This unique guide details a revolutionary approach to lean systems. Whereas traditional lean techniques suffer from less-than-inspiring results, Quantum Lean (QL) rethinks this subject and provides an overdue remedy. The key to this breakthrough is that QL approaches lean systems from an entirely different perspective than conventional methods. Instead of focusing on resource utilization, QL centers on achieving efficiency from the standpoint of a company's product. The benefits from this simple departure are vast and wide-ranging. In terms of speed, effectiveness, and sustainability, QL offers a superior process for transforming an enterprise and gives practitioners a way to avoid the shortcomings that are commonplace in conventional lean. In addition to being geared toward lean practitioners and consultants, the book is also useful for the C-suite, managers, supervisors, technical staff, and rank-and-file employees. It is intended for those who work in all economic sectors, including services, manufacturing, and government. Key Features: provides easy-to-understand QL analysis techniques that are much simpler than standard lean methods and offer uncomplicated rules of thumb for determining priorities and improvement targets; details a win/win/win scenario for customers, employees, and shareholders that focuses on a company's product, avoids conflicting objectives, and enables every stakeholder to benefit, and more.

The growing diversity of contemporary paid work has provoked increased interest in understanding and evaluating the quality of working lives. This Handbook provides critical reflections on recent research in the field, including examining the inextricable links between working life and well-being. The Handbook offers comprehensive support to researchers working in quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods traditions. Drawing from an international evidence base, the contributors use examples of research into key contemporary issues such as the gendered nature of work, skills mismatch, job insecurity, work-life balance, flexibility, the gig economy and the physical work environment. Chapters explore how research methods have been used to investigate aspects of both paid and unpaid work, raising further questions and highlighting limitations. The Handbook of Research Methods on the Quality of Working Lives is an essential resource for all those involved in areas that study, or touch on, the quality of working lives which will benefit both new and experienced researchers inside and outside academia and across disciplines such as economics, human resource management, psychology and social policy.

"Read even the first chapter of this extraordinary book and you'll find yourself cheering, screaming, jumping up and down with excitement. The companies described in this book are decades ahead of the reengineers -- and you don't need to be a Bill Gates or a Jack Welch to put their ideas into practice today." -- George Gendron, editor in chief, Inc.

"Companies that practice open-book management seem to have captured some sort of lightning in a bottle." -- Chris Lee, Training

"This book should be required reading in corporate America." -- Chicago Tribune

"If you want to give your preconceived notions a good kick in the you-know-where, give Case the opportunity to articulate the merits of open-book management." -- Entrepreneur

Open-book management is not so much a technique as a way of thinking, a process that actively involves employees in the financial life of the company. Numerous companies have already found that employees who are informed and aware of the company's financial situation are motivated to seek solutions to problems and assume a greater degree of responsibility for its performance. John Case begins by examining the current competitive climate and the history of established management techniques. He shows how the traditional treatment of workers as "hired hands" with little involvement or responsibility beyond their own area is no longer effective in today's ever more competitive global environment.

Case clearly and carefully explains the principles of open-book management: timely sharing of crucial financial information with employees; educating the employees to understand and apply the information; empowering employees to apply the information to their own work; and offering employees a stake in the successful implementation of their ideas. Open-book management will take different forms at every company, Case notes, but he offers a wide range of suggestions and guidelines for implementing these principles. He concludes with a series of in-depth case studies, featuring companies of various sizes and financial situations that have successfully implemented open-book management. Open-Book Management is the indispensable guide to teaching employees how to think and act like owners.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and knowledge management can create innovative digital solutions and business opportunities in Asia from circular and green economies to technological disruption, innovation, and smart cities. It is essential to understand the impact and importance of AI and knowledge management within the digital economy for future development and for fostering the best practices within 21st century businesses. The Handbook of Research on Artificial Intelligence and Knowledge Management in Asia's Digital Economy offers conceptual frameworks, empirical studies, and case studies that help to understand the latest developments in artificial intelligence and knowledge management, as well as its potential for digital transformation and business opportunities in Asia. Covering topics such as augmented reality. Convolutional neural networks, and digital transformation, this major reference work generates enriching debate on the challenges and opportunities for economic growth and inclusion in the region among business executives and leaders, IT managers, policymakers, government officials, students and educators of higher education, researchers, and academicians.

A broad introduction to operations, reinforced with extensive practice problems Operations Management: Sustainability and Supply Chain Management presents a broad introduction to the field of operations in a realistic and practical manner, while offering the largest and most diverse collection of issues on the market. Solved problems and worked examples found in the 13th Edition provide ample support -- to help readers better understand concepts important to today's operations management professionals.

Gain a comprehensive insight into the ideas and approaches to purchasing and procurement Now in its 12th edition, Procurement Principles and Management in the Digital Age by Baily, Farmer, Crocker and Jessop has been essential reading for practitioners and students of purchasing, procurement and supply chain management for nearly 50 years. The text has been updated to cover the continuous developments taking place in this field, and carefully balances emerging philosophies with proven and established thinking and practice in the profession. This new edition covers various existing and future concerns in procurement and supply chain such as digitalisation, sustainability and resilience. This ever-popular title offers: * relevant case studies and research boxes that explore the topics introduced in the chapter in detail * latest global examples of best practice in many key areas of purchasing and procurement * expanded treatment of key topics, including supplier diversity, supplier relationship management, sustainability, retail procurement and category management * additional material on Industry 4.0 elements such as e-procurement, Blockchain, the Internet of Things, Big Data, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), chatbots and analytics * post-Brexit implications on public sector procurement * long-term impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on procurement and supply chain * increased focus on social value strategies and approaches, contract management, procurement of consultancy and supply chain resilience approaches. About the authors: Peter Baily was Senior Lecturer at the Polytechnic of Wales and chief examiner for Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS). David Farmer was Professor of Management Studies at Henley Management College. Barry Crocker is former Senior Lecturer at Salford University and former assistant examiner for CIPS. David Jessop is Emeritus Professor at University of South Wales and a Fellow of the CIPS. Pearson, the world's learning company

Although the transition between the first three industrial revolutions took more than a century, Industry 4.0 is progressing quickly. The emergence of digitalization has been rapid thanks to the development of cutting-edge technologies. Though we are witnessing this rapid technological decentralization and interconnectivity at present, organizations and researchers are already discussing Industry 5.0 where full integration of the human side of business and intelligent systems is expected. In this scenario, it is essential to look forward to such strategic workplaces that allow a combination of humans and technology to assure a high degree of automation merged with the cognitive skills of business leaders. Managing Technology Integration for Human Resources in Industry 5.0 provides insights into the impact of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 on human resources. It provides insights for both industry and academia to assist them in teaching and training the next generation leaders through universities and corporate training. Covering topics such as business performance, human technology integration, and digitalization, this premier reference source is an essential resource for human resource managers, IT managers, organizational executives and leaders, entrepreneurs, students and educators of higher education, librarians, researchers, and academicians.