The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the implementation of digital transformation strategies, and there has been an exponential increase in the demand for intelligent and reliable communications solutions. The pandemic brings huge challenges for all economic agents, as resilience and the capacity to adapt to new risks and hindrances are now fundamental elements in our societies. In this context, it is essential that digitalization brings opportunities to transition to a smarter economy based on innovation, sustainability, and well-being. The Handbook of Research on Digitalization as a Driver for Smart Economy in the Post-COVID-19 Era discusses digitalization, information and communication technologies, marketing, entrepreneurship, and innovation in an organizational context to optimize the practices established in the most diverse domains of knowledge, specifically attending to the relation between digitalization and sustainability in a post-pandemic era. It is ideal for academicians, instructors, researchers, industry professionals, business managers, private institutions, and students as it covers a range of key topics such as sustainability and smart economy.

With an emphasis on key individuals and key movements, this book is the first attempt to provide a collection of critical essays on the history of technical communication designed to help guide future research. This collection consists of the classic; essays in the field that have made a major contribution to the development of the field, and the new; essays that contribute to our historical understanding of a specific element or period of technical communication. This, combined with an up-to-date bibliography of research in the area, make Three Keys to the Past as valuable to the experienced researcher in the field as to those just entering it.

The financial meltdown resulting from the subprime mortgage fiasco culminated in the most dramatic economic slowdown since the Great Depression. The global economic crisis raised the debate about the role of financial institutions and the role of regulators in an increasingly interconnected and rapidly changing world. It also altered the marketplace's perception of historically trusted financial institutions. Over the years, geopolitical, economic and technical trends have had a subtle, but very powerful, impact on the basic business model for financial institutions worldwide and on their interactions with accountholders. Add to that increased margin pressures, regulatory and compliance issues, fraud and compliance concerns, and competitive threats, and it becomes obvious that the old business model simply won't work going forward. At the same time, the financial industry is littered with some of the oldest technologies of any industry, which contributed to the poor credit decisions that fueled the crisis. A recognized entrepreneur and award-winning innovator, Louis Hernandez, Jr., using historical examples, points out that the rate of change impacting the financial services industry is accelerating. The industry has been slow to respond to change, and the focus on the recent crisis has uncovered fundamental problems that financial institutions have been avoiding. Hernandez outlines a process to map the future direction of individual institutions and the industry in a way that addresses near-term issues and overarching global changes, such as a re-emergent Asia and the dynamics of a knowledge economy. He points out that the "Too Big to Fail" thesis has given way to the seemingly more prudent, community-based institutions that largely avoided the subprime crisis. These institutions have demonstrated that they represent a unique pillar of economic stability. Now, he says, is the perfect time for the leaders of these community-based institutions to seize the day and lead the financial services industry back to the center of economic vitality and drive global economic growth, one community at a time. In Too Small to Fail, Hernandez issues the call to action, "Do you have the extraordinary drive it will take to inspire the industry and bring financial institutions back to their place as trusted intermediaries?"

The book introduces concepts on a wide range of materials and has several advantages over existing texts, including: 1. The presentation of a series of scientific postulates and laws of RF and microwaves, which lay the foundation for the behavior of waves and their propagation on transmission lines, is unique to this book compared with similar RF and Microwave texts.2. The presentation of classical laws and principles of electricity and magnetism, all inter-related, conceptually and graphically.3. There is a shift of emphasis from rigorous mathematical solutions of Maxwell's equations, and instead has been aptly placed on simple yet fundamental concepts that underlie these equations. This shift of emphasis will promote a deeper understanding of the electronics, particularly at RF/Microwave frequencies.4. Wave propagation in free space and tramsmission lines has been amply treated from a totally new standpoint. Designing RF/Microwave passive circuits using the Smith Chart as covered in this book becomes a systematic and yet pleasant task, which can easily be duplicated by any practitioner in the field.5. New technical terms are precisely defined as they are first introduced, thereby keeping the subject matter in focus and preventing misunderstanding, and 6. Finally the abundant use of graphical illustrations and diagrams brings a great deal of clarity and conceptual understanding, enabling difficult concepts to be understood with ease.The fundamentals of RF and microwave electronics can be mastered visually, through many tested practical examples in the book and in the accompanying CD using Microsoft Excel environment. This book is perfect for RF/microwave newcomers or industry veterans The material is presented lucidly and effectively through worked practical examples using both clear-cut math and vivid illustrations, which help the reader gain practical knowledge in passive circuit design using the Smith Chart.

