From the First Edition:

"Continues the high quality of previously published volumes in the Sage series on qualitative research methods. . . . Useful and instructive. . . . David L. Morgan deals with a number of practical issues concerning the conduct of focus groups, such as the degree of moderator involvement and group size. . . . Provides ample illustrations . . . and thought-provoking advice for researchers and students."

--Contemporary Sociology

"David L. Morgan?s book is unique among current offerings on focus groups because it is directed at academic users of focus groups rather than practitioners. His account is also unique in its critical attitude toward contemporary market research applications of focus groups. . . . The book succeeds best at providing fuel for scholarly debates about what group interviews can and cannot contribute to research."

--Journal of Marketing Research

"Provides the reader with a very clear and practical overview of the focus group as a method for field research. . . . Well-written and informative. . . . Providing the history and methodological rationale for the method. . . . Attests to the benefits or strengths of focus group research on the basis of personal opinion and testimonial evidence."

--Personnel Psychology

Only a decade ago, focus groups were virtually unknown to social scientists. Now their use in academic as well as outside settings is vast and ever growing. David L. Morgan has extensively revised and updated his best-selling Focus Groups as Qualitative Research, providing an excellent guide for researchers in every discipline. He begins his comprehensive revision with an updated introduction that offers a discussion of current social science approaches to focus groups. Expanded coverage on the comparison of focus groups to individual interviews follows, as well as more on the strengths and weaknesses of focus groups (Chapter 2). Chapter 3?s section on self-contained focus groups has also been expanded to reflect the increased range of research being done in this area. The next chapter has been thoroughly reorganized both to provide an overview of what a typical set of groups looks like as well as new insights on research design. Similarly, Chapters 5 and 6 have been reorganized and broadened to include examples from social scientists who have established their own practices and methodological research on focus groups. This best-selling research guide concludes with future directions and references that take into account the explosive growth in focus groups as a research tool for all social scientists.

Reflecting the many changes that have occurred in the study of focus groups over the years, Focus Groups as Qualitative Research, Second Edition is for qualitative researchers in every academic discipline as well as those in nonacademic settings.

Gain a strong understanding of IT project management as you learn to apply today's most effective project management tools and techniques with the unique approach found in INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROJECT MANAGEMENT, 8E. This book emphasizes the latest developments and skills to help you prepare for the Project Management Professional (PMP) or Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) exams. While this edition reflect content from the latest the PMBOK (R) Guide, it goes well beyond the Guide to provide a meaningful context for project management. Hundreds of timely examples highlight IT projects, while quick quizzes, discussion questions, exercises, and ongoing cases reinforce your learning. Time-saving template files assist in completing tasks. Examples from familiar companies featured in today's news, an Agile case, MindView software, and a guide to using Microsoft Project 2013 help you master IT project management skills that are marketable around the globe.

Major, ongoing change is the distinguishing characteristic of the business environment worldwide and it affects how contemporary organisations operate and deal with change. Organisations still need to do more with less. In addition, they need to provide for the needs of customers who, with more exposure to local and global markets, have higher expectations relating to the cost, quality, speed and innovation of the services and products they purchase from these organisations.

Due to this global need for managing change, ‘new’ forms of organisation are replacing the ‘old’ traditional bureaucracy and presenting managers with unique challenges. Thus managers of contemporary organisations need to take a holistic view of the changes in their environments and need to apply a completely new set of skills.

The approach towards contemporary management principles offered in this publication integrates discussions on vital managerial competencies and skills with information on traditional and essential managerial concepts that have been effective in the past and are still effectively used today in many business organisations.

The emphasis is on the vital role of human resources in the success of an organisation and the need for modern managers to self-actualise and embrace the practice of life-long learning.

Information is at the heart of everything we do as humans. We generate it, we consume it, we share it and we sell it. The careful management of information is therefore key to success in business. An Introduction to information management and technology in business provides a solid overview of the role of information and technology in a business. It gives guidelines on collecting the right information and how to use it wisely and share it with the right people to support the firm's strategic objectives and `oil' the everyday operations of the business.

