For any organization, analysis of performance and effectiveness through available data allows for informed decision making. Data envelopment analysis, or DEA, is a popular, effective method that can be used to measure productive efficiency in operations management assessment. Data Envelopment Analysis and Effective Performance Assessment addresses the myriad of practical uses and innovative developments of DEA. Emphasizing the importance of analyzing productivity by measuring inputs, goals, economic growth, and performance, this book covers a wide breadth of innovative knowledge. This book is essential reading for managers, business professionals, students of business and ICT, and computer engineers.

We are living in interesting times characterized by increasing digitalization of business enterprises in a global interconnected knowledge economy. With waning euphoria about the first wave of digital e-business enterprises and a sobering dot-com stock market, business model innovation is being recognized as the key enabler that can unleash value creation for new digital enterprises. In contrast to traditional factors of production, knowledge assets and intellectual capital are expected to play a dominant role in determining both valuation and value-creation capabilities of most new age enterprises. Not surprisingly, Knowledge Management for Business Model Innovation is anticipated to be the mantra for survival, competence and success of Net enterprises as well as traditional brick-and-mortar enterprises faced with the challenge of transforming their business models into and beyond click-and-mortar companies.

Throughout the world, artificial intelligence is reshaping businesses, trade interfaces, economic activities, and society as a whole. In recent years, scholarly research on artificial intelligence has emerged from a variety of empirical and applied domains of knowledge. Computer scientists have developed advanced deep learning algorithms to leverage its utility in a variety of fields such as medicine, energy, travel, education, banking, and business management. Although a growing body of literature is shedding light on artificial intelligence-enabled difficulties, there is still much to be gained by applying fresh theory-driven techniques to this vital topic. Revolutionizing Business Practices Through Artificial Intelligence and Data-Rich Environments provides a comprehensive understanding of the business systems, platforms, procedures, and mechanisms that underpin different stakeholders' experiences with reality-enhancing technologies and their transformative application in management. The book also identifies areas in various business processes where artificial intelligence intervention would not only transform the business but would also make the business more sustainable. Covering key topics such as blockchain, business automation, and manufacturing, this reference work is ideal for computer scientists, business owners, managers, industry professionals, researchers, academicians, scholars, practitioners, instructors, and students.

Information modeling plays an important role in every level of the enterprise information system's architecture. Modeling allows organizations to adapt and become more efficient, helping top managers and engineers outline tactics to reach strategic objectives, understand organizational needs, and design information systems that are aligned with business goals. New Perspectives on Information Systems Modeling and Design is an essential reference source that discusses organizational adaptation through the integration of new information technologies into existing processes and underlying supporting applications. Featuring research on topics such as application integration, change management, and mobile process activities, this book is ideally designed for managers, researchers, system developers, entrepreneurs, graduate-level students, business professionals, information system engineers, and academicians seeking coverage on emerging technological developments and practical solutions for system modeling and design.

Leadership and the traditional concept of what makes an effective leader is being challenged in the 21st century. Today, many teams are dispersed across time, geography, and cultures and coordinating those team using traditional concepts of leadership and management has been challenging. Strategic Management and Leadership for Systems Development in Virtual Spaces provides insights into the relationship between leadership and information systems development within online environments as well as strategies for effectively managing virtual teams. Focusing on opportunities as well as challenges associated with e-collaboration and managing remote workers, this peer-reviewed collection of research is designed for use by business professionals, scholars, and researchers in the fields of information science and technology, business and management, sociology, and computer science.

'Rana el Kaliouby's vision for how technology should work in parallel with empathy is bold, inspired and hopeful' Arianna Huffington, founder and CEO of Thrive Global 'This lucid and captivating book by a renowned pioneer of emotion-AI tackles one of the most pressing issues of our time: How can we ensure a future where this technology empowers rather than surveils and manipulates us?' Max Tegmark, professor of physics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and author of Life 3.0 We are entering an empathy crisis. Most of our communication is conveyed through non-verbal cues - facial expressions, tone of voice, body language - nuances that are completely lost when we interact through our smartphones and other technology. The result is a digital universe that's emotion-blind - a society lacking in empathy. Rana el Kaliouby discovered this when she left Cairo, a newly-married, Muslim woman, to take up her place at Cambridge University to study computer science. Many thousands of miles from home, she began to develop systems to help her better connect with her family. She started to pioneer the new field of Emotional Intelligence (EI). She now runs her company, Affectiva (the industry-leader in this emerging field) that builds EI into our technology and develops systems that understand humans the way we understand one another. In a captivating memoir, Girl Decoded chronicles el Kaliouby's mission to humanise technology and what she learns about humanity along the way.

