The technological age has seen a range of catastrophic and preventable failures, often as a result of decisions that did not appropriately consider safety as a factor in design and engineering. Through more than a dozen practical examples from the author 's experience in nuclear power, aerospace, and other potentially hazardous facilities, Choosing Safety is the first book to bring together probabilistic risk assessment and decision analysis using real case studies. For managers, project leaders, engineers, scientists, and interested students, Michael V. Frank focuses on methods for making logical decisions about complex engineered systems and products in which safety is a key factor in design - and where failure can cause great harm, injury, or death.

Modern organizations must constantly adapt to survive in today's rapidly changing environment. A stagnant organization that cannot innovate to meet evolving conditions will eventually find itself no longer competitive in an increasingly complex and technologically sophisticated economy. Innovation and Knowledge Management focuses on three issues critical to success: knowledge management, innovation, and consortia. The author examines the interplay of these factors during a critical four-year period in the operation of the Cancer Information Service (CIS) - a knowledge management organization charged with delivering up-to-date, authoritative information to the public. The forerunner of many other knowledge delivery organizations, CIS was under pressure not only to distribute knowledge but to generate it. A consortium was formed between practitioners within CIS and researchers outside it to explore various innovative intervention strategies. The intersection of knowledge management, innovation and consortial arrangements at CIS provides a unique opportunity to examine no less than the future of organizations. This distinctive study will be of great interest to scholars, students, practitioners and policymakers in the fields of health, communications, knowledge management, information science and management.

This book examines the field of behavioral economics and provides insights into the following questions:The book looks at decision making and behavior from the point of view of (i) individual behavior and choice; (ii) group and interactive choice; and (iii) collective choices and decision making. In particular, it covers the following aspects: instances when bounded rationality leads to decisions inconsistent with standard economic assumptions; risk and the processes by which investors and consumers make decisions; altruistic and cooperative behavior as alternatives to competition; game theory as a way to explore motives of cooperation versus competition; the determinants of happiness and the relationship between utility and well-being; the concept of social capital, including motivations for charity and being a responsible citizen; how trust and fairness relate to economic actions and the motivation to cooperate rather than compete; behavior such as crime, corruption and bribery from ethical, social and economic viewpoints; and, finally, the decision making process of collective choice and how societies develop rules for governing themselves.This is the first book to bridge economics, psychology, sociology and political sciences and explain the nuanced subtleties of decision making.

This is a book about traders in financial markets: what they do, the kind of people they are, how they perceive the world they inhabit, how they make decisions and take risks. This is also a book about how traders are managed-the best and the worst examples-and about the institutions they inhabit: firms, markets, cultures and theories of how the world works. How these institutions function, how traders are managed, and how traders view the world, all have profound effects on the wider financial environment. This book explores these relationships and their implications theoretically and empirically. The data discussed in this book on a three-year project researching the psychological and social influences on the behavior and performance of traders in investment banks. One hundred and eighteen traders and managers in four leading organizations participated. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews supplemented by questionnaries, measures of personality, risk propensity and a novel computer based measure designed to assess illusion of control and other cognitive biases. The authors' approach to writing this book is explicitly interdisciplinary. hey draw on sociology, psychology and econics in order to illuminate the work of traders and the world they inhabit. The book is a significant contribution to the growing body of research and literature suggesting that if we are to effectively understand financial markets and the actors who inhabit them, the insights of neo-classical financial economics need supplementing with a broader range of social science approaches. The book will be of value to researchers interested in the functioning of financial institutions and markets, to those with an interest in market regulation and to practitioners wishing to benefit from an analytical perspective on the challenges facing traders and their managers.

As organizations have grown in scale and scope of activities, so have social pressures on every aspect of organizational activity from personnel policies to waste disposal practices. This volume is a rare example of a multidisciplinary approach to an important theoretical problem--the proper means of interorganizational decision making in light of these new pressures. This complex subject is here attacked by nineteen prominent behavioral scientists from a variety of disciplines.

