This book focuses on decision-making problems in engineering. It investigates the ranking aggregation problem and the related features, such as input/output data, simplification hypotheses, importance hierarchy of experts. In addition to a well-structured overview of several interesting, consolidated methodological approaches, it presents innovative approaches that can also be applied profitably in other fields. The fascinating selection of topics included is based on research that has been developed in the past twenty years. The descriptions are supported by figures, tables, flowcharts, diagrams, examples and practical case studies. The book is an ideal resource for engineering academics, practitioners, technicians and students, who do not necessarily have an in-depth knowledge of decision-making. It is also a thought-provoking read for engineers and academics looking for innovative ways to improve engineering processes in a variety of fields, such as conceptual design, quality improvement, reliability engineering. "Today, rankings are exercised in all spheres of life, products are ranked on Amazon and similar platforms; services such as restaurants and hotels on platforms such as TripAdvisor; and other services such as lectures or even medical treatment on different specialized platforms. We often make our daily decisions based on these rankings. The quality of our decisions depends on our ability to select appropriate methods to fit the context and needs. We need to be familiar with the theory and practice of these methods to make them useful. To this purpose, this book is an important addition to the bookshelves of academics and professionals, not only from engineering. The connection between theory and practice is weaved throughout the book, making it useful for practitioners also." Prof. Yoram Reich, Full Professor and Head of Systems Engineering research Initiative at Tel Aviv University (Israel), Editor-in-Chief of "Research in Engineering Design"

A rigorous analysis of the implications of leadership being seen literally or metaphorically as a performance. The book introduces a framework which examines the performance of leadership through the dimensions of enactment, narrative and audience, focusing throughout on the ways in which managers can apply these ideas in their own leadership.

This book presents new evidence concerning the influential role of context and institutions on the relations between knowledge, innovation, clusters and learning. From a truly international perspective, the expert contributors capture the most interesting and relevant aspects of knowledge economy. They explore an evolutionary explanation of how culture can play a significant role in learning and the development of skills. Presenting new data and theory developments, this insightful book reveals how changes in the dynamics of knowledge influence the circumstances under which innovation occurs. It also examines cluster development in the knowledge economy, from regional to virtual space. This volume will prove invaluable to academics and researchers who are interested in exploring new ideas surrounding the knowledge economy. Those employed in consultant firms and the public sector, where an understanding of the knowledge economy is important, will also find plenty of relevant information in this enriching compendium. Contributors: H.A. Cader, A. Cordes, A.P. Cornett, K.A. Gotvassli, H.S. Jensen, J.K. Jones, C.P. Junqueira, J.C. Leatherman, G. Maier, A. Murdock, O. Raspe, M. Russ, R. Scherer, R. Shearmur, J.A.R. Staduto, M. Trippl, F.G. van Oort, J.O. Vanebo, M. Walser, K.I. Westeren

Since 2007, the biennial International Conferences on Dynamics in Logistics (LDIC) offers researchersand practitioners from logistics, operations research, production, industrial and electrical engineering aswell as from computer science an opportunity to meet and to discuss the latest developments in thisparticular research domain. From February 23th to 25th 2022 for the eighth time, LDIC 2022 was held inBremen, Germany. Similar to its seven predecessors, the Bremen Research Cluster for Dynamics inLogistics (LogDynamics) organized this conference. The spectrum of topics reaches from the dynamicmodeling, planning and control of processes over supply chain management and maritime logistics toinnovative technologies and robotic applications for cyber-physical production and logistics systems.LDIC 2022 provided a forum for the discussion of advances in that matter. The conference programconsisted of keynote speeches and research papers selected by a severe double-blind reviewing process.Within these proceedings all the papers are published. By this, the proceedings give an interdisciplinaryoutline on the state of the art of dynamics in logistics as well as identify challenges and solutions forlogistics today and tomorrow.

