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.

A discussion of technology and entrepreneurship. The papers are divided into three sections which focus on: the context of technological entrepreneurship; venture capital in technological entrepreneurship; and case studies in technological entrepreneurship - managing in turbulent environments.

We live in a three-dimensional world.  To design objects for everyday living, users must learn how to create in three dimensions.  For precise modern designs that must conform to specific tolerances, we use computers to create a digital model first, and then pass that model on to a machine, such as a CNC router or 3D printer for fabrication.          There are many software packages that are used to create digital models.  One such package that is popular for industrial, product, and graphic design and architecture is Rhinoceros 3D, or “Rhino.�  Grasshopper is a visual scripting platform for Rhino.  With it, the user can build precise, customizable Rhino objects by simply dragging boxes around the screen and connecting them with virtual “wires.�  No knowledge of programming is necessary!         This work provides an introduction to modeling objects with Grasshopper.  Through a series of examples and tutorials, readers will learn how to build complex objects by combining simple components.  Applications include both NURBS surface modeling and mesh manipulation techniques.       In Part I, Bachman offers a brief overview of scripting with Grasshopper, with simple examples used to introduce the reader to the most common Grasshopper components.  In Part II, more complicated Grasshopper scripts are presented, showcasing the variety of objects readers can create.  These examples were carefully chosen so that readers can see how the concepts from Part I can be put together to create increasingly complex designs.  Finally, Part III features a reference guide from Grasshopper’s own help files containing descriptions of some of the most common Grasshopper components. David Bachman is a Professor of Mathematics at Pitzer College (Claremont, CA).  His is the author of two previous works, Advanced Calculus Demystified, published by McGraw-Hill, and A Geometric Approach to Differential Forms, published by Birkhäuser, as well as more than 20 research articles.  Through his company, David Bachman Design, Inc., he regularly consults with an international clientele of artists and product designers.  In addition, Bachman’s own designs have been shown in a variety of galleries across the US.  � Part I: Learning Grasshopper—Chapter 1: Getting Started; Chapter 2: Lists; Chapter 3: Adding More Interactivity; Chapter 4: Curves and Surfaces; Chapter 5: Surface Transformations; Chapter 6: Advanced List Manipulation; Chapter 7: Meshes � Part II: Case Studies—Chapter 8: Seashells; Chapter 9: A Striped Torus; Chapter 10: A Randomly Faceted Cylinder; Chapter 11: Creating Custom Bevels � Part III: Component Reference: Params Tab; Maths Tab; Sets Tab; Vector Tab; Curve Tab; Surface Tab; Mesh Tab; Intersect Tab; Transform Tab; Display Tab.

This book presents contextualised and detailed research on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Global South. It examines the key challenges of these emerging and least industrialised countries while proffering holistic and comprehensive solutions. The book then explains how AI, as part of these broad interventions, can drive Global South economies to achieve inclusive development and shared prosperity. The book outlines how countries can swiftly prepare to adopt and develop AI across all sectors. It presents novel national, regional, and continental AI adoption, development, and implementation frameworks.

Features:

• Broad non-AI interventions and prescriptions to address Global South challenges
• A comprehensive but accessible introduction to AI concepts, technology, infrastructure, systems, and innovations such as AlphaFold, ChatGPT-4, and DeepSeek-R1
• An overview of AI-related technologies such as quantum computing, battery energy storage systems, 3D printing, nanotechnology, IoT, and blockchain
• How to prepare emerging economies to unlock the benefits of AI while mitigating the risks
• Discussion of specific AI applications in 11 critical Global South sectors
• Details of 11 sector case studies of AI adoption in the Global South and Global North
• Ten country case studies: Sharing emergent AI experiences in the Global South
• AI adoption framework: vision, strategy, policy, governance, legislation/regulation, and implementation matrix
• A framework for democratising and decolonising AI
• The value proposition for AI research, development, and ownership in the Global South
• A case for the participation of the Global South in the AI semiconductor industry

In almost all depictions of the future, one technology plays a prominent role - the robot. Science fiction movies and stories tell us that, in the not so distant future, robots - from Robbie the Robot to C3PO to the Terminator - will be everywhere, taking care of every human need. Those are projections of the future. But robots have a history as well, and The Robot: A Life Story of a Technology tells their story. During the Englightenment, "automata" were mechnical toys that could simulate human actions. Robots became essential parts of factories, performing tasks perfectly that would be either too dangerous or boring for humans. And recent advances in artificial intelligence have made robots that can behave with intelligence. The Robot covers all aspects of the history of robotics: BLThe mechanical toys in the Enlightenment, from mechanical timepieces and early computational devices, to music boxes and automated human-like figures designed to amuse royalty. BLThe use of automation in the Industrial Revolution, such as the Jacquard punch card loom and the famous "difference engine" of Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace, and the use of robotic arms in automation. How by the mid-20th century robots became the icon for the future, and became an important feature of the popular culture. BLCurrent trends in robotics, such as research into artificial intelligence and the creation of "friendly robots" that could make an impact in the marketplace. The volume includes a timeline of important events, a glossary of terms, and a bibliography of important primary and secondary sources that are useful for further research.