The development of Relationship Marketing (RM) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) has forced a change in thinking among marketers about the meaning of marketing and its role and function within an organisation. One such change is the way in which organisations relate to their customers. Organisations today need to adopt a more focused approach to interacting with customers while also developing clear strategies for building relationships not only with these customers but with all stakeholders.

Unlike any other MIS textbook franchise, our Baltzan texts (Business Driven Technology, Business Driven Information Systems and M: Information Systems) discuss various business initiatives first and how technology supports those initiatives second. The premise for this unique approach is that business initiatives should drive technology choices. Every discussion in these texts first addresses the business needs and then addresses the technology that supports those needs. Business Driven Technology 6e offers you the flexibility to customize your course according to your needs and the needs of your students by covering only essential concepts and topics in the five core units with 20 chapters, while providing additional in-depth coverage in the 20 business and the 12 technology plug-ins. Business Driven Technology 6e provides the ultimate flexibility in tailoring content to the exact needs of your MIS or IT course! Plug-ins are fully developed modules of text that include student learning outcomes, case studies, business vignettes, and end-of-chapter material such as key terms, individual and group questions and projects, and case study exercises. We realise that instructors today require the ability to cover a blended mix of topics in their courses. While some instructors like to focus on networks and infrastructure throughout their course, others choose to focus on ethics and security. Business Driven Technology was developed to easily adapt to your needs. Each chapter and plug-in is independent so you can: Cover any or all of the chapters as they suit your purpose. Cover any or all of the business plug-ins as they suit your purpose. Cover any or all of the technology plug-ins as they suit your purpose. Cover the plug-ins in any order you wish.

Prof Mike Pycraft and his team have adapted Operations Management in response to a demand from lecturers using the first Southern African edition.

Retaining its accessibility and carefully developed pedagogical approach, with its focus both on theory and practical application, the adaptation reflects operations management in Southern African enterprises as well as retaining a global perspective.

With businesses competing globally more than ever before, and with the increased use of social media for marketing, companies are realising that they need to do more to add value to their products and services, and to enhance and manage the customer experience. In order to meet the expectations of today’s demanding and changing consumer, marketers and students of marketing alike need to be aware of the latest trends in marketing methods and technologies and how to use them to attract and keep customers.

With a user-friendly layout highlighting definitions, examples, case studies and websites, this third edition of Marketing Management: A South African Perspective gives undergraduate students a comprehensive understanding of marketing – at a practical and academic level.

Contributions from leaders in the field of marketing in South Africa and from academics at leading universities, locally and internationally, will ensure that this edition becomes as highly regarded as its predecessors.

"Marketers know that they must use metrics. The key--which this book addresses superbly--is which metrics to use and how to use them."

Erv Shames, Chairman, Western Connecticut Health Network; former President and CEO of Borden, Inc. and Stride Rite Corporation

“50+ metrics crackles like new money…this is the best marketing book of the year.”

Updated version of Strategy + Business “2006 Best Books in Marketing award winner”

WHAT TO MEASURE AND HOW TO MEASURE IT TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR MARKETING

As the old adage goes, “If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.” Key Marketing Metrics is the definitive guide to today’s most valuable marketing metrics to measure the results of your marketing. In this thoroughly updated and significantly expanded book, you will understand the pros, the cons and the nuances of more than 50 of the most important metrics and know exactly how to choose the right metrics for every challenge.

Key Marketing Metrics gives you a portfolio, or "dashboard", of the most valuable metrics for your business to maximise the return on your marketing investment and identify the best new opportunities for profit. Discover high-value metrics for every facet of marketing: promotional strategy, advertising, and distribution; customer perceptions; market share; competitors’ power; margins and pricing; products and portfolios; customer profitability; sales forces and channels; and more.

This edition includes the latest web, online, social, and email metrics, plus new insights into measuring marketing ROI and brand equity, as well as practical advice for managing complex issues such as advertising elasticity and “double jeopardy.”

The first edition, the Business Governance Handbook has changed its title to the Corporate Governance Handbook, reflecting the fundamental importance of good governance by corporations.