The study of interorganizational decision-making is aimed at moving game situations from conditions of conflict or mixed conflict-cooperation to conditions of pure cooperation. It seeks means of facilitating the coordination of decisions whenever interdependencies exist between the decision units. The book discusses variables, which may affect decision making, including awareness of individual and collective payoffs, choice of an organizational structure, response of boundary personnel, and the decision technology that exists to guide the decision makers.

The book contains studies on all interorganizational decision making situations, including individual and joint decisions, those at the interface of government and business, and decision making at the international level. Contributions are balanced between quantitative building approaches and practical empirical applications, suggesting avenues for both theoretical and practical work in this new field. The book will be of profound interest to all behavioral and management scientists.

"Matthew F. Tuite" is associate professor emeritus of Managerial Economics and Decision Sciences at the Kellogg School of Management.

"Roger K. Chisholm" is professor emeritus of finance / economics at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock. He is coauthor of "Forecasting Methods" and has prepared reports on Indian land cessions for the Indiana Claims Commission.

"Michael Radnor" is professor of management and organizations at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. He held the position of chair in this department from 1968-1975. He has had professional experience in business in the United States and abroad. The coauthor of "Management Sciences in Government," he has contributed widely to professional journals.

Knowledge acquisition and organisation are central to the operation and marketing of many service-providing organisations. These requirements motivate the organisations' structure, their relationships to other organisations, the location of their operations and their entry into new markets. Because the nature of knowledge requirements varies by service sector, as do the organisations' structure and location, studies are necessary to explore the nature of these contingent relationships. An international and interdisciplinary team of leading academics examines the special attributes of knowledge acquisition and diffusion within and across organisations, and the consequent roles that these structurally important firms and institutions play in regional economic development.

Trust is an important factor in risk management, affecting judgements of risk and benefit, technology acceptance and other forms of cooperation. In this book the world's leading risk researchers explore all aspects of trust as it relates to risk management and communication. Drawing on a wide variety of disciplinary approaches and empirical case studies (on topics such as mobile phone technology, well-known food accidents and crises, wetland management, smallpox vaccination, cooperative risk management of US forests and the disposal of the Brent Spar oil drilling platform), this is the most thorough and up-to-date examination of trust in all its forms and complexities. The book integrates diverse research traditions and provides new insights into the phenomenon of trust. Factors that lead to the establishment and erosion of trust are identified. Insightful analyses are provided for researchers and students of environmental and social science and professionals engaged in risk management and communication in both public and private sectors. Related titles The Tolerability of Risk (2007) 978-1-84407-398-6

This book demonstrates how Problem Solving and Process Management is at the heart of continuous business transformation. Logically organized in four parts, it introduces the reader to the domains of change and the process management body of knowledge (BOK) and gives detailed instruction on how to creatively re-engineer processes, sustain innovation and continually improve an enterprise through proven repetitive methods. And unlike any book on the subject it offers a practical step-by-step approach that includes the steps, the templates, and the metrics to keep it on track. Features a tried and tested, practical 17-step "how to" Problem Solving and Process Management methodology that can be used in any business environment. Includes numerous figures and examples of charts and documents used at each step of the process. References standard forms, tools, and training materials in the Appendix. Addresses how to engage the people who are using, creating, and improving the management process. Explains the steps in creating a process management methodology and presents the process management body of knowledge without the "fad" or spin. Highlights the importance of good process management to corporate business transformation. Part I: Transforming the Business - Achieving a Culture of InnovationAn Introduction to Business Transformation-The Methodology & Philosophy The Phases of Business Transformation Explained - Laying the Foundation for Continuous Innovation The Organizational Approach to Business Transformation Part II: Analyzing the Status Quo - By Constantly QuestioningHow to Analyze the "As Is" Business Processes Research Customer Needs and ExpectationsSelect the IssueDefine/Design the ProcessEstablish Standards and Design Performance MeasuresImplement the Processes, Standards, Measures, and Quality SystemsConfirm the Process/Issue FocusSet the Improvement Objectives and Schedule Part III: Continuous Innovation - By Problem SolvingCreative Process ImprovementCause and Effect AnalysisGathering and Analyzing Root Cause DataSelecting the Root Cause to be AddressedFormulate Alternative SolutionsEvaluate and Select the Best SolutionDocument SolutionsInvestigate and Validate the SolutionClosing the Loop through Continuous Improvement Part IV: Engaging the People - Sustaining InnovationManaging Process Improvement Teams - Making it WorkSustaining Innovation with a Higher Purpose Appendices - Management Tools

