A new wave of entrepreneurs is leading a global paradigm shift towards values-driven business. This book empowers you to challenge the status quo and create value through its unique and adaptive approach to venture-building by design. Authored by a multidisciplinary team of practicing design strategists, business leaders, academics, and entrepreneurs, this hands-on guide models strategic design as a mindset for starting up: framing problems, applying methods, identifying opportunities, and creating pathways forward through futures and systems thinking. Carefully curated case studies of young impact-driven entrepreneurs along with resources, including action-based frameworks, diagrams, and templates for founders to replicate, and a reader's checklist to enable the transformation of daily practice (and a company), will open new dimensions that amplify the global shift towards a more regenerative world and a multiverse of possibilities. Are you ready to journey to places where ideas for products, services, and experiences transform how we live and work? Then this guide is for you: the Design-driven Entrepreneur.

This volume provides important benchmarks for the integration of entrepreneurship and international business. It extends scholarship beyond the firm as single unit of analysis, instead including the role of the founder/entrepreneur. Exploration of this domain discusses possibilities for theory revision or development as well as providing information about an under-researched segment of companies.

Most information systems textbooks overwhelm business students with overly technical information they may not need in their careers. Information Systems: What Every Business Student Needs to Know takes a new approach to the required information systems course for business majors. For each topic covered, the text highlights key "Take-Aways" that alert students to material they will need to remember during their careers. Sections titled "Where You Fit In" and "Why This Chapter Matters" explain how the topics being covered will impact students once they are on the job. Review questions, discussion questions, and summaries are also included in each chapter to reinforce learning. The book is presented in four parts: About Information Systems: covers general information systems concepts that students need to know as they learn about real-world information systems Technology Fundamentals: supplies a foundation in information technology that fills the gaps most students have when they learn through trial and error Information Systems at Work: details the nitty-gritty of how actual companies use information systems in the real word Managing Information Systems: addresses the issues involved in selecting, developing, and managing information systems The text includes a running case study that follows two management information systems majors in college. As the two main characters study the information systems of a medical practice, students follow along and learn valuable lessons as they see how the case plays out. In addition to the running case study, each chapter also includes two mini cases that illustrate the concepts discussed in that chapter. Maintaining a focus on the essential concepts students must know before entering the business world, this book covers the subject of information systems in a manner that students will find accessible.

This book offers a general theoretical framework for approaching innovation and entrepreneurship, using practical and up-to-date examples to demonstrate three different levels of innovation and entrepreneurship: the macro-level, which concerns the impact of innovation activity on economic growth and production systems; the meso-level, which concerns the relations between firms, research institutes and governmental bodies and their role in innovation activity; and the micro-level, which concerns the dynamics of innovations within firms and organisations. Providing a critical overview of existing research and demonstrating the importance of a transdisciplinary framework for studies of innovation and entrepreneurship, the author advances a general concept of 'collective entrepreneurship' that emphasises the social and collaborative nature of innovation and entrepreneurship, thus shedding light on processes of innovation and entrepreneurship as active practices of social construction. As such, it will appeal to scholars of economic sociology, political science, economic geography and economists, as well as those with interests in innovation policy.

This book starts with the basic premise that a service is comprised of the 3Ps-products, processes, and people. Moreover, these entities and their sub-entities interlink to support the services that end users require to run and support a business. This widens the scope of any availability design far beyond hardware and software. It also increases the potential for service failure for reasons beyond just hardware and software; the concept of logical outages. High Availability IT Services details the considerations for designing and running highly available "services" and not just the systems infrastructure that supports those services. Providing an overview of virtualization and cloud computing, it supplies a detailed look at availability, redundancy, fault tolerance, and security. It also stresses the importance of human factors. The book starts off by providing an availability primer and detailing the reasons why you need to be concerned with high availability. Next, it outlines the theory of reliability and availability and the elements of actual practices in this high availability (HA) area, including Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and Change Management. Examining what the major hardware and software vendors have to offer in the HA world, the book considers the ubiquitous world of clouds and virtualization as well as the availability considerations they present. The book examines high availability concepts and architectures such as reliability, availability, and serviceability (RAS); clusters; grids; and redundant arrays of independent disks (RAID) storage. It also covers the role of security in providing high availability, cluster offerings, emergent Linux clusters, online transaction processing (OLTP), and relational databases.

