The market for information technology products is rapidly changing from a manufactur er-driven market where new products were determined by the evolution of technology, to a user-driven market where users buy only products corresponding exactly to their needs and where competition is very strong. Confronted with this market situation, hardware and software producers are being obliged to adopt new strategies, and to make a large number of products available on the market in response to a variety of different needs. As a result of the multiplicity of choice available, the design of an office system which corresponds precisely to user needs is becoming an increasingly complex task. With exactly this in mind, the Commission, as early as 1985, invited submissions of projects aiming at the development of such adequate tools in its Call for Proposals for the ESPRIT Programme, in order to assist companies in the design of their office systems. This topic was recognised as being of strategic importance, considering the low level of penetration of Information Technology in European enterprises compared to the United States and Japan. Following this strategy, the project TODOS was selected and launched. This project has successfully developed tools and methods for the definition of the functional specifi cation of the office system, as well as the system architecture and user interface -results which can be of great interest for the IT community at large.

***WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER*** 'A smart, funny, brilliant book on how to be smart about being funny, brilliantly' Sarah Cooper 'This book has finally convinced me that joking around can actually be important and powerful' Ed Gamble 'Eye-opening, important and utterly enjoyable. Come for the humour, stay for the insights' Arianna Huffington Humour is a superpower. If you're not using it, the joke's on you. When we're kids we laugh all the time. The average four year-old laughs as many as 300 times a day, while the average forty year-old laughs 300 times every two and a half months! We grow up, start working and suddenly become "serious and important people", trading laughter for bottom lines and mind-dumbing zoom calls. But the benefits of humour for our work and life are huge. Studies have shown that humour makes us appear more competent and confident, strengthens our relationships, unlocks creativity and boosts resilience during difficult times. Dr. Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas are on a mission to help everyone discover the power of humour. Based on the popular Stanford Business course, this book will show you how to mine your life for material, explore the Four Deadly Humour Myths and help you figure out which style of humour you fall into - The Magnet, The Sweetheart, The Sniper or the Stand Up. Drawing on behavioural science, advice from world-class comedians and stories from top leaders, Humour, Seriously will show you how to harness the power of humour every day.

Is work taking over your life? Is your life interfering with your success at work? Work-life balance is ever-evolving and can be hard to find and maintain, especially as your career develops and circumstances change. Get A Life! is a highly practical handbook to help you do just that. Written by experienced coach, counsellor and wellbeing consultant Rick Hughes, this book covers everything from assessing your own needs, delegation and workload management and the myths of perfectionism, to managing and investing in relationships at work and at home, considering professional and personal development, and creativity and self-worth. With a wealth of advice, case studies and useful action plans founded in over 25 years of real-world experience, Get A Life! will help you find the balance that works for you, now.

The magnificent, unrivaled history of codes and ciphers -- how they're made, how they're broken, and the many and fascinating roles they've played since the dawn of civilization in war, business, diplomacy, and espionage -- updated with a new chapter on computer cryptography and the Ultra secret.

Man has created codes to keep secrets and has broken codes to learn those secrets since the time of the Pharaohs. For 4,000 years, fierce battles have been waged between codemakers and codebreakers, and the story of these battles is civilization's secret history, the hidden account of how wars were won and lost, diplomatic intrigues foiled, business secrets stolen, governments ruined, computers hacked. From the XYZ Affair to the Dreyfus Affair, from the Gallic War to the Persian Gulf, from Druidic runes and the kaballah to outer space, from the Zimmermann telegram to Enigma to the Manhattan Project, codebreaking has shaped the course of human events to an extent beyond any easy reckoning. Once a government monopoly, cryptology today touches everybody. It secures the Internet, keeps e-mail private, maintains the integrity of cash machine transactions, and scrambles TV signals on unpaid-for channels. David Kahn's The Codebreakers takes the measure of what codes and codebreaking have meant in human history in a single comprehensive account, astonishing in its scope and enthralling in its execution. Hailed upon first publication as a book likely to become the definitive work of its kind, The Codebreakers has more than lived up to that prediction: it remains unsurpassed. With a brilliant new chapter that makes use of previously classified documents to bring the book thoroughly up to date, and to explore the myriad ways computer codes and their hackers are changing all of our lives, The Codebreakers is the skeleton key to a thousand thrilling true stories of intrigue, mystery, and adventure. It is a masterpiece of the historian's art.

