This book deep dives into emerging consumer trends in the food and beverage industry in Italy, particularly in light of the COVID-19 crisis, and explores how firms have evolved to meet consumer needs and succeed in this challenging context. Through a series of case studies, the authors explore the food and beverage industry's defining characteristics and how each particular sector has become so important to the Italian economy. Drawing on cases that feature small, medium and large enterprises, the authors reveal how firms have adapted their business strategies to meet new customer demands and market trends, highlighting the winning characteristics of the ever-evolving 'Made in Italy' brand, concluding with a recommended strategy of best practices for future implementation. Providing examples that can be studied, applied and analyzed by researchers, students, and practitioners, this unique book offers a detailed understanding of the different innovations and adaptations that companies in the food and beverage sector have put in place in response to ever evolving markets and trends, and how innovation becomes the key to success.

This book supports companies in the transport sector, political decision-makers, transport engineers, planners and scientists doing fundamental research who are confronted by growing challenges in transport. These challenges arise from a number of powerful socio-technical trends, including: digitalisation, globalisation, urbanisation, and the requirements of individual users and the increased need to reduce environmental impact of transport. Providing the innovations required to cope with these challenges is not a simple matter. Towards Innovative Transport Systems structures and compiles theoretical foundations from evolutionary economics, the sociology of technology and innovation research in a way that provides a broad understanding of innovation processes without demanding prior knowledge. Using the Concept of Transport System Evolution (CTSE), it explains in depth the economics of innovation in the transport sector, thus contextualising processes, drivers and obstacles at work in current practice; among such processes are the changeover to electric mobility, the realization of autonomous cars, the revival of railway by innovations and dealing with disruptive innovations in transport. The CTSE is an approach to making concrete the multi-level perspective for the transport sector introduced by Frank Geels. On the basis of the CTSE, the author proposes principles for a novel innovation policy in transport that can serve the reader as a guide when making strategic decisions.

This book is about quality redundancy and its replacement by the "performativity" norm. Performativity is a linguistic, social, and political mechanism that produces the intended performance. The author, Alexander Tsigkas, sees this book as a natural continuation of his prior book The Lean Enterprise - From the Mass Economy to the Economy of One. He argues that performativity is the flip side of quality on a coin called identity, and in postmodernism, that is, in the age of Industry 4.0 and beyond, companies should be aiming for performativity and achieve quality as one of its many consequences. The author, therefore, encourages modern businesses to transition from quality orientation as conformance alone to a performance orientation. The author brings forward historic, current, and philosophical perspectives in charting performativity as a new goal for modern businesses. Many examples, case studies, and conceptual constructs are used to drive in the idea of how to create a performative enterprise.

Despite a shared interest in the analysis of complex organizations operating in complex environments, macro-organization theory and research on the multinational corporation have developed quite independently of each other. This book, the product of a collaborative endeavour by scholars from both fields, represents the first systematic effort to build a broad bridge between these two areas of research. 'An excellent collection of essays which provides both the general and specialist reader with a fascinating insight into the latest advances in organisational theory.' John H. Dunning, Universities at Reading and Rutgers.

Cultural entrepreneurship uses culture as a way to understand innovative business ventures. Culture in this edited book involves the beliefs and values associated with certain forms of behaviour. This means the way individuals are involved in business ventures is based on their cultural ideas. This edited book focuses on how cultural entrepreneurship is an important way to understand how cultural products and services such as art, food, music and literature influence the development of business ventures. Thereby highlighting the interesting and unique way cultural ideas are embedded in entrepreneurial activities.

An examination of how small firms in developing countries acquire technological capability, the knowledge and skills required to operate technology effectively, and the ability to adapt it to local conditions. It aims to fill a gap in the established literature on technological capability, which has neglected the small scale sector in spite of the important role it plays in employment generation. The author develops a methodology for a quantitative assessment of the learning process, using case material from the small scale capital goods sector in Pakistan's Punjab Province.

A gripping true story of resilience, justice, and the fight for digital sovereignty.