This new four-volume collection brings together the vast body of literature on Management Information Systems, focusing, in particular, on seminal works in the field and notable new developments. As such, the collection will be welcomed as a useful guide for MIS researchers, including PhD students and academics trying to obtain a better grasp of the field.

Increasingly in the public discourse there are references to the knowledge economy, knowledge society, knowledge workers and knowledge organisations. The argument is that knowledge is becoming the main economic resource, replacing the natural resources that drove the industrial revolution. The new knowledge economy is driven by knowledge development, innovation and highly skilled employees. Increasing investment in higher education and in universities is in line with this strategy and understanding. In an earlier book, Creating Collaborative Advantage edited with Richard Ennals, Professor Hans Christian Garmann Johnsen argued that it is knowledge that links social and economic processes. He believes that what is missing in the current discussion on innovation is a conceptualisation of exactly what knowledge is. In The New Natural Resource, he digs deeper into what it is and how it develops and subsequently leads to widespread change. The author argues that knowledge is inherently a social phenomenon. That is why social processes are closely linked to economic development, and why this relationship becomes even more apparent in the new knowledge economy. Knowledge is not an objective entity, established once and for all. Knowledge development is interrelated with values, norms, perceptions and interpretations. We need to know what the mechanisms are by which knowledge becomes legitimate, true and relevant.

Strategic alliances offer organisations an alternative to organic growth or acquisition when faced with the need to develop the business to a new level, innovate in terms of products or services or significantly reduce costs. The Strategic Alliance Handbook is a clear and complete guide to the nuts and bolts of the process behind successful collaborations. The book enables readers to understand the commercial, technical, strategic, cultural and operational logic behind any alliance and to establish an approach that is appropriate for the type of alliance they are seeking and the partner organisation(s) with whom they are working. Whether you are an alliance executive, responsible for the systems, strategy and performance of your organisation's alliancing programme or an alliance manager needing to ensure the success of a given partnership, The Strategic Alliance Handbook is an essential guide.

Based on a review of the literature and several in-depth case studies, this book suggests a strategy-as-practice framework for succession and explores leadership logic, trust and followership. This book takes the reader through the key stages and disciplines required for effective top-level succession. Corporations, growing entrepreneurial companies and family owners all must manage strong group dynamics and individual needs in a succession transition. This book includes a wide range of global client cases, including public sector organizations, corporations, entrepreneurial firms and family owners. Based on rigorous research and written in an accessible style with a focus on practical needs, readers will also be able to combine this analysis within disciplines of governance, leadership, strategy and organizational development. This book will be of interest to students at an advanced level, academics and reflective practitioners as well as executives at the top levels of businesses.

Open innovation, crowd sourcing, democratised innovation, vernacular design and brand fanaticism are amongst a handful of new approaches to design and innovation that have generated discussion and media coverage in recent years. In practice, these ideas are often inspiring propositions rather than providing pragmatic strategies. Open Design and Innovation develops the argument for a more nuanced acknowledgement and facilitation of 'non-professional' forms of creativity; drawing on lessons from commercial design practice; theoretical analysis and a wider understanding of innovation. Specifically this book examines: innovation and design, the reality and myth of mass creativity and the future of the design profession, through a series of case studies of new approaches to open design practices. The text draws on academic research, practical experience of the author in delivering open design projects and first hand interviews with leaders in the fields. The author challenges the notion of the designer as 'fountain-head' of innovation and, equally, the idea of 'user creativity' as a replacement for traditional design and innovation. The book offers a critique of the hype surrounding some of the emerging phenomena and a framework to help understand the emerging relationship between citizens and designers. It goes on to propose a roadmap for the development of the design profession, welcoming and facilitating new modes of design activity where designers facilitate creative collaborations.