This book presents 27 methods of the Multiple Attribute Decision Making (MADM), which are not discussed in the existing books, nor studied in details, using more applications. Nowadays, decision making is one of the most important and fundamental tasks of management as an organizational goal achievement that depends on its quality. Decision making includes the correct expression of objectives, determining different and possible solutions, evaluating their feasibility, assessing the consequences, and the results of implementing each solution, and finally, selecting and implementing the solution. Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) is sum of the decision making techniques. MCDM is divided into the Multiple Objective Decision Making (MODM) for designing the best solution and MADM for selecting the best alternative. Given that the applications of MADM are mostly more than MODM, wide various techniques have been developed for MADM by researchers over the last 60 years, and the current book introduces some of the other new MADM methods.

New Generation Whole-Life Costing presents an innovative approach to decision-making and risk management for construction and real estate. It applies the options-based approach that has revolutionized the management of uncertainty in the business world. Based on government-sponsored research at Cambridge Architectural Research Ltd., the book introduces the idea of 'lifecycle options'. The desirability of whole-life costing is widely accepted, but take-up levels have been low. One problem is that traditional techniques fail to take account of future uncertainty. In contrast, the new options-based approach considers a diversity of possible futures, and favours flexible strategies that incorporate lifecycle options. This approach leads to more cost-effective and sustainable decisions, minimizing the risk of under- or over-investment. This book is structured around realistic case studies that demonstrate the prevalence of lifecycle options. These case studies are backed up by clear presentation of basic principles and mathematical techniques allowing the book to be read either as a stimulating introduction to new concepts, or as a guide to mathematical methods.

Intellectual assets - including documents, designs, know-how, software, data, patents and trademarks - are critical to the delivery of innovative, and cost effective, products and services. Despite this many organizations seek to manage their intellectual assets using a range of bolt-on, stand-alone business processes, often divorced from the processes used to manage their services and products. Integrated Intellectual Asset Management explains how to take full advantage of your organization's intellectual assets by integrating their management in six key areas: c decision making systems c strategy c policy and accountabilities c knowledge management c people and behaviour c targets and metrics You can only hope to develop, protect, exploit, and realize the value of your key intellectual assets when you integrate the way you manage them into existing business processes and culture. Integrated Intellectual Asset Management guides you through this process.

The phenomenon of entrepreneurship has attracted researchers from a variety of disciplines and a diverse number of analytical approaches. Currently, there is a considerable amount of confusion and a variety of conflicting theories which are being used interchangeably and ambiguously.

In this important new book, the authors argue that there are analytically distinct forms of entrepreneurship, each of them having an individual logic of their own. They highlight the role of individual economic agents with endowments of new knowledge or new combinations of old knowledge as entrepreneurs, and thus identify them as dynamic factors in the knowledge economy.

Overall, this book not only provides a contemporary overview of current research in the field, but also summarizes the policy conclusions that can be drawn from current research.

An Innovative, Tool-Based Process for Creating More Rational, Creative, and Mutually Beneficial Deal Structures and Valuations

Real Options Analysis (ROA) and Monte Carlo Analysis (MCA) are two of today’s most significant tools in the valuation and negotiation of high-potential-value, high-ambiguity deals. Dealmaking Using Real Options and Monte Carlo Analysis outlines a new approach for creating flexible, practical valuation models by combining ROA and MCA into one innovative and proven successful process.