Corporate Governance Handbook aligns the interests of the shareholders, directors and managers with the best interest of the company. The objective is to achieve a balance of power between shareholders who wish to optimise their shareholder value and directors who wish to optimise their rewards and incentives.< Corporate governance is presented holistically perspective, with the board of directors playing a central and pivotal role. To do so, the board has to "govern and direct" in the best interest of the company. Corporate Governance Handbook sets out all the fundamentals of good corporate governance against the background of new corporate legislation and regulations (Companies Amendment Act of 2011) and codes of conduct such as King III.

Key Features:

• Provides all guidelines for companies to develop their own governance best practices
• A CD containing valuable information referenced in the text
• A glossary at the end of the book explains governance concepts and terms
• New topics in corporate governance, such as the role of the independent non-executive director, and the enhanced role of an internal auditor
• Case studies are integrated within the text to provide real examples

A successful and competent administrative manager is integral to anyprofitable and efficient organisation or office. Administrative Management has been written specifically for people working in the field of administrative management, as well as those studying Administrative Management at higher education institutions.

The content is specific to the South African market, and it is the only local textbook on this topic. This fourth edition of Administrative Management contains new examples and updated data, and discusses the latest trends in this subject.

Contents Include:

• The role of administrative management within an organisation
• Information systems, office systems and the management of information
• Written and electronic communication
• Meetings and meeting procedures
• Office layout, environment, equipment and furniture
• The virtual workplace
• Office procedures, workflow and productivity
• Planning, organising, leading, control and problem-solving
• Managing cultural diversity
• Business ethics
• Risk management and loss control

This book provides aspirant administrative managers with a good foundation, and offers practising managers the insight that will enable them to manage the administration needs of an organisation more timeously and efficiently, making them invaluable to that organisation.

People and their effective management are key to sustainable organisations. The authors of Human resource management, now in its fourth edition, combine their respective experience from both academia and the workplace to provide a balanced and useful book that covers the key principles for the effective management of people. The book has a sound theoretical base, which includes a wide range of topics from areas such as the human resource management function, strategic human resource management, organisational behaviour, leadership, labour legislation and labour relations. Furthermore, there are self-awareness exercises to assist readers in applying theory to their own insight. For those wanting to test their knowledge, each chapter contains multiple-choice questions. The five case studies at the end of the book create a further opportunity for readers to develop their ability to practically manage people. As with previous editions, the book has been written and designed in a user-friendly style and format and it available with a slideshow for each chapter.

Focus on management principles: A generic approach presents management principles needed in the workplace today, to ensure the sustainability of an organisation. The following topics are discussed: How management theory has evolved and the environment in which management operates; The tasks of management; Leadership, teamwork and interpersonal skills; Organisational culture, diversity management, business ethics, corporate social responsibility, organisational politics, change management and HIV/Aids in the workplace.

This book provides you with the perfect introduction to your studies in peace and conflict resolution and equips you with the tools you need to analyse real-world cases. Drawing on recent research and examples from around the world, the new edition: Explores the ongoing situation in Syria and the events and repercussions of the Arab Spring Examines the issue of internet security and the relationship between social media and peace Draws on the cases of Libya and Syria to discuss the principle of Responsibility to Protect (R2P) Outlines the functions of key regional and Non-Governmental organisations Includes a companion website with annotated further reading lists, and links to free SAGE journal articles, reports and data sets This is an essential text for all students, lecturers and researchers of peace and conflict resolution in international relations, global politics and political science.

Being a successful entrepreneur in the 21st century involves more than enthusiasm and a good eye for a new opportunity. A thorough understanding of the essential business functions, as explained in the third edition of Business Management for Entrepreneurs, is a prerequisite for entrepreneurs who want to take their business through the next growth stage.

The book guides the entrepreneur in managing the eight business functions: general management, finance, marketing, operations management, purchasing and the supply chain, human resources, information management and public relations. These management and managerial skills are essential to successfully manage a business that employs more people than when it was initially established.

