Uyarra, J. Youtie

Offers a psychology based model that features seven key determinants of success or failure for innovation and entrepreneurial endeavours. Provides specific recommendations, examples and case studies that demonstrate how individual and group psychology must be engaged effectively to create entrepreneurial cultures capable of powerful innovation.

Lean Production transformed the way that companies think about production and manufacturing. This book provides a new challenge. It arises from the work of the Lean Aerospace Initiative at MIT and provides a new agenda and bold vision for the aerospace industry to take it out of crisis. It also redefines and develops the concept of Lean as a framework for enterprise transformation and this will be relevant and critical for all industries and enterprises.

This book provides a conceptual framework for systemic flexibility and business agility, drawing on a basis of research/case applications in various types of flexibility and agility in business. The selected papers address a variety of issues concerning the theme of systemic flexibility and business agility and are organized into following five parts: (i) Systemic and Strategic Flexibility; (ii) Information and Business Agility; (iii) Flexibility, Innovation and Business Excellence; (iv) Flexibility in Value and Supply Chains; and(v) Financial Flexibility and Mergers & Acquisitions. Flexibility and agility in business are emerging as key dimensions of business excellence that encompass the requirements of both choice and speed. The two concepts, flexibility and agility, have been used in multiple ways and often interchangeably, both in literature and in practice. The growing need for flexibility/agility in business can be seen from reactive as well as proactive perspectives. A business enterprise is expected to possess reactive flexibility/ agility (as adaptability and responsiveness) in order to cope with the changing and uncertain business environment. It may also endeavor to intentionally generate flexibility/agility as a strategic change in a variety of ways, such as leadership change, reengineering, innovation in products and processes, use of information and communication technology, and learning orientation.

This book presents a framework through transformation and explains how business goals can be translated into realistic plans that are tangible and yield real results in terms of the top line and the bottom line. Process Transformation is like a tangram puzzle, which has multiple solutions yet is essentially composed of seven 'tans' that hold it together. Based on practical experience and intensive research into existing material, 'Process Tangram' is a simple yet powerful framework that proposes Process Transformation as a program. The seven 'tans' are: the transformation program itself, triggers, goals, tools and techniques, culture, communication and success factors. With its segregation into tans and division into core elements, this framework makes it possible to use 'pick and choose' to quickly and easily map an organization's specific requirements. Change management and process modeling are covered in detail. In addition, the book approaches managed services as a model of service delivery, which it explores as a case of process transformation. This book will appeal to anyone engaged in business process transformation, be it business process management professionals, change managers, sponsors, program managers or line managers. The book starts with the basics, making it suitable even for students who want to make a career in business process management.

In Britain, America, and many other countries, television audiences and advertising revenues are declining. At the same time digital television and new models are emerging. This book looks at the reinvention of television, and answers many essential questions about the future of this fickle industry.