Information technology (IT) use has generally been regarded as a positive phenomenon which always generates desirable outcomes. Recent years, however, have witnessed increasing negative consequences resulted from IT use. Emerging issues include individual users have experienced technostress from personal social media usage as well as IT use in the workplace; and organisations have experienced a loss in productivity and assets due to employees' non-compliance with information security policies.Themes explored throughout the book include: AI and its Implications for Organisations Augmented Reality Cognitive Absorption of Technology Information Technology in Organisations and Societies: Multidisciplinary Perspectives from AI to Technostress represents a collective effort that not only consolidates studies on key issues and phenomena concerning the positive and negative aspects of IT use but also prescribes future research avenues in related research domains. It is particularly relevant to academics and researchers working on IT use research and can be used as a handy reference guide by those working in the field.

When Innovation is considered one of the key drivers of corporate success, why do organisations struggle to implement it? Research suggests that innovations fail due to a lack of acceptance by employees; therefore an understanding of potential adopters and the factors influencing their decisions is essential. Despite much research on adoption of innovation by an organization, very little is known about its acceptance by individuals within it. Managing Innovation Adoption is about managing technological innovation implementation at work in an effective way by presenting a new theoretical framework. Based on the theory of reasoned action (TRA), the technology acceptance model (TAM) and other conceptual frameworks, Dr Talukder's enhanced model combines factors from existing and original models to create a coherent new model. The data collected proves that it can be used to assist a broader understanding of how people in an organization adopt and use innovations. As well as contributing to academic knowledge, the author's discoveries have practical implications for organizations, managers, administrators and employees.

Territorial Development and Action Research examines the role of action research within fields such as territorial development and innovation. Most researchers analyse these fields from the outside, developing a theoretical understanding of what should be done, but not of how to do it. Based on their own experience of territorial development processes from the inside out, James Karlsen and Miren Larrea argue that filling the gap regarding social relations in the innovation process makes it possible for researchers to engage in the processes taking place in the territory, thereby revealing how to make things work. This book will help researchers face the pressure to engage and play a useful role in the development of their host regions. It will help policy makers to continuously learn and redefine policy approaches and bring about collaboration through networks, programs and projects where researchers and practitioners in regional, local and urban development work together to construct territorial development. Readers will acquire a better understanding of micro-territorial development processes and the roles played by individuals and coalitions in endogenous development processes.

Germany's economic miracle is a widely-known phenomenon, and the world-leading, innovative products and services associated with German companies are something that others seek to imitate. In The 'Made in Germany'A' Champion Brands, Ugesh A. Joseph provides an extensively researched, insightful look at over 200 of Germany's best brands to see what they stand for, what has made them what they are today, and what might be transferable. The way Germany is branded as a nation carries across into the branding of its companies and services, particularly the global superstar brands - truly world-class in size, performance and reputation. Just as important are the medium-sized and small enterprises, known as the 'Mittelstand'. These innovative and successful enterprises from a wide range of industries and product / service categories are amongst the World market leaders in their own niche and play a huge part in making Germany what it is today. The book also focuses on German industrial entrepreneurship and a selection of innovative and emergent stars. All these companies are supported and encouraged by a sophisticated infrastructure of facilitators, influencers and enhancers - the research, industry, trade and standards organizations, the fairs and exhibitions and all the social and cultural factors that influence, enhance and add positive value to the country's image. Professionals or academics interested in business; entrepreneurship; branding and marketing; product or service development; international trade and business development policy, will find fascinating insights in this book; while those with an interest in Germany from emerging industrial economies will learn something of the secrets of German success.