This edition contains updated information and new examples on all the business functions relevant to entrepreneurs. Business Management for Entrepreneurs (third edition) is an invaluable resource for students studying entrepreneurship and all young entrepreneurs who plan to start their own business, or entrepreneurs who have their own business but want to learn more about managing the business functions as the business grows.

In the past, the natural environment and business were often seen as competing interests. Now, world leaders recognise that the future depends on a new approach to business, operating in harmony with the environment.

In Environmental Management – A Business Management Approach, the vital connection between environmental management and business sustainability is clearly outlined. The book gives students and practitioners insight into the impact business and lifestyle decisions have on the natural environment, and how this in turn affects the long-term sustainability of business.

It also gives an overview of key environmental principles and the need to balance these with business activities.

For undergraduate and graduate Management Information Systems courses. An in-depth exploration of how businesses successfully manage information In its Fourteenth Edition, Management Information Systems: Managing the Digital Firm continues to define courses in Management Information Systems. Designed for business school students, the text provides insight into how today's businesses leverage information technologies and systems to achieve corporate objectives. Providing comprehensive and integrative coverage of essential new technologies and information system applications, as well their impact on business models and managerial decision-making, Management Information Systems increases student engagement and enhances learning through vivid examples. In this new edition, students will find the most up-to-date, relevant information about information systems used by today's businesses-capturing students' attention no matter their industry or vertical of interest. With the help of this text, students will build skills sought after in today's workplace. Later on, they will be able to understand, participate in, and eventually lead management discussions and drive decisions about their firm's information systems. Personalize Learning with MyMISLab MyMISLab is an online homework, tutorial, and assessment product designed to personalize learning and improve results. With a wide range of interactive, engaging, and assignable activities, students are encouraged to actively learn and retain tough course concepts.

Basics of entrepreneurship is a theoretical as well as practical guide to how to develop business ideas to establish an enterprise. Drawing on their personal experience as entrepreneurs, business advisors and subject specialists, the authors aim to: Provide a comprehensive introduction to the world of business and its most important role-player - the entrepreneur, explain basic business concepts to ensure understanding of the business environment and business in general, illustrate what successful entrepreneurs do and what contributes to successful entrepreneurship, demonstrate the steps in the entrepreneurial process - the feasibility study, the viability assessment and the development of a business plan. The most important and essential business management functions relevant to a start-up and new business are addressed in this book. These include: marketing, finance, operations, human resources and purchasing. The authors use an accessible approach to guide readers to be positive yet critical, creative yet practical in their search for business ideas, and ultimately to research business ideas thoroughly to ensure profitability.

The aim of this book is to equip any person working in an office environment with the basic knowledge, skills and attitudes to communicate effectively in the administrative and office environment. Communication is the basis of all relationships. All business matters depend on the exchange of information, and the success of the organisation's performance depends on the effective exchange of this information.

Appropriate for courses in Knowledge Management. Thoroughly revised to reflect today's latest tools, technologies, and best practices, this hands-on guide walks students through the development of a state-of-the-art enterprise Knowledge Management Platform that can leverage a company's existing investments in intranets, data warehousing, data mining, groupware, and other technologies. It offers a complete roadmap for building KM systems incrementally-with each step delivering new business value, and seamlessly building on the work that preceded it. Students gain hands-on experience by through their own KM projects.

The fifth edition of South African human resource management meets the ever-growing demand for an HRM compendium specific to South Africa. Written by South Africans, for South Africans, the book emphasizes the need to contextualise HRM locally and within the wider African context. The book offers value to anyone involved and/or potentially interested in the management of human resources on the African continent and demonstrates why HRM is at the core of the sustainable development challenges we face.

Introduction to Business Management 11e offers an overview of business management within the South African context. The textbook is written for undergraduate students who are doing a course in introductory business management as part of their degree or diploma at a university or university of technology.

Features:

• Using features such as Small Business Perspectives, and Critical Thinking boxes, the new edition of Introduction to Business Management provides an accessible overview of business management in the South African context.
• Changes to legislation that impacts on business
• Updates on corporate social investment
• New examples and case studies that reflect changes to the business environment