1 Kennzeichen der Konstruktion.- 1.1 Problemstellung und Herausforderungen.- 1.2 Ziele und Aufgaben der Konstruktion.- 1.3 Potentiale moderner Informationstechnik in der Konstruktion.- 2 Angebotserstellung.- 2.1 Kennzeichnung der Angebotserstellung.- 2.2 Systematische Angebotserstellung.- 2.2.1 Erfassen und Einordnen des Kundenproblems.- 2.2.2 Angebotskonstruktion.- 2.2.3 Lieferterminplanung.- 2.2.4 Kalkulation.- 2.2.5 Dokumentation der Planungsergebnisse.- 2.3 Organisation in der Angebotserstellung.- 2.4 Hilfsmittel in der Angebotserstellung.- 3 Konstruktionsprozesse.- 3.1 Methodisches Konstruieren.- 3.1.1 Anforderungsfestlegung.- 3.1.2 Funktionsfindung.- 3.1.3 Prinziperarbeitung.- 3.1.4 Gestaltung.- 3.1.5 Detaillierung.- 3.2 Charakteristika der Konstruktionsprozesse.- 3.2.1 Auftragsarten.- 3.2.2 Konstruktionsarten.- 3.3 Informationen in der Konstruktion.- 3.3.1 Wichtige Informationsquellen zum Konstruieren.- 3.3.1.1 Kataloge.- 3.3.1.2 Normen.- 3.3.1.3 Konstruktionsrichtlinien.- 3.3.2 Dokumentation der Konstruktionsergebnisse.- 3.3.2.1 Zeichnungen.- 3.3.2.2 Stucklisten.- 3.4 Methoden und konventionelle Hilfsmittel.- 3.4.1 Hilfsmittel und Methoden zur Ideenfindung.- 3.4.1.1 Intuitive Ideenfindungsmethoden.- 3.4.1.2 Systematische Suchmethoden.- 3.4.2 Analyse- und Bewertungsmethoden.- 3.4.2.1 Wertanalyse.- 3.4.2.2 Nutzwertanalyse.- 3.4.2.3 Konstruktionsbegleitende Kalkulationen.- 3.4.2.4 Relativkostenkataloge.- 3.5 EDV-Einsatz bei Konstruktionsprozessen.- 3.5.1 CAD-Technik.- 3.5.1.1 Rechnerinterne Darstellungen.- 3.5.1.2 Systemfunktionalitaten.- 3.5.1.3 CAD-Arbeitsplatz.- 3.5.2 Computer Aided Engineering.- 3.5.3 Systemintegration im Konstruktionsbereich.- 3.5.3.1 Produktmodell.- 3.5.3.2 Schnittstellen.- 3.5.3.3 Datenmanagement.- 3.5.3.4 Engineering Data Management Systeme.- 3.5.4 Konstruktionssysteme - Neue Entwicklungen.- 3.5.4.1 Funktionsorientiertes Konstruieren.- 3.5.4.2 Wissensbasiertes Konstruieren.- 3.5.4.3 Objektorientiertes Konstruieren.- 3.6 Organisation des Konstruktionsbereichs.- 3.6.1 Aufbauorganisation der Konstruktion.- 3.6.2 EDV-Organisation.- 4 Rationalisierungskonzepte.- 4.1 Ermittlung von Rationalisierungsmassnahmen.- 4.2 Rationalisierungsmassnahmen.- 4.2.1 Konventionelle Rationalisierungsmassnahmen.- 4.2.1.1 Ansatze zur Verringerung des Zeichnungsaufwands.- 4.2.1.2 Hilfsmittel und Methoden zur Wiederverwendung.- 4.2.2 Auswahl und Einfuhrung von EDV-Systemen.- 4.2.2.1 Projektdefinition.- 4.2.2.2 Prozessreorganisation.- 4.2.2.3 Systemkonzept.- 4.2.2.4 Systemauswahl.- 4.2.2.5 Systemeinfuhrung.- 4.2.3 Wirtschaftlichkeitsaspekte des CAD/CAM-Einsatzes.- 5 Integration der Konstruktionsprozesse in die Unternehmensablaufe.- 5.1 Methodisches Vorgehen zur Integration von Konstrukions- und Arbeitsplanungsprozessen.- 5.1.1 Planungsmodell der integrierten Konstruktion und Arbeitsplanung.- 5.1.2 Beschreibung der Elementzusammenhange uber Matrizen.- 5.1.3 Planungsmethoden.- 5.1.4 Durchfuhrungsmethoden.- 5.2 Simultaneous Engineering.- 5.2.1 Zielsetzung des Simultaneous Engineering.- 5.2.2 Organisatorische Umsetzung.- 5.2.3 Praxisbeispiel.- 5.3 Telekooperation.- 5.4 Product Life Cycle Design.- 5.4.1 Problemstellung und Motivation.- 5.4.2 Grundgedanken des Lifecycle Design.- 5.4.3 Ergebnisse und Potentiale des Lifecycle Design.- 6 Zusammenfassung.- Literatur.- Sachwortverzeichnis.

In today's era of increasing globalization, companies are confronted with differing value systems in the countries where they operate. From marketing to employee retention, demonstrating sensitivity toward locally specific solutions has proved essential in various aspects of business and management time and again. Humanistic management goes a step further than the mere cultivation of sensitivity towards indigenous particularities in
business transactions. It promotes the presence of three inter-related and inter-dependent dimensions, namely: unconditional respect for the dignity of all humans in all forms of business interactions, ethical reflection as an integrated part of all business decisions and the seeking of normative legitimacy for corporate activities. While it is logical to expect both subtle and stark differences in interpreting the nuances of humanistic management across different settings, its principles can be applicable in any given setting, regardless of contextual specificities.
World Humanism: Cross-cultural Perspectives on Ethical Practices in Organizations explores what is distinctive about humanistic management practices around the world. In order to do so, it examines the nature and occurrence of humanistic management practices within businesses and other organizations across the world. It also determines whether a common underlying theme of humanistic management occurs across cultures, and can thus serve as a basis for value management on a global level.

This book provides a step-by-step approach to all of the essential elements of strategy. It outlines a 28-step approach, with a 30+ slide strategy presentation. By following the examples in the book the reader will be able to construct a world-class strategy and to present it in an effective and thoughtful manner. The approach integrates diagnosis, design, strategic plan and implementation in one seamless flow of insight and action.

