This book promotes and describes the application of objective and effective decision making in asset management based on mathematical models and practical techniques that can be easily implemented in organizations. This comprehensive and timely publication will be an essential reference source, building on available literature in the field of asset management while laying the groundwork for further research breakthroughs in this field. The text provides the resources necessary for managers, technology developers, scientists and engineers to adopt and implement better decision making based on models and techniques that contribute to recognizing risks and uncertainties and, in general terms, to the important role of asset management to increase competitiveness in organizations.

This book proposes a novel approach to classification, discusses its myriad advantages, and outlines how such an approach to classification can best be pursued. It encourages a collaborative effort toward the detailed development of such a classification. This book is motivated by the increased importance of interdisciplinary scholarship in the academy, and the widely perceived shortcomings of existing knowledge organization schemes in serving interdisciplinary scholarship. It is designed for scholars of classification research, knowledge organization, the digital environment, and interdisciplinarity itself. The approach recommended blends a general classification with domain-specific classification practices. The book reaches a set of very strong conclusions: -Existing classification systems serve interdisciplinary research and teaching poorly. -A novel approach to classification, grounded in the phenomena studied rather than disciplines, would serve interdisciplinary scholarship much better. It would also have advantages for disciplinary scholarship. The productivity of scholarship would thus be increased. -This novel approach is entirely feasible. Various concerns that might be raised can each be addressed. The broad outlines of what a new classification would look like are developed. -This new approach might serve as a complement to or a substitute for existing classification systems. -Domain analysis can and should be employed in the pursuit of a general classification. This will be particularly important with respect to interdisciplinary domains. -Though the impetus for this novel approach comes from interdisciplinarity, it is also better suited to the needs of the Semantic Web, and a digital environment more generally. Though the primary focus of the book is on classification systems, most chapters also address how the analysis could be extended to thesauri and ontologies. The possibility of a universal thesaurus is explored. The classification proposed has many of the advantages sought in ontologies for the Semantic Web. The book is therefore of interest to scholars working in these areas as well.

In the new knowledge-based economy, our most valued resource is information. Unlike hard assets, such as buildings and machines, information can be easily copied and distributed, often without the owner being aware of the situation. Organizations need to foster an awareness of the vital role people play (in addition to technology) in how information or intelligence is gathered and protected. Equally important is how intelligence is used to develop strategy. Ever-changing competitive, industry, and business environments require constant monitoring. In this compelling new book by a former diplomat, you will learn the secrets (step by step) to developing an intelligence strategy by effective information gathering and analyzing, and then to delivering credible intelligence to senior management. Along the way, you will learn how to better read people and organizations and get them to open up and share information with you- all the while behaving in an ethical, legal manner. Illustrated with real-world anecdotes and personal experiences, Corporate Intelligence Awareness brings this important topic to the attention of today's business leaders. Intelligence Awareness is more than just good intelligence gathering; understanding how intelligence is gathered and processed will keep you ahead of the game, protect your secrets, and secure your competitive edge

In the industrial design and engineering field, product lifecycle, product development, design process, Design for X, etc., constitute only a small sample of terms related to the generation of quality products. Current best practices cover widely different knowledge domains in trying to exploit them to the best advantage, individually and in synergy. Moreover, standards become increasingly more helpful in interfacing these domains and they are enlarging their coverage by going beyond the single domain boundary to connect closely different aspects of the product lifecycle. The degree of complexity of each domain makes impossible the presence of multipurpose competencies and skills; there is almost always the need for interacting and integrating people and resources in some effective way. These are the best conditions for the birth of theories, methodologies, models, architectures, systems, procedures, algorithms, software packages, etc., in order to help in some way the synergic work of all the actors involved in the product lifecycle. This brief introduction contains all the main themes developed in this book, starting from the analysis of the design and engineering scenarios to arrive at the development and adoption of a framework for product design and process reconfiguration. In fact, the core consists of the description of the Design GuideLines Collaborative Framework (DGLs-CF), a methodological approach that generates a collaborative environment where designers, manufacturers and inspectors can find the right and effective meeting point to share their knowledge and skills in order to contribute to the optimum generation of quality products.

This book studies storage policies in warehousing systems and maintenance-support strategies for critical operational systems in warehouses, which are the most important issues affecting operational efficiency of warehousing systems. It expands on the theory of class-based storage by considering a finite number of items in store, and also introduces the maintenance-support strategy founded on performance-based contract theory. It is a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners and engineers in the fields of industrial engineering, operations management, operations research and management science.