When civic-tech platform GovChat challenged the global giant Meta (WhatsApp/Facebook), few believed a South African startup could take on one of the most powerful corporations on earth. What followed was not just a courtroom battle, but a struggle over democracy, public access to services, and the future of digital innovation in Africa and beyond.

In The Silicon Empire vs Social Impact, Professor Eldrid Jordaan GovChat’s founder and a leading global voice on digital transformation takes readers inside this historic fight. From late-night legal strategy sessions to tense tribunal hearings, he reveals the high-stakes battle that tested not only his company but also the very idea of whether Big Tech should control who gets to serve citizens.

Inside the Book You’ll Discover:

• The untold story of GovChat’s rise as Africa’s largest citizen engagement platform.
• The behind-the-scenes legal showdown with Meta, exposing how Big Tech wields its dominance.
• Lessons in resilience, leadership, and purpose from a startup that refused to be silenced.
• A blueprint for startups, policymakers, and innovators navigating the digital economy 

• Entrepreneurs and startup founders
• Policymakers, lawyers, and regulators
• Tech leaders and digital transformation enthusiasts
• Anyone who loves true stories of courage, resilience, and impact

An upward trend is now discernible in many areas of the economy. However, cautious optimism disguises the fact that in many instances improvements in the competitive situation have been achieved by short-term cutbacks in workforces and cut-throat pricing policies. Innovation and investments in new technologies have often failed to be recognized as future-orientated measures.

This book provides a detailed insight into productivity, efficiency and growth in the Chinese economy, and offers results on capital stock and ICT capital estimates (at both national and regional levels) which will be an important resource for readers.

Dr. Geisler's far-reaching, unique book provides an encyclopedic compilation of the key metrics to measure and evaluate the impact of science and technology on academia, industry, and government. Focusing on such items as economic measures, patents, peer review, and other criteria, and supported by an extensive review of the literature, Dr. Geisler gives a thorough analysis of the strengths and weaknesses inherent in metric design, and in the use of the specific metrics he cites. His book has already received prepublication attention, and will prove especially valuable for academics in technology management, engineering, and science policy; industrial R&D executives and policymakers; government science and technology policymakers; and scientists and managers in government research and technology institutions.

Geisler maintains that the application of metrics to evaluate science and technology at all levels illustrates the variety of tools we currently possess. Each metric has its own unique strengths and weaknesses, but overall, metrics offer the best possible way to evaluate science and technology. He then finds that in general, science and technology have a positive effect on the human experience. Truly state of the art in the study of the metrics of science and technology, their outcomes and contributions to society and the economy, the book provides unique analyses of the academic world and its most useful metrics: the industrial science/technology research and development complex, and the government network of laboratories. For each, Geisler gives a comprehensive analysis of the main metrics and their best applications. His book is thus also usable in certain advanced undergraduate and graduate courses and seminars that treat technology and engineering management, project management in technology industries, and the evaluation of social and economic programs.

Globalization, Technological Change and Labor Markets is an edited collection of papers drawn from the conference held at the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies in June 1997. This conference brought German and American perspectives to bear on the complex issues of global competition, technological change, and labor markets in the welfare state. The contributions are organized into five sections dealing with various aspects of the problem: (1) Macroeconomic Perspectives; (2) Microeconomic Aspects; (3) the German Model of Labor Relations; (4) the Social Market Economy; and (5) Trade Policy and Environmental and Labor Standards. This edited collection seeks to explore many of the key issues surrounding the debate over the impact of globalization and technological change on labor markets in Europe and the United States. This volume provides path-breaking insights as to why globalization has wreaked havoc on the welfare states that had once propelled Western Europe and North America to an unprecedented standard of living throughout the post-war period. The high level of scholarship contained in the individual chapters forms a compelling argument that will convince even the most resistant skeptics that the days of the classic welfare state are numbered. More importantly, this book is filled with concrete suggestions based on careful economic analysis as to how technological change and globalization can be harnessed in conjunction with a new role of the state to provide a high standard of living.' David B. Audretsch, Ameritech Chair of Economic Development, Indiana University