This book deals with dynastic business families. Such families are characterized by a circle of owners comprising more than 50 family members, which typically face specific issues and challenges for which there has been little research knowledge and practical approaches until now. The book presents results and findings from a special research project on "big family management" where 7 representatives of dynastic families from Germany were studied over a 3-year period. The result was the identification of six topic areas that management in these business families has to deal with. At the same time, the study observes that dynastic business families hardly follow the logic of classic families anymore, but can rather be understood as networks with common family backgrounds. The study also reveals that a large number of business families are heading for large shareholder groups due to changed inheritance practices. The contents outlined here provide an orientation framework for the growing business family.

There has been a long tradition of research on the relation between diversification and performance of public corporations in the strategy and finance fields. As for private equity portfolios, research on this matter is rather scarce. From a theoretical as well as from a practical perspective, however, it is interesting to know more about the relation between private equity portfolio diversification and performance, how private equity firms manage their portfolios, and what public companies can learn from private equity firms. These are the research questions which are addressed in Daniel Klier's research. In order to answer these questions, the author uses a two-tier research design. As a first step, he compares the diversification-performance link of public corporations and private equity firms. With respect to the private equity sample and the ope- tionalization of the relevant variables, the study is highly innovative in terms of generating the PE sample from databases like Preqin and Dealogic, constructing a diversification measure from transaction data, and developing comparable perfo- ance measures for private equity firms as well as traditional multi-business firms. As the second step, which is exploratory in nature, the author explores m- agement models of PE firms. The sample of 20 US and Europe-based private equity firms is unique and of high quality, because the author succeeded in getting in-depth interviews with top decision makers of PE firms. The exploratory study extracts three clusters of management models that PE firms are using, and their relation to performance.

The National Perspectives on the Development of Public Relations: Other Voices series is the first to offer an authentic world-wide view of the history of public relations. It will feature six books, five of which will cover continental and regional groups. This book in the series focuses on Western Europe.

What can you learn from one of the most successful companies in the world? The Spanx Story will help you understand and adopt the competitive strategies, workplace culture, and daily business practices that enabled entrepreneur Sara Blakely to dominate the shapewear industry and become a billionaire. Sara Blakely had a problem. She had a beautiful pair of white designer pants hanging in her closet just calling out to her to wear them, even though they accented her least favorite feature: cellulite. After searching high and low for a solution and coming up empty, an idea was born: Spanx. The Spanx Story chronicles Sara's journey from long nights researching patent and trademark law, to years of cold shoulders she received from the titans of the pantyhose industry, to the cold call that led to the shelves of Nieman Marcus. It was a long road of incredible hard work and determination that led Spanx to become the iconic brand it is today. Through Sara's story, you will learn: How to develop an idea and turn it into a business. How to start a company with very little capital by thinking outside of the box and dedicating every spare moment to your goal. How to recognize when it's better to hire a CEO than to be the CEO. How to stay the course and continue to believe in your idea, despite naysayers and going against an industry resistant to innovation. The Spanx Story educates and inspires entrepreneurs and innovators to find the problem for their solutions and persevere through the hard work that goes into building a billion-dollar company.

This book discusses how systems thinking and approaches can aid management consultants in navigating the complexities of client advisory in current realities. It thereby brings to the forefront aspects of holism, flexibility and responsibility - the keys to success in today's world. Management consultants are called in to offer an independent expert view of an organisation/ a situation and are expected to address some of the most pressing problems businesses face. The client does not exist in a silo, but in a complex environment that lies at the intersection of a range of internal and external factors that are often unseen and unpredictable. The organisation itself presents an alien territory that the consultant is expected to acclimatise to within a very short period of time, and come up with solutions that "insiders" would not have been able to visualise. The book presents a range of ideas, concepts and reference cases that are relevant and topical for consultants in their daily work. It argues that systems thinking allows holism and flexibility in management consulting - while holism is about the ability to encompass the environmental and organisational complexity, flexibility is about the ability to think creatively and adopt different approaches to accommodate this complexity. With commentaries, case studies, conceptual models and perspectives that cut across multiple industries, sectors and countries, this book is a valuable resource for academics and professionals alike. The book's inner pages and its page on Springer.com contain additional comments providing perspectives of clients, industry experts and academia.

In recent years it has been recognised that stronger environmental regulation of trade and industry has been required. Both the US and European Union have put in place new stringent controls on business. This coupled with increased public pressure has meant that companies now have to pay greater attention to environmental issues. This is especially true as the public perception of a company will affect greatly its share price.

This book describes the issues surrounding business practice and the environment, both for corporate directors and for investors.