The primary goal of Essentials of Business Statistics is to illustrate an accurate view of business statistics in a way that students can easily understand. This is achieved in the following ways: New statistical topics and tools are introduced by using continuing case studies. This approach helps to alleviate student anxiety in learning new concepts and enhances overall comprehension Streamlined and clarified coverage of graphical and numerical methods New graphically based procedures for finding confidence intervals and performing hypothesis tests Increased emphasis on Excel and MINITAB with improved and updated step-by-step instructions in the end of chapter material Connect Business Statistics homework management

Value aggregation to goods and services is unbelievably important to the balance of trade of modern nations, yet it receives minute attention by economists and policy-makers alike. In Competitiveness in the Real Economy, Rui Vinhas da Silva shows that the nature and dynamics of contemporary global competition requires a sharper focus on value aggregation. He provides a rounded, integrative and multi-disciplinary perspective linking national competitiveness, economics and management. The emphasis is on a transversal philosophy of value aggregation as a key driver of national competitiveness across sectors in the real economy and from production to the consumption of goods and services. The links between exports, inflows of foreign direct investment (FDI) and country competitiveness are examined along with the role of exports and the attraction of FDI inflows in building national GDP. The author emphasises that culture, the notion of being cosmopolitan and understanding aspirational and discriminatory consumers with high disposable income are key drivers of success in the global economy. Acknowledging that the complexity of problems comes from diversity of global actors, the author highlights the limitations of current economics in responding to contemporary challenges. His concern about the management sciences and management learning is that solutions do not lie in the formulation and prescription of universal laws, but are contextually-laden and derive from an informed intuition that is partly taught and partly experiential. The book addresses the implications of all this for how the management skills needed for competitive advantage might best be developed.

Current social, economic, and environmental challenges presented by the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals may be partially attained by digitalization and sustainable practices diffusion. The antecedents, occurrences, and consequences of this process are currently under investigation, but the big challenge is to get a systemic view. This book attempts to bring such a view into focus. Digital and Sustainable Transformations in a Post-COVID World is dedicated to studying the consequences of the global crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the new needs and practices inherent in developing and disseminating digital and clean technologies.

Ryall and Bramson's Inference and Intervention is the first textbook on causal modeling with Bayesian networks for business applications. In a world of resource scarcity, a decision about which business elements to control or change - as the authors put it, a managerial intervention - must precede any decision on how to control or change them, and understanding causality is crucial to making effective interventions. The authors cover the full spectrum of causal modeling techniques useful for the managerial role, whether for intervention, situational assessment, strategic decision-making, or forecasting. From the basic concepts and nomenclature of causal modeling to decision tree analysis, qualitative methods, and quantitative modeling tools, this book offers a toolbox for MBA students and business professionals to make successful decisions in a managerial setting.

The ERP implementation cycle is characterized by complexity, uncertainty and a long time-scale. It is about people and issues that affect the business - it is a multi-disciplinary effort. This book will provide you with the practical information you will need in relation to the many issues and events within the implementation cycle. After reading this book you will be fully equipped and alerted to what is involved in an ERP implementation.
ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) can be described as an Integrated Enterprise-wide Information System. As well as handling many of the transactions found within a business, it has the potential for meeting many of the information requirements of busy personnel. If used in the right hands, it may provide the business with a competitive edge.
However, an ERP application does not just "appear" and everyone starts "using it." A cycle of events can be identified.
Much can go wrong during implementation since there are many problems and issues to deal with. From the content of this book you will gain an understanding of what can go wrong - you will be prepared in advance, and will be equipped to take preventative steps to smooth the progress of the implementation.
This book:
- covers the multidisciplinary subject of ERP
- looks at a range of relevant topics including ERP market-place development, vendor selection, project management, process design and post GoLive improvements
- reveals a range of issues which an implementer should be alert to
- contains a wealth of detail about the ERP implementation cycle
- features a unique way of thinking about processes
- introduces the next generation of software application: ERPII
* Introduces, within a historical context, ERP and associated software applications (EDI, E-commerce, EIS/BI, SCP, CRM)
* Guides the reader, in a detailed and structured manner, through the complexity of the myriad of activities that characterise an ERP implementation
* Provides an insight into the next generation of applications: ERPII

Ryall and Bramson's Inference and Intervention is the first textbook on causal modeling with Bayesian networks for business applications. In a world of resource scarcity, a decision about which business elements to control or change - as the authors put it, a managerial intervention - must precede any decision on how to control or change them, and understanding causality is crucial to making effective interventions. The authors cover the full spectrum of causal modeling techniques useful for the managerial role, whether for intervention, situational assessment, strategic decision-making, or forecasting. From the basic concepts and nomenclature of causal modeling to decision tree analysis, qualitative methods, and quantitative modeling tools, this book offers a toolbox for MBA students and business professionals to make successful decisions in a managerial setting.