With a view to helping managers ask the right questions, Data Protection and the Cloud explains how you can effectively manage the risks associated with the Cloud and meet regulatory requirements. This book discusses: The controller-processor relationship and what you should pay attention to; How to mitigate security risks in the Cloud to comply with Article 32 of the EU GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation); How to comply with Chapter V of the GDPR when transferring data to third countries; and The implications of the NIS Directive (Directive on security of network and information systems) for Cloud providers. One of the most dramatic recent developments in computing has been the rapid adoption of Cloud applications. According to the 2018 Bitglass Cloud Adoption Report, more than 81% of organisations have now adopted the Cloud in some form, compared with only 24% in 2014. And there are no signs that this is slowing down. The GDPR was enforced on 25 May 2018, superseding the 1995 Data Protection Directive and all local implementations. Bringing data protection into the 21st century, the Regulation expands the rights of individuals, but also introduces new, stricter requirements for organisations. This pocket guide discusses the GDPR requirements relating to Cloud sourcing and the risks involved. Buy today and learn how to meet your data protection obligations when using Cloud services.

This book provides the first comprehensive comparison of the Aircraft Maintenance Program (AMP) requirements of the two most widely known aviation regulators: the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It offers an in-depth examination of the elements of an AMP, explaining the aircraft accident investigations and events that have originated and modelled the current rules. By introducing the Triangle of Airworthiness model (Reliability, Quality and Safety), the book enables easier understanding of the processes by which an aircraft and its components are deemed to be in a safe condition for operation from a cost-effective and optimization perspective. The book compares the best practices used by top airlines and compiles a series of tools and techniques to improve the standards of the AMP. Aircraft maintenance engineers, students in the field of aerospace engineering, and airlines staff, as well as researchers more widely interested in safety, quality, and reliability will benefit from reading this book

This book discusses common management and work practices in professional service organizations. Alvehus opens important discussions on what it means to work, manage, and be managed in such professional organizations, casting light on classic conflicts. He takes everyday work as a starting point and adopts a critical view that focuses on challenges and struggles in both public and private settings. He offers new perspectives and key insights for the future of professionalism. Providing a comprehensive overview of the field, this book is an important guide for understanding how professionalism is maintained in today's organizations. It will be essential reading for students and scholars of management and leadership.

This collection critically explores the use of financial technology (FinTech) and artificial intelligence (AI) in the financial sector and discusses effective regulation and the prevention of crime. Focusing on crypto-assets, InsureTech and the digitisation of financial dispute resolution, the book examines the strategic and ethical aspects of incorporating AI into the financial sector. The volume adopts a comparative legal approach to: critically evaluate the strategic and ethical benefits and challenges of AI in the financial sector; critically analyse the role, values and challenges of FinTech in society; make recommendations on protecting vulnerable customers without restricting financial innovation; and to make recommendations on effective regulation and prevention of crime in these areas. The book will be of interest to teachers and students of banking and financial regulation related modules, researchers in computer science, corporate governance, and business and economics. It will also be a valuable resource for policy makers including government departments, law enforcement agencies, financial regulatory agencies, people employed within the financial services sector, and professional services such as law, and technology.

Good operations and supply chain management practices are fundamental for the survival of both private and public organisations offering goods or rendering services. Because these practices are subject to evolving market and macro issues, which are themselves intrinsic to micro practices and processes, it is of great importance to study, understand and address current concerns. Contemporary issues in operations and supply chain management reveals a wide range of present-day matters that focus on the deep multiplicity of relationships between operations, supply chains and the changing business environment. Contemporary issues in operations and supply chain management offers tools and techniques to cope with the ever-increasing forces of supply versus demand, against the backdrop of limited resources and a constantly changing business environment. It offers a well-balanced approach between theory and practice by including contemporary issues and cases within the industry, Africa and the rest of the world. Contemporary issues in operations and supply chain management aims to have international reach and relevance for a broad audience, including but not necessarily limited to business practitioners of all kinds in any sector middle and senior managers in industry (both buyer and supplier organisations) academia - undergraduates and post graduates form higher education establishments, universities and colleges professional bodies (as recommended text/learning materials) members of industry trade associations and anyone else seeking insights into contemporary issues in operations and supply chain management. Professionals with years of experience in the field will benefit from this book as methods and strategies inherited from the past appear to no longer fit the realities presented by the ever changing modern business environment.