Homework; work that is categorised as informal employment, performed in the home, mainly for subcontractors and mostly undertaken by women. The inequities and injustices inherent in homework conditions maintain women's weak bargaining position, preventing them from making any improvements to their lives via their work. The best way to tackle these issues is not to abolish, but to bring equality and justice to homework. This book contributes a gender justice framework to analyse and confront the issues and problems of homework. The authors propose four justice dimensions - recognition, representation, rights and redistribution - to examine and analyse homework. This framework also takes into account the structures and processes of capitalism and the patriarchy, and the relations of domination that are widely held to be the major factors that determine homework injustice. The authors discuss strategies and approaches that have worked for homeworkers, highlighting why they worked and the features that were beneficial for them. Homeworking Women will be of interest to individuals and organisations working with or for the collective benefit of homeworkers, academics and students interested in feminism, labour regulation, informal work, supply chains and social and political justice.

Workplace spirituality is an emerging field of study and practice and this book asks the questions: Where have we been in the last ten years as a field and where should we be headed in the next ten years? The editors asked these questions of thought leaders from around the globe, leaders who represent different sectors, faith traditions, worldviews and organizational functions. This volume represents the best of current thinking about the state of the field of workplace spirituality and of what the future holds. There are four themes: (1) management themes such as leadership, ethics, change management, and diversity; (2) workplace spirituality in sectors such as health and wellbeing, policing and creative industries, (3) key issues that are emerging, such as self-spirituality, mindfulness, storytelling and the importance of nature, and (4) cutting edge epistemologies and methodologies including indigenous studies, relational ontology, ethnography, and psychodynamics. These articles were chosen to provoke new thinking, new research, and new practice in the field of workplace spirituality, with the goal of helping the field mature in the next decade.

Affirmative action is still a reality of the American workplace. How is it that such a controversial Federal program has managed to endure for more than five decades? Inside Affirmative Action addresses this question. Beyond the usual ideological debate and discussions about the effects of affirmative action for either good or ill upon issues of race and gender in employment, this book recounts and analyzes interviews with people who worked in the program within the government including political appointees. The interviews and their historical context provide understanding and insight into the policies and politics of affirmative action and its role in advancing civil rights in America. Recent books published on affirmative action address university admissions, but very few of them ever mention Executive Order 11246 or its enforcement by an agency within the Department of Labor - let alone discuss in depth the profound workplace diversity it has created or the employment opportunities it has generated. This book charts that history through the eyes of those who experienced it. Inside Affirmative Action will be of interest to those who study American race relations, policy, history and law.

"For those whose jobs have been a victim of the economic impact of the pandemic, it is a timely reminder not only to stay determined, but hopeful." - Financial Times 'This book reminded me why an ending - especially an unexpected one - can be the best kind of beginning' Viv Groskop, author of Lift As You Climb 'This book will help you escape the valleys of rejection bound for the peaks of opportunity' Bruce Daisley, bestselling author of The Joy of Work 'So much more than a user guide to life after redundancy, it's an inspiring lesson on how to deal with the knocks of everyday life; written with humour, empathy and honesty' Debbie Hewitt MBE, Chair, Visa Europe Why Losing Your Job Could be the Best Thing That Ever Happened to You is a compassionate guide that will inform and engage anyone who is facing redundancy or job loss; with deeply inspiring case studies and clear and brilliantly accessible, practical advice for getting back on course with your life and career. Learn how to: -Navigate feelings of anger, guilt and shame -Search for new beginnings -Overcome analysis paralysis -Progress with small steps Eleanor Tweddell's five-step plan will support you through the early stages of shock, through to building up the skills, self-confidence and motivation to thrive after redundancy; whether that is in your previous sector or something new.