Public Information Technology: Policy and Management Issues constitutes a survey of many of the most important dimensions of managing information technology in the public sector. Written by noted academics and public administration practitioners, this book addresses general policy and administrative issues in this arena as well as the information technology skills needed by public managers.

Selected papers presented by leading professionals at a Mid-Year Conference of the American Society for Information Science, along with additional commentary by guest editors comprise this volume, which condenses a broad range of information into a cohesive overview of the state of the art of interface design. The current status of human-computer interaction is examined, and major trends identified in an effort to project the future significance of interfaces to information retrieval systems. The need to establish and implement standards for design involving the redefinition of tools and the reevaluation of information science theories and systems is central to the text, and the facts and data presented serve to initiate the development of these models.

This compilation explores the present and the future of interface design from a variety of perspectives. The volume introduction reviews the highlights of the conference proceedings and is followed by a concentration on six major topics ranging from interface style to case studies and standards. Each chapter touches on some aspect of those factors which impact user interface design, and end of chapter bibliographies facilitate further study. In a field which is rapidly evolving, this work furnishes computer system developers and library and information science researchers with new insight into the potential for innovative computer design.

In a world of relentless change and accelerating uncertainty, organizations must continuously adapt and evolve to compete in environments they never anticipated. This requires upfront design for adaptability, and closer business alignment of software systems and team structures. To succeed, organizations must integrate advanced techniques from business strategy, software architecture, and team organization. Now, independent technology consultant Susanne Kaiser introduces a powerful unified toolset you can use to design, build, and evolve adaptive software systems and teams that are optimized for ever-faster rates of change. Kaiser shows how to combine Wardley Maps, Domain-Driven Design (DDD), and Team Topologies to understand your problem domain more clearly, focus on your crucial core subdomain, and reflect the dynamics of your business landscape. Using these tools, you'll learn how to design evolvable services within an adaptive system, which is in turn owned by a team organization that optimizes for fast flow. Kaiser goes beyond Domain Driven Design's popular patterns to reveal how DDDenables strategic design for long-term business success. Her accessible explanations and practical examples show how to combine DDD with intuitive Wardley Maps and powerful Team Topologies to improve success across the full lifecycle: strategy, design, implementation, deployment, operation, and evolution. As she demystifies and demonstrates these tools, Kaiser answers the most important questions faced by project participants—from CxOs to architects to software developers.

Get ready to discover the amazing world of Roblox! We all know Roblox is full of exciting games and experiences, but do you know where to find your next favourite game? This book will reveal the top 100 Roblox games, so hold on tight and prepare for fun! Whether you’re a role-playing fanatic, obsessed with obbys or a total tycoon, the 100% Unofficial Roblox Top 100 brings you the best games across every genre – making it the ultimate guide for Roblox fans old and new! Discover all there is to know about the greatest games on the Roblox platform, from frantic first-person shooters, to epic role-playing quests. Learn tips and tricks to impress your friends, discover secrets hidden in your favourite games and unearth awesome new adventures to play together.

A unique, practical guide to the power of simulation in the art of logistics management. Authors show better ways to manage complex logistics systems than seat of the pants decision making, and argue that information systems people must provide management with simulations that are timely and easily understood. In doing so, Nersesian and Swartz demonstrate the inadequacy of conventional quantitative methods in dealing with complex logistical systems, and show how simulation can address various logistics management issues. Important reading for logistics managers and computer staffs and for educators seeking better ways to make logistical decisions.

In today's knowledge-driven economy, the ability to share insight and know-how is essential for driving innovation and growth. In this groundbreaking volume, scholars from around the world demonstrate how communication and information technologies are enabling dynamic project design and management practices that challenge traditional concepts of time, space and behavior. Showcasing experiments in architecture, engineering, and construction design--employing technological infrastructures that link people and their ideas across physical, intellectual, and cultural boundaries--the authors consider such issues as the links between "competence" and "innovation" and between individual and collective knowledge. At the heart of their analysis is the realization that technological innovation is chiefly a social activity. The implications are profound for the practical management of complex design projects, experiments in distance learning and virtual teams, and emerging theoretical concepts of collaborative learning and innovation.

A guide to security written for business executives to help them better lead security efforts. Enterprise Security for the Executive: Setting the Tone from the Top is designed to help business executives become familiar with security concepts and techniques to make sure they are able to manage and support the efforts of their security team. It is the first such work to define the leadership role for executives in any business's security apparatus. In Enterprise Security for the Executive, author Jennifer Bayuk, a highly regarded information security specialist and sought-after consultant and speaker, explains protocols and technologies at just the right level of depth for the busy executive—in their language, not the tech-speak of the security professional. Throughout, the book draws a number of fact-based scenarios to illustrate security management basics, including 30 security "horror stories," and other analogies and terminology not commonly shared outside of the security profession.