Buddhist and Taoist Systems Thinking explores a radical new conception of business and management. It is grounded on the reconnection of humans with nature as the new competitive advantage for living organizations and entrepreneurs that aspire to regenerate the economy and drive a positive impact on the planet, in the context of the Anthropocene. Organizations today struggle in finding a balance between maximizing profits and generating value for their stakeholders, the environment and the society at large. This happens in a paradigm shift characterized by unprecedented levels of exponential change and the emergence of disruptive technologies. Adaptability, thus, is becoming the new business imperative. How can, then, entrepreneurs and organizations constantly adapt and, at the same time, design the sustainable futures they'd like? This book uniquely explores the benefits of applying Buddhist and Taoist Systems Thinking to sustainable management. Grounded in Taoist and Zen Buddhist philosophies, it offers a modern scientific perspective fundamentally based on the concepts of bio-logical adaptability and lifefulness amidst complexity and constant change. The book introduces the new concept of the Gaia organization as a living organism that consciously helps perpetuate the conditions for life on the planet. It is subject to the natural laws of transformation and the principles of oneness, emptiness, impermanence, balance, self-regulation and harmonization. Readers will find applied Eastern systems theories such as the Yin-Yang and the Five Elements operationalized through practical methodologies and tools such as T-Qualia and the Zen Business model. They are aimed at guiding Gaia organizations and entrepreneurs in leading sustainable transformations and qualifying economic growth. The book offers a vital toolkit for purpose-driven practitioners, management researchers, students, social entrepreneurs, evaluators and change-makers to reinvent, create and mindfully manage sustainable and agile organizations that drive systemic transformation.

This book tackles the recent research trends on the role of AI in advancing automotive manufacturing, augmented reality, sustainable development in smart cities, telemedicine, and robotics. It sheds light on the recent AI innovations in classical machine learning, deep learning, Internet of Things (IoT), Blockchain, knowledge representation, knowledge management, big data, and natural language processing (NLP). The edited book covers empirical and reviews studies that primarily concentrate on the aforementioned issues, which would assist scholars in pursuing future research in the domain and identifying the possible future developments of AI applications.

This book features a selection of extended papers presented at the 7th IFIP WG 12.6 International Workshop on Artificial Intelligence for Knowledge Management, AI4KM 2019, held in Macao, China, in August 2019, in the framework of the International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence, IJCAI 2019.The 8 revised and extended papers were carefully reviewed and selected for inclusion in this volume. They present new research and innovative aspects in the field of knowledge management such as machine learning, knowledge models, KM and Web, knowledge capturing and learning, and KM and AI intersections.

This book presents innovative operations research applications in business, specifically industrial engineering and its sub-disciplines. It investigates new perspectives in operations research and management science with regard to research methods, the research context, and industrial engineering, offering readers a broad range of new approaches to management problems. The book features the latest work of researchers who have worked with Professor Fusun Ulengin or built upon her work in their academic careers. Written in honor of Prof. Ulengin, this book was edited by her former Ph.D. students, who are now experts in operations research, multiple criteria decision making, competitiveness, logistics, and supply chain management. Prof. Ulengin's impact in academia is visible in the range of topics and methodologies featured in this book: Location and transportation problems, competitiveness of nations, food supply chains, debt collection, mathematical modelling, multiple criteria decision making, data envelopment analysis, random forests, and Bayesian networks.