‘Gianni Montezemolo has produced an outstanding book on the strategic implications of the emergence of greater Europe for global companies. Based on his many years of experience as a senior executive of major international companies, Montezemolo makes a convincing case as to why greater Europe is destined to be the next economic super power. His hands-on experience makes him uniquely qualified, not only about the need for developing a strategic vision for Europe, but also about the key managerial issues facing companies operating in greater Europe. This book is a "must read" for the CEOs of major corporations throughout the world.’ Professor Michael Yoshino, Harvard Business School

‘Europe Incorporated: The New Challenge offers fresh, clear insights into where Europe is heading and what to do about it. Anyone with an interest in the Europe of tomorrow will profit from reading these pages.’ George Fisher, Chairman and CEO, Kodak

‘Global businesses pay a lot of attention to shifts in economic power. The author’s view of the coming European millennium challenges traditional perceptions and offers compelling reading.’ Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, CEO, Nestlé

‘Europe Incorporated: The New Challenge addresses a key issue for most CEOs: how to take advantage of the profit opportunities that greater Europe provides. The development of the single market enhanced by the euro, and the opening of Eastern Europe requires major structural changes even in companies that have so far been quite successful.’ Antony Burgmans, Chairman, Unilever

Reflecting on both ethical corruption and success stories, the 6th edition of Business Ethics: Decision Making for Personal Integrity and Social Responsibility aims to tell the stories of both the good and bad in business. The questions today are less about IF ethics should be a part of business strategy than about WHICH values and principles should guide business decisions. This textbook provides a comprehensive, yet accessible introduction to the ethical issues arising in business. The authors' goal is to help students make responsible decisions for themselves. They have created a distinctive text that emphasizes a decision-making approach to ethics, helping students reach conclusions without imposing someone else's answers on them. The 6th edition also provides strong pedagogical support for both teachers and students. Numerous small cases and examples help teachers and students integrate concepts and material from philosophy, law, economics, management, finance, and marketing with the very practical goal of making real-life decisions.

This book criticizes the widespread view that the 1997 Asian crisis was due to 'crony capitalism' and puts the blame instead on misguided liberalization. It analyzes the case of Korea's business conglomerates, the chaebol, with particular attention to the car industry, to show how liberalization contributed to the crisis even at the level of the firm. It shows how those firms that had developed innovative capabilities survived the crisis much better than those that had merely expanded into markets opened up by liberalization. MARKET 1: Lecturers, Researchers, Libraries, etc. in Universities and Business and Management Schools, especially in International Business and Asian Management; Practitioners interested in doing business with East Asia MARKET 2: Supplementary reading on postgraduate courses in International Business and East Asia Studies

This book focuses on traditional fields of business studies and economics and how digitalization has affected them. It provides an overview about the lessons learned from academic research and highlights implications for practitioners. Digitalization has not only changed the ways business administration and economics are taught, but also the substance at the core of the two disciplines. Chapters from expert contributors define and carefully evaluate the developments that have occurred over the last decades. The authors further provide an assessment of how industry branches have adapted and in which form regulators have engaged. Attention is given to the theoretical and empirical findings from recent scholarly literature. Furthermore, the authors provide some novel insights from their own research at the University of Bremen. This book appeals to business administration, economics, and entrepreneurship scholars and practitioners alike.

Financial analysis, modellng, simulation and knowledge engineering have become essential to the survival of every enterprise. This thorough and comprehensive book looks at the development and use of financial models for analysis and decision-making, showing the reader how to apply these methods in his or her own work.

This book explores how China's industrial transformation and development depend on technology and innovation and how considerations about issues associated with technology and innovation may affect China's development strategies. Market-oriented reforms initiated four decades ago have constantly fueled a high speed of development in China. The country's industrial structure has experienced rapid evolution. In the meantime, especially in the general context of globalization, the country has also opened to foreign trade and foreign direct investment, transforming itself from a virtually completely closed economy into a major trading nation and the largest developing country destination for foreign direct investment in the world. Technology is thought to be one of the key driving forces that shape the transformation of the Chinese economy. Owing to different speeds of innovation and technology diffusion, uneven development is one major issue in the process of China's industrial transformation under new trends of globalization. Substantial disparities across different Chinese regions, e.g., the gaps in regional industrial development and those in incomes and living standards, have been one prominent feature of China and are (needless to say) closely related to different speeds of innovation and technology diffusion. The relationship between technology diffusion, innovation, and industrial development is an important yet complicated issue that deserves careful study. Considerations related to technology and innovation play a crucial role in leading and shaping China's development strategies and routes. Sustainable development of China creates strong pressures for continuous transforming, upgrading, and restructuring of the Chinese economy, and in all of these processes, innovation and technology diffusion play a fundamental role. The book presents to the interested reader facts, thoughts, models, empirical results, and discussions that shed light on those issues.