This handbook covers basic concepts in mechanical engineering and mechatronics, including stress and strain, mechanics of solids, internal combustion engines, refrigeration, fluid mechanics, control systems, actuation, robotics, electro-mechanical systems, hydraulics, and more. Using step by step examples and numerous illustrations, the book is designed with a "self-teaching" methodology, including a variety of exercises with corresponding answers to enhance mastery of the content. Mechanical engineering and mechatronics concepts provide the skill sets in cross-disciplinary subjects which are needed in modern manufacturing industries. Features Covers basic concepts in mechanical engineering and mechatronics, including stress and strain, mechanics of solids, internal combustion engines, refrigeration, fluid mechanics, control systems, actuation, robotics, and electro-mechanical systems Includes a variety of exercises (with answers), such as conceptual questions, multiple choice, and fill-in the blanks, to enhance mastery of the content

Industry officials and government policymakers have for some time decried the lack of a framework for establishing and defending Research and Development (R&D) policies. Effective policy requires an understanding of the underlying economics. This book offers models and analysis of the economic elements that drive technology-based growth with emphasis on their implications for policy analysis. It also compares existing U.S. policies with those used in Europe and Japan. The results of these models and analysis is a framework for matching various forms of underinvestment with efficient strategic and policy responses. This market-failure based approach enables industry and government R&D initiatives to be developed, analyzed, and implemented with greater success than previously attained.

The first part of the book analyzes economic trends to show how they are affected by technological change and the evolving nature of foreign competition. R&D spending patterns are studied to identify and characterize market failures that prevent adequate private-sector investments in technology. A model is presented for a typical technology-based industry. The second part looks at specific technologies and policies that impact R&D investment and that have been the subject of intense policy debate.

The difference between B2B sales winners and losers is that winners are ready to win. Winners take time to honestly answer the question, "am I ready to sell?" Winners prepare themselves for winning through reproducible steps that will put them in a better position to win. These steps are not magic or unknowable - they can be learned. Once learned the key to success becomes discipline in applying the steps every day during every encounter with your prospects and your own sales team. Are You Ready to Sell shows the steps you need to be a winner in B2B sales. Owning this book will provide you with:

A winning process for sales preparedness throughout your daily selling life

Strategies to determine if a sales opportunity is an order opportunity

A road map for change to deal with the "new normal" of Business to Business selling

Strategies for creating a valuable lifetime income stream from your customers

Sales scenarios at the end of each chapter to test your strategies for winning

A mindset to move sold-to accounts back to prospects for value you can deliver

New strategies for building customer loyalty

Guidelines for shaping your prospect's definition of value throughout the sales process

Today's B2B industrial prospects are struggling to survive within the new normal of doing more with less. Help your prospects be winners in this environment and you will be an order winner. "Are You Ready to Sell?" equips you with the tools you need to be a consistent B2B sales order winner.

As information resource management becomes increasingly dependent on emerging technologies to combat its challenges and decipher its effective strategies, the demand builds for a critical mass of research in this area. Innovative Technologies for Information Resource Management brings together compelling content related to the continually emerging technologies in areas of information systems such as Web services, electronic commerce, distance learning, healthcare, business process management, and software development. Focusing on the implications innovative technologies have on the managerial and organizational aspects of information resource management, this book provides academcians and practitioners with a requisite and enlightening reference source.

This book explores the evolution of the current U.S. research and development enterprise, asks whether this organization remains appropriate to the challenges we face today, and proposes strategies for better preparing for the global technology race shaping our future. Across the globe, nation states and societies, as well as corporations, technology developers, and even individuals, find themselves on the front lines of a global technology race. As we approach the third decade of this century, the outlines of the contest have become clear. Spending on research and development, such new methods as innovation centers, and inclusion of powerful technologies into governments and society are occurring at a rapid pace. Technology winners and losers are emerging. How did we arrive at this global technology fight? How and where will it be waged? What can we do to prepare for the future? In 10 chapters, Tech Wars addresses these questions and more, examining the conditions that have led us to this point and introducing new strategies, organizational changes, and resource allocations that will help the United States respond to the challenges that are on the horizon. Focuses on how technology affects society and individuals, recognizing that a discussion of technology must also include such topics as economics, trade, military activities, and other human endeavors Demonstrates through historical precedents and examination of potential alternative futures that changes in the global research and development ecosystem are needed Highlights the importance of technology to the economic and national security of the United States Explains how and why our science and technology, research and development, and innovation capabilities should be adapted