This results-based book takes you beyond uneven, rule-of-thumb negotiation tactics and strategies to discuss how you can:

• Accurately evaluate the potential costs of going forward with–or scuttling–a business project
• Ensure that both sides in every negotiation work from similar valuation terms and processes
• Develop and implement efficient strategies for bringing negotiations to closure

In preparing for any business negotiation, the goal is to identify opportunity and characterize risk; during the actual negotiation, the goal is to capture value while arriving at terms that are favorable to everyone. Dealmaking Using Real Options and Monte Carlo Analysis introduces a process for achieving both goals, by focusing on practical tools and procedures that take into account the full range of opportunities–and lead all sides to the identification and selection of optimal choices.

“The world needs organisations to do good whilst making profit. Powered by Purpose is a practical guide for leading an organisation that fulfils both of these needs.” Bill Winters, CEO, Standard Chartered Bank

“Compulsory reading for any leader searching for purpose and looking to authentically transform their organisation, people and planet for positive impact.” Esther Foreman, CEO, The Social Change Agency

Companies with an authentic purpose outperform the market by 42%, according to recent research. They deliver better financial performance, more employee engagement and greater competitive advantage.

In organisations around the world, the pressure is on. Whether this is increasing consumer expectations, widening inequality or the growing disillusionment with globalization, the need to stay viable is greater than ever. The lauded leadership styles that were finely adapted to our past reality will not carry us forward.

Powered by Purpose outlines the four core leadership capacities that you need to help you feel alive at work, lead an enthusiastic team and generate competitive advantage:

1. Cultivate Leadership Presence - how you can act in a way that others are inspired to follow

2. Make Dialogue Authentic - how to talk about what matters most including people’s long term wellbeing

3. Engage your Stakeholders - how to articulate your purpose in a way that engages and energises people

4. Connect on Purpose - how to embody purpose so that it becomes part of your corporate DNA and day-to-day decision making

Regulating risks in modern societies increasingly involves governments guiding and co-opting corporate risk management systems. This book examines the feasibility of this with reference to occupational health and safety on Britain's railways. It raises important questions about how workplace risks are managed and what influence the law can have in this. These issues are especially significant in the wake of major rail disasters and in the face of the increasing popularity of risk-based approaches to corporate governance.

Optimizing Digital Strategy explores the choices facing organizations in the rapidly changing world of technology-enabled business. From performance marketing through to personalization, on-demand retailing and AI, this book maps out commercial and customer-focused challenges and explains how leaders can get the most out of their digital strategies. Rather than rushing headlong into adopting the latest digital platforms, tools and technologies, the book challenges leaders to step back from the demands for constant investment in new technology and drive better returns from existing assets. Presenting a sustainable model of e-commerce that is appropriate to any individual organization's needs, Optimizing Digital Strategy addresses the repetitive dilemma between even more investment in technology and the need to improve margins and grow revenue. Illustrated by the authors' own digital work for global brands such as The Economist, Sky, O2, Regus, the Financial Times, Lidl and L.K.Bennett, this book shows how to balance the need to remain competitive, fully deliver customer expectations, and put resources behind investments that will deliver the best return.

Rooted in the study of chaos and complexity, Adaptive Action introduces a simple, common sense process that will guide you and your organization into reflective action. This elegant method prompts readers to engage with three deceptively simple questions: What? So what? Now what? The first leads to careful observation. The second invites you to thoughtfully consider options and implications. The third ignites effective action. Together, these questions and the tools that support them produce a dynamic and creative dance with uncertainty. The road-tested steps of adaptive action can be used to devise solutions and improve performance across multiple challenges, and they have proven to be scalable from individuals to work groups, from organizations to communities. In addition to laying out the adaptive action framework and clear protocols to support it, Glenda H. Eoyang and Royce J. Holladay introduce best practices from exemplary professionals who have used adaptive action to meet personal, professional, and political challenges in leadership, consulting, Alzheimer's treatment, evaluation, education reform, political advocacy, and cultural engagement-readying readers to employ this new toolkit to meet their own goals with a sense of ingenuity and flexibility.