This book explains why international negotiations have not produced a sustainable solution to tropical rainforest degradation. Using an innovative, critical approach to international regimes, the author analyzes the structure and operation of the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO). He shows how the timber industry and producing- and consuming-country governments created a blocking alliance that favored developmentalist interests and ideas. The ITTO bolstered this alliance by permitting environmentalists merely to voice, but not negotiate, their concerns.

Few organizations can afford all the specialized expertise and technology they need to respond nimbly to emerging needs, regardless of the type of clients they serve. As market demands grow increasingly complex and resources are strained, strategic alliances and joint ventures are becoming business as usual--not only within business sectors, but between them as well. When these alliances succeed, they open up whole new worlds for the participating partners: new products and services, new markets, access to resources, smarter ways of doing things.
Building Strategic Relationships shows how successful alliances are launched, developed, and concluded--within the corporate world and between corporate entities and government or nonprofit institutions. The authors draw from more than two hundred interviews and seventy-five case studies of varied partnerships--including a customer-supplier alliance between a newspaper publisher and a newsprint supplier, a joint venture between a school district and a major accounting firm, and others--to provide perspective, guidance, and detailed case examples that will help progressive partners achieve their goals in all phases of partnership.

Competition is present for almost every sector nowadays. Therefore, it is vital for companies to develop a set of strategies in order to survive in the competitive environment of a globalized world. This book discusses how and why not every strategy is appropriate for every sector. The volume offers a qualified and comprehensive analysis to determine effective competitive strategies taking into account the many different factors that affect company performance.

This book deals with the estimation of travel time in a very comprehensive and exhaustive way. Travel time information is and will continue to be one key indicator of the quality of service of a road network and a highly valued knowledge for drivers. Moreover, travel times are key inputs for comprehensive traffic management systems. All the above-mentioned aspects are covered in this book. The first chapters expound on the different types of travel time information that traffic management centers work with, their estimation, their utility and their dissemination. They also remark those aspects in which this information should be improved, especially considering future cooperative driving environments.Next, the book introduces and validates two new methodologies designed to improve current travel time information systems, which additionally have a high degree of applicability: since they use data from widely disseminated sources, they could be immediately implemented by many administrations without the need for large investments. Finally, travel times are addressed in the context of dynamic traffic management systems. The evolution of these systems in parallel with technological and communication advancements is thoroughly discussed. Special attention is paid to data analytics and models, including data-driven approaches, aimed at understanding and predicting travel patterns in urban scenarios. Additionally, the role of dynamic origin-to-destination matrices in these schemes is analyzed in detail.

The book discusses legal, ethical, economic and trade aspects of the Pandemic as it affects air transport. It commences with the chronology of the virus spread and examines the various facets of human existential perspectives affected by the pandemic. Following this background is an evaluation of the effect on trade and economics, as well as the legal and regulatory structure concerning communicable diseases applicable to air transport. There is also a detailed discussion on legal liabilities and responsibilities of the State, airlines, airports and public both collectively and individually in coping with the pandemic against the backdrop of public health and the law. The Conclusion contains various recommendations on proactive measures that could be taken to ensure the establishment of a credible and effective legal and regulatory system to combat future pandemics.

This volume addresses the rapid growth of China's cultural industry and its significant cultural and economic impact on the country. It considers what exactly constitutes the cultural industry, defining the basis for discussions on issues as the internal tensions constraining China's cultural industry development. It examines the place of culture and cultural industry in relation to China's overall development, and what kinds of strategies, policies and concrete measures are most effective in promoting the industry's growth, exploring the role of Government in Cultural Industrial Development.