Operations management is a tool by which companies can effectively meet customers' needs using the least amount of resources necessary. With the emergence of sensors and smart metering, big data is becoming an intrinsic part of modern operations management. Applied Big Data Analytics in Operations Management enumerates the challenges and creative solutions and tools to apply when using big data in operations management. Outlining revolutionary concepts and applications that help businesses predict customer behavior along with applications of artificial neural networks, predictive analytics, and opinion mining on business management, this comprehensive publication is ideal for IT professionals, software engineers, business professionals, managers, and students of management.

Continuous improvements in digitized practices have created opportunities for businesses to develop more streamlined processes. This not only leads to higher success in day-to-day production, but it increases the overall success of businesses. Enterprise Information Systems and the Digitalization of Business Functions is a key resource on the latest advances and research for a digital agenda in the business world. Highlighting multidisciplinary studies on data modeling, information systems, and customer relationship management, this publication is an ideal reference source for professionals, researchers, managers, consultants, and university students interested in emerging developments for business process management.

"Pragmatic Enterprise Architecture" is a practical hands-on instruction manual for enterprise architects. This book prepares you to better engage IT, management, and business users by equipping you with the tools and knowledge you need to address the most common enterprise architecture challenges. You will come away with a pragmatic understanding of and approach to enterprise architecture and actionable ideas to transform your enterprise. Experienced enterprise architect James V. Luisi generously shares life cycle architectures, transaction path analysis frameworks, and more so you can save time, energy, and resources on your next big project.

As an enterprise architect, you must have relatable frameworks and excellent communication skills to do your job. You must actively engage and support a large enterprise involving a hundred architectural disciplines with a modest number of subject matter experts across business, information systems, control systems, and operations architecture. They must achieve their mission using the influence of ideas and business benefits expressed in simple terms so that any audience can understand what to do and why. "Pragmatic Enterprise Architecture "gives you the tools to accomplish your goals in less time with fewer resources.
Expand your Enterprise Architecture skills so you can do more in less time with less money with the priceless tips presentedUnderstand the cost of creating new Enterprise Architecture disciplines and contrast those costs to letting them go unmanagedIncludes 10 life cycle architectures so that you can properly assess the ROI of performing activities such as outsourcing, insourcing, restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, and moreComplete appendix of eight transaction path analysis frameworks provide DBA guidelines for proper physical database design

The papers contained in this volume were originally presented at the 2015 International Conference on Complex Systems in Business, Administration, Science and Engineering. Included are the latest works of practitioners from a variety of disciplines who have developed new approaches for resolving complex issues that cannot be formulated using conventional, mathematical or software models.Complex Systems occur in an infinite variety of problems, not only in the realm of physical sciences and engineering, but also in such diverse fields as economics, the environment, humanities, and social and political sciences.The papers in the book cover such topics as: Complex ecological systems; Complexity science and urban developments; Complex energy systems; Complex issues in biological and medical sciences; Extreme events: natural and human made disasters; Climate change; Complexity of the internet-based global market; Complex business processes; Supply chain complexity; Transportation complexity; Logistics complexity; Closed and open systems; Attractions and chaotic systems; Complex adaptive software; Complexity of big data; Management of complexity; Global economy as a complex system; Complexity in social systems; Complex political systems; Administrations as complex systems; Complexity in engineering; Complexity and environment; Complexity and evolution; Complexity in linguistics, literature and arts.

Business models are regarded as a main emerging topic in the management area for opportune science-driven practical conceptions and applications. They represent how organizations are proposed and planned, as well as how they establish a market and social relations, manage strategic resources, and make decisions. However, companies must produce new solutions for strategic sustainability, performance measurement, and overall managerial conditions for these business models to be implemented effectively. The Handbook of Research on Business Models in Modern Competitive Scenarios depicts how business models contribute to strategic competition in this new era of technological and social changes as well as how they are conceptualized, studied, designed, implemented, and in the end, how they can be improved. Featuring research on topics such as creating shared value, global scenarios, and organizational intelligence, this book provides pivotal information for scientific researchers, business decision makers, strategic planners, consultants, managers, and academicians.

Assessing vendors is a tricky process. Large and regulated organizations are forced to demonstrate due diligence in vendor assessment, but often do not know how to do this. This results in a great deal of busywork being required by both the vendors and the organizations. Smaller organizations don't know what to look for and, as a result, often wind up selecting based on price instead of value. This results in service failures and vendors that just milk their customers for as long as they can. "