This book illustrates how to access the right information for making the best decisions during turbulent times. It is written from an experienced-based perspective that is beneficial for those looking for the development and improvement of the decision-making process. The approach is centered on the author's experience in developing and implementing effective and efficient approaches to decision-making in business and government. Based on those experiences, this book provides insights into how to improve the decision making process of your organization, whether it be large or small. For decision makers and those providing market information for making decisions, this book provide guidelines for a framework which includes systems thinking. For those interested in change management and corporate governance, the book presents examples where it was done well and some examples where it was not and the ensuring consequences. Praise for Systems Thinking Decision-Making Process... "This is an absolutely incredible book by a distinguished practitioner. The range of knowledge and experience that Vince Barabba has had is astounding. I urge everyone who is interested in complex, messy problems to read this amazing book." --Ian I. Mitroff "...Vince has masterfully blended the art of organizational respect with the science of data inquiry to drive change and realize strategic vision. A master storyteller, he does not just teach, his book brings his learnings to life in a meaningful way that if carefully listened to, can change the course of a career." -- Paul D'Alessandro Principal, Health Industries, PwC US "In his latest book, Vince Barabba integrates his vast knowledge from 50 years of dedicated work in both the public and private sectors in order to provide leaders with an actionable framework for radically improving how their organizations collect and use information to make the best decisions for all the wicked messes that now appear in our global village... This book can save your company from living in the dark with false assumptions about all your key stakeholders." -- Ralph H. Kilmann, Ph.D. CEO, Kilmann Diagnostics Co-Author, The Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI) "Absorbing just a few of the many smart ideas in this book will make you a better leader and decision maker. Thinking systemically about how the hard-earned lessons from Vince Barabba's brilliant career apply to your enterprise could make you a great one." - Chunka Mui Co-Author, A Brief History of a Perfect Future and Billion Dollar Lessons "...if you are interested in 'thinking in systems,' this book is for you. The 'On Star' story demonstrates to you how the initial product-centered thinking was proselytized to 'thinking in systems'." -- John Pourdehnad Visiting Professor, IESE Business School and Faulty of Systems Leadership, Thomas Jefferson University "In writing Systems Thinking Decision-Making Process: How to Avoid Burnt Toast, Vince Barabba is addressing the limits of knowledge management systems which enable 'organizations as usual' to share best practices on how to scrape toast faster and cheaper... The examples shared by Vince, from his first-hand experiences in corporate America or his services as a marketing consultant, contribute invaluable clarity to his goal of providing a "sketch of an Inquiry Center Learning and Support System" for those with the ambition to lead efforts to work smarter, not harder, firmly against the grain of 'organizations as usual'..." -- Bill Bellows, Ph.D., President, InThinking Services Adjunct Professor, California State University, Northridge and Southern Utah University Advisory Council Member and Former Deputy Director, The W. Edwards Deming Institute (R) "In his 'last book', Vince weaves the experiences and learning of a lifetime into whole cloth of insight and wisdom. He helps us to find relevant information from a rapidly changing world and apply it to making good decisions. This is a masterpiece of knowledge presented in a very entertaining way." -- Carl Spetzler Chairman, Strategic Decisions Group International LLC "This is a truly inspiring and mind changing book directly relevant for our times... Vince has shown through his remarkable work that business and government are a force for good when leaders think long term, work with, not against nature, and use their influence and resources for the many, not the few..." -- Osvald Bjelland Founder and President, Xynteo Founder, The Performance Theatre Foundation

This unique book is positioned at the crossroads of strategic management and international business. Based on an in-depth literature review, the author empirically assesses the widely shared, implicit assumption that strategic management processes can be globally applied in a standardized, i.e., culture-free, manner. So far, a variety of tools have also been recommended but without incorporating cultural differences. As many organizations observe that this ethnocentric view is more an illusion than reality, strategic management research has started to focus on the cultural sensitivity of its theories, tools, and processes to provide practitioners in a multicultural setting with adequate know-how and tools. To foster long-term decision-making despite uncertainty, scenario planning is frequently applied by practitioners. Up until today, scenario planning has however gained little attention from the academic community. Through this book, the author presents a newly developed framework for strategic management that combines the cultural value scale to test the cultural sensitivity of the long-term planning tool called "scenario planning." The different process steps of scenario planning have been individually examined for their sensitivity toward the cultural dimensions of uncertainty avoidance and long-term orientation. The investigation is based on a unique, global set of management consultants working for a leading professional service firm. The results of this research show the cultural sensitivity of scenario planning, with different degrees of the process steps and the tested cultural dimensions.