This book is a practical guide to two of the most important emerging technologies: data science/AI and blockchain.The world of technology progresses so quickly that we often don't realize how far we've come. Over the last 20 years, technologies like data science, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and blockchain have transformed the world of business, industry, and society.These emerging technologies offer a wide range of opportunities. However, they also create new challenges businesses must face, such as developing new business models, and discovering the best adoption strategies. This book is a practical guide to two of the most important emerging technologies: data science/AI and blockchain. With broad applicability across all sectors, decision-makers would greatly benefit from understanding these fields.

This book examines the factors involved in the social mediation of risks, the social construction of reality, and attempts made by professionals to re-design how social reality appears. It looks at single-issue politics affecting the political agenda, the role of the mass media, how corporations can and do respond, in very sophisticated ways, to threats to their political and ideological perspectives, and so advance their interests. The study also comments on how professional fields are created, demonstrating the work that goes into proposing, sustaining and promoting the expertise of crisis management.

Based on the 2005 publication The Financial Appraisal Profile Model , this book discusses how the FAP model can present an integrated process for the appraisal of financial and strategic benefits and the assessment of risk in ICT (Information Communication Technology) project proposals.

Retail Security and Loss Prevention is an invaluable and comprehensive publication that provides cutting-edge asset protection processes. Based on twenty-five years of systematic research and field experience, it is designed to provide loss prevention managers, store managers, and retail and security students with a powerful problem-solving resource. It describes the most common retail crime and loss problems along with a step-by-step process for diagnosing and treating these problems. It includes several loss prevention checklists as well as sample forms.

A host of internationally recognized experts have been brought together to examine one of the most important sectors in today's world economy, the information sector. The study utilizes the most recent quantitative and econometric research on the media and information sectors and their markets. Most of the work presented is from two international conferences and other invited conferences.

This book provides readers an understanding of the implementation of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) for international construction operations. In an extended case study, it primarily focuses on Chinese construction firms (CCFs) based in Singapore. In this regard, the book explains the differences and similarities between Risk Management (RM), Project Risk Management (PRM) and ERM in the construction industry, and examines their linkages for international construction operations in a broader context. The explanation elaborates on how companies may adopt and implement RM, PRM and ERM as appropriate in their various operations, both in their home market as well as in overseas host markets. The book also reviews the whole spectrum of work relating to organizational behavior (OB) as one of the key underpinnings for companies to evaluate and implement ERM. It will benefit practitioners from the industry as well as academics interested in the implementation of ERM practices in international construction operations.

This book explores how to design and implement planning & control (P&C) systems that can help organizations to manage their growth and restructuring processes in a sustainability perspective. The book is not designed to enable the reader to become an experienced system dynamics modeler; rather, it aims to develop the reader's capabilities to design and implement performance management systems by using a system dynamics approach. More specifically, the book shows how to develop system dynamics models that can better support an understanding of: -What is organizational performance and how to frame and measure it; -How to identify and map the processes underlying performance; -How to design and implement a dynamic performance management system and link it to strategic planning; -How to tie strategic resource dynamics to processes and performance indicators; -How to link strategic resources, and performance indicators to responsibility and incentive systems. Using a dynamic performance management approach can improve an organization's capability to understand and manage the forces driving performance over time, as well as set goals and objectives that may properly and selectively gauge results and match them to the key responsibility areas in the planning process. The dynamic performance management approaches covered in the book are beneficial to performance management analysts, enabling them to frame their professional field within the broader context of the system. The book also includes numerous case studies and dynamic performance management models for providing examples of how dynamic performance management works in practice. In addition, a literature review is included to provide a guideline for further improvements to those readers who wish to develop relevant, specific, and detailed system dynamics modeling skills and to establish the foundation for teaching system dynamics applied to performance management in organizational and inter-organizational contexts. This is particularly relevant for graduate students who have taken system dynamics courses and need to apply their own skills to business and public management.

Column Generation is an insightful overview of the state-of-the-art in integer programming column generation and its many applications. The volume begins with "A Primer in Column Generation" which outlines the theory and ideas necessary to solve large-scale practical problems, illustrated with a variety of examples. Other chapters follow this introduction on "Shortest Path Problems with Resource Constraints," "Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Window," "Branch-and-Price Heuristics," "Cutting Stock Problems," each dealing with methodological aspects of the field. Three chapters deal with transportation applications: "Large-scale Models in the Airline Industry," "Robust Inventory Ship Routing by Column Generation," and "Ship Scheduling with Recurring Visits and Visit Separation Requirements." Production is the focus of another three chapters: "Combining Column Generation and Lagrangian Relaxation," "Dantzig-Wolfe Decomposition for Job Shop Scheduling," and "Applying Column Generation to Machine Scheduling." The final chapter by FranAois Vanderbeck, "Implementing Mixed Integer Column Generation," reviews how to set-up the Dantzig-Wolfe reformulation, adapt standard MIP techniques to the column generation context (branching, preprocessing, primal heuristics), and deal with specific column generation issues (initialization, stabilization, column management strategies).