Assessing Vendors "shows you how to walk the line between under- and over-assessing, so decisions can be made on sufficient data without wasting time, digging too deeply, or making decisions too quickly. This hands-on guide will show you how to use an iterative approach to vendor analysis, so you can rapidly filter out the vendors that are clear failures and then select likely winners. It will then show you how to do progressively deeper dives into the likely winners so you can select a preferred vendor. Finally, you will learn how to negotiate with your preferred vendor to get reasonable prices and services. Provides an iterative approach to vendor assessment, showing you how to make decisions on sufficient data without wasting time Includes checklists to help you navigate the decision-making process, while considering all the important factors needed to make a sound decision Helps you understand and evaluate vendors based on key concepts such as performance criteria, functional testing, production, and price
Provides an iterative approach to vendor assessment, showing you how to make decisions on sufficient data without wasting time Includes checklists to help you navigate the decision-making process, while considering all the important factors needed to make a sound decision Helps you understand and evaluate vendors based on key concepts such as performance criteria, functional testing, production, and price

In Interop , technology experts John Palfrey and Urs Gasser explore the immense importance of interoperability,the standardization and integration of technology,and show how this simple principle will hold the key to our success in the coming decades and beyond. The practice of standardization has been facilitating innovation and economic growth for centuries. The standardization of the railroad gauge revolutionized the flow of commodities, the standardization of money revolutionized debt markets and simplified trade, and the standardization of credit networks has allowed for the purchase of goods using money deposited in a bank half a world away. These advancements did not eradicate the different systems they affected instead, each system has been transformed so that it can interoperate with systems all over the world, while still preserving local diversity. As Palfrey and Gasser show, interoperability is a critical aspect of any successful system,and now it is more important than ever. Today we are confronted with challenges that affect us on a global scale: the financial crisis, the quest for sustainable energy, and the need to reform health care systems and improve global disaster response systems. The successful flow of information across systems is crucial if we are to solve these problems, but we must also learn to manage the vast degree of interconnection inherent in each system involved. Interoperability offers a number of solutions to these global challenges, but Palfrey and Gasser also consider its potential negative effects, especially with respect to privacy, security, and co-dependence of states indeed, interoperability has already sparked debates about document data formats, digital music, and how to create successful yet safe cloud computing. Interop demonstrates that, in order to get the most out of interoperability while minimizing its risks, we will need to fundamentally revisit our understanding of how it works, and how it can allow for improvements in each of its constituent parts. In Interop , Palfrey and Gasser argue that there needs to be a nuanced, stable theory of interoperability,one that still generates efficiencies, but which also ensures a sustainable mode of interconnection. Pointing the way forward for the new information economy, Interop provides valuable insights into how technological integration and innovation can flourish in the twenty-first century.

The evaluation of IT and its business value are the subject of many academic and business discussions. Investments in IT are growing extensively, and business managers worry about the fact that the benefits might not be as high as expected. This phenomenon is often called the IT investment paradox or the IT Black Hole: large sums are invested in IT that seem to be swallowed by a large black hole without rendering many returns. How to measure the benefits of IT is the concern of this book titled Information Technology Evaluation Methods and Management. The different IT evaluation approaches and methods are discussed and illustrated with cases: traditional financial evaluations such as the return on investment, information economics and the recently introduced IT Balanced Scorecard. The latter approach is proposed as an ideal mechanism to support the IT/business alignment process and its related IT governance process.

Among some of the topics included in this book are: software measurement; ERP project evaluation; strategic electronic commerce evaluation.

The technological innovation of information technology is driving businesses and organizations to reassess their structures and processes to achieve a higher level of efficiency and effectiveness using IT. In this ongoing process, the wisdom and experiences of other organizations can be a roadmap to successful IT implementation. ""Cases on Information Technology and Business Process Reengineering"" presents a wide range of issues and challenges related to business process reengineering technologies and systems. This book gives practitioners, educators, and students an understanding of business process reengineering difficulties, and presents solutions discovered by organizations worldwide.

Managers and executives know the importance of integrating business strategy and IT strategy for competitive advantage. Via numerous real-world examples and anecdotes, this book investigates myriad issues regarding the application of business strategy and IT strategy. Specifically, it focuses on how business/IT alignment is assessed, the factors that aid or hinder its integration, a maturity assessment and way in which managers can implement strategic information systems within their firms using various constructs and models. Strategic Information Technology: Opportunities for Competitive Advantage provides managers with an understanding and appreciation for the development of business and information technologies strategies to yield competitive advantage.

The role of chief information officer (CIO) takes on many forms, and is contingent on many factors. Environmental factors such as size, industry, or organizational structure; senior managements interpretation of the value of information technology to the overall operation of the firm; and industry-based regulations, all contribute to the function of this role.Strategic Use of Information Technology for Global Organizations provides valuable insights into the role of CIOs, their necessary interaction with other parts of the organization and the external relationships with vendors and suppliers. Strategic Use of Information Technology for Global Organizations emphasizes the need for balance between management and technology in the role of CIO. It focuses on this role as not only an expert on information technology, but as a leader in the appropriate application of IT.