This comprehensive collection of 14 reissues covers a broad range of areas from across the field of Business and Management, including organisational strategy, management principle and practice, international business and data protection. With titles from some of the most well-renowned scholars and practitioners in the discipline, including Roger Mansfield, Walter Puckey, Sue Birley and Max Boisot, this bundle of seminal works provides a comprehensive and practical background for students of business and management as well as current and prospective managers.

The role of economic development in communities is multi-faceted, having an array of antecedents, impacts, and implications. This volume explores the relationships between economic development and community development, focusing on the aspects that impact communities such as social capital, participation, and business development. It discusses the need for aligning the goals of community betterment more closely with economic improvement and finding ways to enhance leadership and other resources. Including both current contributions and "classics," the evolution of the relationship between' and roles of, the two kinds of development is explored. The articles in the volume present several theoretical perspectives of development. Most common among them are sustainable economic development and social capital theories. Utilizing these theories and data from various sources, the authors are able to suggest specific development strategies for improving community economic and quality of life outcomes. The volume offers an exploration of directions for future research, including the need for more theoretical and empirical work on the role of amenity development on rural community economic and quality-of- life outcomes. Practitioners of community and economic development, along with researchers and students will find this volume useful and relevant for both theory and application. This book is a compilation of articles published in the Journal of the Community Development Society.

A classic text for accuracy and statistical precision. Statistics for Business and Economics enables readers to conduct serious analysis of applied problems rather than running simple "canned" applications. This text is also at a mathematically higher level than most business statistics texts and provides readers with the knowledge they need to become stronger analysts for future managerial positions. The eighth edition of this book has been revised and updated to provide readers with improved problem contexts for learning how statistical methods can improve their analysis and understanding of business and economics.

Where collaboration is needed and silo working creates barriers to achieving this, the cost to organisations can be very high: a lack of shared learning and innovation; unproductive conflict and stress; and significant financial costs due to programme failures. Collaborating for Results focuses on the human reasons for unproductive silo working in organisations, combining psychology with broader organisation development theory and practice. The central theme is that a visible agenda for building and maintaining working relationships across organisations is required by those seeking competitive advantage. It describes the contours of working relationships at three levels - individual, team and organisation - and proposes practical actions en route to collaboration and high performance. In doing so it acknowledges the complexity of people and relationships, the interrelationship of the three levels and explains the value of developing Open Teams at the heart of an integrated approach to business and organisational development. Organisation silos can feel like different countries, or even parallel worlds. Even in a single organisation, people in separate divisions or teams can talk a different language and have different work cultures that they each find difficult to understand and relate to. David Willcock's Collaborating for Results reframes organisation culture to bridge the divide, develop working relationships that save time and money and improve organisation performance.

We are living in the post-information age, the era of so-called 'Big Data'. It is a practical possibility for corporations to report, chart and analyse every action, transaction and click that happens inside and outside their business. In Decision Sourcing Roberts and Pakkiri examine what this means to organisational decision making. They explode the myth that good decisions need only be informed ones through an examination into how business really make choices. They lay bare the poverty of decision making processes in today's corporate world and offer fresh and fascinating insight into how social tools are providing new sources of information, how they are challenging hierarchy and how they are providing opportunities for growth and agility through aligned and inclusive decision making. This book is for those organisations that want to get beyond the corporate Facebook account and are ready for the next bold step. It is for those businesses that want to engage their workforce and their customers in collaborative relationships that are at the heart of the successful social enterprise.