The continuous search for efficiency gains and the goal of attaining a sustainable competitive advantage have steadily increased the volume of goods and services procured globally from third party vendors. In this context, named as "the next wave of globalization", the offshoring phenomenon has stimulated research and political debates. With the rise of services offshoring, international value chain disaggregation for services has reached a formerly unknown scale. Also, it is increasingly complex transactions, requiring a higher degree of qualification, which are becoming subject to offshoring as well. The Offshoring Challenge: Strategic Design and Innovation for Tomorrow's Organization features selected chapters by an international research community on the topic of offshoring. All potential business models from offshore outsourcing to third party providers are covered, from cooperative arrangements to internal organizational set-ups including captive offshore centers. Contributions have significant insights regarding: the increasing offshoring of knowledge-intensive services; the offshoring process; business models incorporating offshoring; the hidden costs of offshoring; and the administration of offshoring activities within firms The book is aimed at a broad audience of scholars, students and practitioners in the fields of strategy, international business and operations management.

Rapid advances in the technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution pose a critical challenge to large, complex organizations both in the private and public sectors. The national defense ecosystem is no exception. The US Department of Defense has launched a number of efforts directed towards fostering creative and entrepreneurial problem solving, while evolving better practices to absorb external innovations. Defense Technological Innovation describes the emerging paradigm for innovation at the US Department of Defense, and the consequential impacts on its stakeholders. Leveraging a combination of prior research, archival data, first-person observations and interviews, the authors identify practices and themes characterizing the key trends in defense innovation, describe current organizational approaches and practices, and develop a theoretical framework that elucidates the competencies required to underwrite defense innovation objectives. The findings therein are relevant to any large, technology-driven organization contending with the implications of rapid change in the high-tech landscape. Scholars interested in the broad areas of technology innovation, national security, defense policy, and organizational change now have a book that addresses the problem of defense innovation. It will also appeal to scholars and policymakers in strategy, security studies, international affairs, and policy.

Over the past decade, diverse organizations have been turning to open source software for their technological needs, in both internal processes management and public interaction. Turning the data generated by organizations ranging from universities to large corporations into usable information has plagued users for years, making open source solutions one of the primary goals of these institutions. Open Source Solutions for Knowledge Management and Technological Ecosystems addresses the issues surrounding the search for each organization's unique data management needs, defining the tools necessary to fulfill them within their technological ecosystem, along with the selection, interoperability, and integration of these tools. This book is ideal for managers, business professionals, software engineers, information technology professionals, and students of business and IT.

Pinedo is a major figure in the scheduling area (well versed in both stochastics and combinatorics), and knows both the academic and practitioner side of the discipline.

This book includes the integration of case studies into the text.

It will appeal to engineering and business students interested in operations research.

This book aims to provide new research methods, theories and applications from various areas of management and engineering. In detail, the included scientific papers analyze and describe communication processes in the fields of logistics, informatics, service sciences and other related areas. The variety of the papers delivers added value for both scholars and practitioners. Information and communication technologies have been providing an effective network infrastructure and development platform for logistics and service operations. To meet the needs of consumers and to promote core competences, many institutions and firms have been developing new types of services. This proceeding focus on "AI and data driven technical and management innovation in logistics, informatics and services." In detail, the included scientific papers analyze the latest fundamental advances in the state of the art and practice of logistics, informatics, service operations and service science. This book is the documentation of the conference "11th International Conference on Logistics, Informatics and Service Sciences," which took place at the Shandong University. Due to the impact of COVID-19, LISS 2021 took place online as a virtual conference.