In the past, practical applications motivated the development of mathematical theories, which then became the subject of study in pure mathematics where abstract concepts are studied for their own sake. The activity of applied mathematics is thus intimately connected with research in pure mathematics, which is also referred to as theoretical mathematics. Theoretical and Applied Mathematics in International Business is an essential research publication that explores the importance and implications of applied and theoretical mathematics within international business, including areas such as finance, general management, sales and marketing, and supply chain management. Highlighting topics such as data mining, global economics, and general management, this publication is ideal for scholars, specialists, managers, corporate professionals, researchers, and academicians.

Savvy advice for developing the necessary skills to become a vital part of any management team

Today's IT leaders are faced with an unprecedented leadership and organizational challenge. The entire landscape has changed over the past few years and it is now time for leaders and organizations to re-invent themselves to meet the new order. IT leaders need to redefine their role into one of being a trusted business advisor. "IT Leadership Manual" provides you with a set of specific recommendations and suggestions to assist you in your self-evaluations and to develop a personal plan for the future. It helps you build the leader in you, as well as how to become a formidable competitor in your own right.Essential coverage of one of the most demanded IT topics Helps you redefine your role from IT leader into trusted business advisor Discusses leadership style, building out your network, achieving balance, the art of sales, and more Written for IT managers and executives Helps you transform from the backroom support service to a recognized member of the leadership team Gives you the tools to migrate to today's expectations; Innovation, collaboration, influencer, trusted advisor

Traditional skills no longer apply. Organizations are now demanding a new set of expectations from IT leaders. "IT Leadership Manual" reveals how you can adopt new styles to make the transformation from IT manager to top management.

The 1980s and 1990s saw a growing interest in research and practice in information systems design and development from a human-centred perspective. This is an interest that is accelerated by the increase in organizations in which the human resource provides the means to key competitive advantage. This work is a compilation of contributed chapters by researchers and practitioners addressing the relationships between human activity, organizational issues and technology.

Today's competitive business environment poses a wide range of challenges to successful quality, safety, and environmental management systems. While many organizations create their management systems based on the requirements of their respective areas, integrating management systems provides the most effective solution to the challenges these organizations face. Integrated Management Systems: Leading Strategies and Solutions assists readers in the successful integration of their safety, quality, and environmental management systems. Using examples taken from a wide and diverse range of business situations, authors Terri Andrews and Wayne Pardy weave together a management system roadmap that can be used by any HSEQ practitioner, from the beginner to the seasoned industry professional. This book explores the many different management system options currently available, examines the requirements of the various management systems, explains the differences and similarities in the various approaches to management systems, and suggests practices and tools to help managers implement an integrated approach in order to reduce redundancies, streamline processes, and optimize resources. It includes an in-depth analysis of corporate culture and behavioral factors that affect management systems, and it employs a wide range of practical examples that any safety, quality, and environmental management practitioner can relate to. This book benefits health, safety, environmental management, and quality management practitioners and professionals, especially those who design and implement systems for the successful management of their safety and environmental performance, and for quality management requirements, customer service, and customer satisfaction.

Financial markets are witnessing an unprecedented explosion in the availability of data, and the firms that survive will be able to leverage this information to increase their profit and expand their opportunities in a global world. Large firms must build their own datacenters to manage this data. In such an environment, the CIO s ability is crucial to lead an effective data strategy to capture, process, and connect data to all the relevant lines of business. At the core of this strategy lies the datacenter - the repository of all information. While there are books that discuss the mechanics, hardware and technicalities of datacenters, no book has yet made the connection between enterprise strategy and datacenter investment, design and management. Next Generation DataCenters in Financial Services is a solution driven book for management that demonstrates how to leverage technology to manage the seemingly infinite amount of data available today. Each chapter offers cutting-edge management and technology solutions to effectively manage data through datacenters.
Presents cutting-edge technology solutions not available in one place until now
Includes step-by-step instructions on how to implement a datacenter strategy based on the author s recent success with Wachovia s datacenter
Demonstrates how business and IT can be aligned in financial services"

Technology is constantly changing the way enterprises conduct business by optimizing current practices. As information technology continues to evolve and become a prevalent feature in day-to-day activities within organizations, it has become necessary to manage these technologies in order to meet the strategic objectives of an organization. Strategic IT Governance and Alignment in Business Settings investigates emergent research methodologies involving the application of information technology in organizations. Focusing on best practices, implementation issues, and empirical research within the field, this book is ideally suited for researchers, academics, students, and practitioners interested in the governance, strategy, architecture, and management of information systems.

Quality Management for IT Services: Perspectives on Business and Process Performance aims to reduce this knowledge gap and to encourage people to spend more time researching the numerous facets of this increasingly important aspect of commercial value adding. Featuring economic and social perspectives along with implementation and practical solutions, this book gives both scientists and practical experts an insight into the many different facets of IT service quality management.