With the right mindset and insight, anyone can become a millionaire. Are you tired of just paying bills until you die? Are you wasting your life at a job that doesn't make you fulfilled or financially secure? Then Future Proofing You: Twelve Truths for Creating Opportunity, Maximizing Wealth, and Controlling Your Destiny in an Uncertain World is for you. In this life-changing book, celebrated author and entrepreneur Jay Samit, who's worked with such visionaries as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Reid Hoffman, and hundreds of successful entrepreneurs, shares the key understandings and step-by-step process for becoming rich and never needing another job again. To prove the power of his 12 Truths, Samit also details the journey of how he mentored a broke millennial with these principles and empowered him to go from being on welfare to becoming a self-made millionaire in one year. Building upon the principles in his internationally acclaimed book Disrupt You, Samit explains: How to identify an idea and market to start your business How to build a virtual company with little or no capital The latest free software tools for managing your business Ways to get a piece of a trillion-dollar opportunity bigger than mobile How to harness the three primary fears of others to generate more sales Strategies for finding the right mentors to accelerate your success Techniques to structure any deal for creating recurring revenue and lasting wealth This book is perfect for anyone who is tired of jobs with no security, hopes to truly realize their professional and personal potential, and is looking for a way to build a better life for them and their family. Future Proofing You also belongs on the bookshelves of entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs everywhere who hope to inspire their teams to become something greater than what they already are.

Learn how to manage and leverage risk

Like all organizations in today’s volatile marketplace, nonprofits are under tremendous pressure to be more accountable for their operations, specifically to funders, donors, clients, and the public at large. Proper risk management can not only help nonprofits create a sound and transparent financial structure, but also exploit new development opportunities that may not otherwise be realized. Managing Risk in Nonprofit Organizations shows managers how to implement sound risk management procedures in every aspect of their organization.

The authors divide their guide into three sections–The Nature and Purposes of Risk Management, Recognizing the Context for Risk Management, and Risk Financing for Nonprofits. A large array of potential risks is covered, including:

• Human resource issues
• Fundraising
• Internet use
• Mergers
• Volunteer management

Senior level managers and executives at nonprofits, board members, and professional risk managers will find Managing Risk in Nonprofit Organizations to be an invaluable guide to this vital topic.

Originally published in 1981. Risk is a problem which all business decision makers have to cope with. The problem is not insurmountable, however, as there now exist well-established techniques for minimising risk and for calculating which of various available options is the optimal one to pursue. This book outlines and discusses these techniques and the theories behind them. Unlike many economic theories which only rarely have any practical applications, the techniques put forward in this book can be used by real businessmen to solve real business problems. The book concentrates on decision-making in two main areas: the allocation of a firm's resources and the selection of new investments; and the techniques and theories discussed fall into three broad groups: linear programming, decision theory and capital market theory. Intended as an advanced undergraduate textbook for students taking business economics or managerial economics courses, this valuable book will interest specialists and students involved in management studies, microeconomics, strategic planning, operational research, accounting and MBA programmes.

Originally published in 1972. Managers at all levels and management students may all expect to become involved increasingly in the development of computer-based information systems. This book, based upon practical training given to systems analysts, is designed to help managers achieve a route to successful implementation of computer systems, or to prepare them for involvement in computer projects.

As public and private sector organizations work more frequently in partnership, managing uncertainties, problems and controversies becomes increasingly difficult. Despite sophisticated technology and knowledge, the strategic networks and games required to solve uncertainties become more complex and more important than ever before.
Managing Uncertainties in Networks is a new text that examines developments in the area of network strategy. Differentiating itself from other policy network approaches which have a mainly research focus, this text has a managerial orientation presenting strategies and management recommendations for public and private sector organizations as well as the analytical tools required by practitioners seeking to support their own internal decision making and strategy formulation.
Topics covered include:
* Knowledge conflicts
* Uncertainties and governments
* Technological controversies
* Collaborative problem solving
* Managing networks
Tapping into the important and ever-growing area of risk and uncertainty management, this is a vital and long awaited staple for the arena written by two leading authors in the field. It will be key reading for students, scholars and policy makers seeking to understand the complexities of the network society.