The book is the first systematic treatment of column generation methodologies. It will provide students, researchers, and experienced column generation users with a much-needed state-of-the-art survey of the field.

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?

Provides an updated view of knowledge management strategies of knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) by focusing on how those firms manage innovation in their value chains and at the territorial level. Offers an original analysis of key processes of KIBS, specializing in design, professional firms and information technology.

The content and role of working have changed in significant ways as a result of new technologies and broader social and organizational changes. Work serves a range of purposes for individuals including recognition, influence, self-expression and self-fulfilment." Learning with Colleagues" relates to personal development, enabling individuals to enter into a deeper relationship with colleagues to learn from them and with them. The book will be an important stimulus to creating a workplace learning environment.

In today's global economy, supply chains are an essential ingredient to corporate survival and growth. Operations strategy in supply chains must assume an ever-expanding and strategic role of risks that modern enterprises face when they operate in an interdependent supply chain environment. These operational and strategic facets entail a brand new set of operational problems and risks that have not always been understood or managed very well. It falls to supply chain managers to identify and to educate corporate managers on what these critical operational problems and risks involve. This book provides business students and practitioners with the means to understand, to model and to analyze these outstanding issues and problems that are the essential elements in managing supply chains today. This book will consider these problems in depth and draw essential conclusions regarding their management in supply chains. As a textbook treatment, it will examine traditional operational problems, expressing them in a strategic context, understanding their complexity, and recognizing their interdependency with other firms within a supply-chain environment. Used throughout the book will be application examples that illustrate all the aspects of dealing with and solving these kinds of problems. The content of SUPPLY CHAIN GAMES: Operations Management and Risk Valuation is presented in three sections, each of which will emphasize important facets of supply chain management operations. (1) Supply chains and operations modeling and management section will provide static and time models and their gradual extension to a supply chain environment. The section will give special attention tothe new concerns and issues at this level of analysis. (2) Inter-temporal supply chain management section will address this aspect as differential games. The differential games will be presented as natural continuous-time extensions of static models so that the effect of various types of dynamics on supply chains can be assessed and insights can be developed. (3) Risk and supply chain management section will deal with risk and supply chains as well as providing numerous applications regarding the management of interdependent operations and quality in a supply chain environment.

With the advent and advancement of E-Collaboration tools, our way of social interaction and online social behavior has altered drastically. With new ways of communicating and working together, we must understand how this affects human behavior. Interdisciplinary Applications of Electronic Collaboration Approaches and Technologies addresses the design and implementation of e-collaboration technologies, assesses its behavioral impact on individuals and groups, and presents theoretical considerations on links between the use of e-collaboration technologies and behavioral patterns. An innovative collection of the latest research findings, this book covers significant topics such as Web-based chat tools, Web-based asynchronous conferencing tools, e-mail, listservs and many others, perfect for academics, researchers, and professionals alike.

Explains processes and scenarios (process chains) for planning with SAP characteristics.

Uses the latest releases of SAP R/3 and APO (Advanced Planning & Optimization software).

The levels scenario, process and function are explained from the business case down to the implementation level and the relations between these levels are consistently pointed out throughout the book

Many illustrations help to understand the interdependencies between scenario, process and function

Aims to help avoiding costly dead ends and securing a smooth implementation and management of supply chains

Knowledge management is an emerging, evolving field at the confluence of several management disciplines. A critical function for all organizations is to make rapid decisions. To do this effectively decision makers require relevant data and information. Yet, most decision makers are floundering with information overload, time compression and pressures to make critical decisions that have far-reaching consequences to their organization. Knowledge-Based Enterprise: Theories and Fundamentals provides a comprehensive coverage of all areas (people, process, and technology) necessary to become a knowledge-based enterprise. The book presents several frameworks that not only facilitate the implementation of a KM initiative but its on-going management so that pertinent knowledge and information are always available to the decision maker, and that the organization may always enjoy a sustainable competitive advantage.