How can you be sure you are buying the company you think you are? Are you sure it is as good as the seller says? How can you be certain unexpected costs and obligations will not suddenly appear once you are the owner and responsible for them? How best can you arm yourself for the negotiations? Have you worked out precisely what you are going to do with it once it is yours? How do you set the priorities for change to recoup the premium you have paid for it? The answer to all these questions, and many more, lies with effective due diligence. Due diligence is one of the most important but least well understood aspects of the acquisition process. It is not, as many believe, a chore to be left to the accountants and lawyers. To get the best from it, due diligence has to be properly planned and professionally managed. This book is a comprehensive manual on getting due diligence right. It is a uniquely comprehensive guide, covering all aspects of the process from financial, legal and commercial due diligence right through to environmental and intellectual property due diligence. There are also useful chapters on working with advisers and managing due diligence projects. It also includes a number of checklists to help ensure that the right questions are asked.

The book shows readers exactly how to use Lean tools to design healthcare work that is smooth, efficient, error free and focused on patients and patient outcomes. It includes in-depth discussions of every important Lean tool, including value stream maps, takt time, spaghetti diagrams, workcell design, 5S, SMED, A3, Kanban, Kaizen and many more, all presented in the context of healthcare. For example, the book explains the importance of quick operating room or exam room changeovers and shows the reader specific methods for drastically reducing changeover time. Readers will learn to create healthcare value streams where workflows are based on the pull of customer/patient demand. The book also presents a variety of ways to continue improving after initial Lean successes. Methods for finding the root causes of problems and implementing effective solutions are described and demonstrated. The approach taught here is based on the Toyota Production System, which has been adopted worldwide by healthcare organizations for use in clinical, non-clinical and administrative areas.

This book is the fourth in the series on leadership, interprofessional education and practice, following on from Leadership Development for Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice (2014), Leadership and Collaboration: Further Developments for IPE and Collaborative Practice (2015) and Leading Research and Evaluation in Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice (2016). Along with policy changes around the globe, these three books have stimulated experts in this area to consider not only the ways in which they introduce and develop interprofessional education and collaborative practice, but also how they evaluate their impacts. In this 4th book, the focus is on the sustainability of these initiatives, sharing insights into factors that promote sustainability including leadership approaches and organisationsal resilience, as well as frequently encountered difficulties, and ways to overcome them.

Since the global financial crisis of 2007-8, new laws and regulations have been introduced with the aim of improving the transparency in financial reporting. Despite the dramatically increased flow of information to shareholders and the public, this information flow has not always been meaningful or useful. Often it seems that it is not possible to see the wood for the trees. Financial scalds continue, as Wirecard, NMC Health, Patisserie Valerie, going back to Carillion (and many more) demonstrate. Financial and corporate reporting have never been so fraught with difficulties as companies fail to give guidance about the future in an increasingly uncertain world aided and abetted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This concise book argues that the changes have simply masked an increase in the use of corporate PR, impression management, bullet points, glossy images, and other simulacra which allow poor performance to be masked by misleading information presented in glib boilerplate texts, images, and tables. The tone of the narrative sections in annual reports is often misleading. Drawing on extensive research and interviews with insiders and experts, this book charts what has gone wrong with financial reporting and offers a range of solutions to improve information to both investors and the public. This provides a framework for a new era of forward-looking corporate reporting and guidance based on often conflicting multiple corporate goals. The book also examines and contrasts the latest thinking by the regularity authorities. Providing a compelling exploration of the industry's failings and present difficulties, and the impact of future disruption, this timely, thought-provoking book will be of great interest to students, researchers, and professionals as well as policy makers in accounting, financial reporting, corporate reporting, financial statement analysis, and governance.