Mentors are over-utilized, under-trained and, as studies show, under-deliver. From an employer's perspective, assigning a mentor is often a band-aid to a larger problem. From an employee's perspective, a lack of formal mentorship is seen as a serious, career-inhibiting problem, the equivalent of sailing a boat without a rudder. In The Mentor Myth, Debby Carreau represents this dichotomy, explaining that while a mentor's counsel can be invaluable, it is not the silver bullet human resources professionals often purport it to be. The opinions of a mentor are one data point, one piece in the much more complex game of navigating a career. In fact, the increasing overreliance on mentorship can actually be a hindrance to a successful career. Instead of continually looking outward for career guidance, aspiring professionals must realize that they possess all the tools necessary to take control of their own careers by using their own strengths, capabilities, and visions of success. Through her years of experience consulting, speaking, and writing about career development, Debby has created a comprehensive, easy-to-implement guide for taking ownership of your professional success. Debby begins by helping the reader create a professional roadmap, including how to build a personal brand, project the right amount of confidence, and manage time. She addresses mentors in the context of networks and sponsors, advising the reader how to incorporate outward influences rather than be defined by them.

Choice. Power. Speed. Today's leaders continually face these forces. But with too many choices, too much power, and too much speed, leaders often make decisions in a heightened state of emotion (and drama). Hasty decisions are often poor ones and in this climate there is no place to hide. Privacy is a thing of the past; the days of covering up or ignoring a problem are over. In today's transparent culture, the decision making of leaders is more vulnerable then ever-and it is more critical than ever to get it right. Marlene Chism's No-Drama Leadership introduces just the model the corporate world needs. Using case studies, checklists, and examples from various levels of hierarchy in leadership and from a variety of industries, Chism introduces the mindset shifts and practical skills needed to develop enlightened leaders, whose decision making flows from a much more grounded and aligned place. You will learn how to: Identify the signs of misalignment Increase your leadership effectiveness Use four quadrants of change as a catalyst for leadership growth Increase employee engagement Tap into the gifts and talents of your employees Communicate strategically Create a culture of accountability Increase innovation and productivity through empowerment Today's leader needs more than position, power, or business acumen. Today's leader needs more than self-management, communication skills, or emotional intelligence. We need leaders who are aligned, aware, and accountable, who balance choice and power with wisdom and responsibility-leaders who embrace and embody both the inner game of leadership growth with the outer game of business results, modeling both the mindsets and actions that transform the cultures they lead.

The sixth volume of International Perspectives on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion addresses workplace discrimination of ethnic minority people and migrants in Europe. Race Discrimination and Management of Ethnic Diversity and Migration at Work analyses perspectives from nine countries: France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Italy, Cyprus and Greece. Each country-focused chapter examines the historical context surrounding diversity, equality, racism and discrimination, along with facts and statistics about ethnicity in society and at work. Chapters then investigate the discourse and measures deployed at the national and organisational levels to combat race discrimination and their effects, and each provides a country-specific case study. The book concludes with a reflection on the development of equality legislation in the EU and its impact on racial equality at the workplace. This volume constitutes a cooperative effort to shed light on the management of ethnicity, diversity and migration within the workplace, emphasising the opportunity for improvement within this area. It is an illuminating book for researchers of equality and diversity within organisations, along with stakeholders involved in finding solutions to race and ethnic discrimination at work.

Why is it that many women believe that working with other women is harder than working with men? A clue: it's not because women actually are harder to work with. After decades of working to help women to succeed at work, Andie Kramer and Al Harris noticed the same thing over and over again: Women's relationships with other women are causing conflict in the workplace and this is hindering careers across the board. Their research demonstrates that at the root of these clashes lie stereotypes, toxic assumptions and societal expectations about how women should behave. Through extensive research and hundreds of interviews, Andie and Al have identified the most fraught scenarios of women working for, working with, supervising, and collaborating with other women. It's Not You, It's the Workplace provides practical, immediately usable techniques that will allow women to develop strong networks that will foster their career success and organizations to structure their policies and practices - unlocking the potential of women in team situations. The companies that succeed in the future will be those where bias no longer blocks women's career satisfaction or advancement to leadership.

An in-depth exploration of what really lies behind our problematic behavioural patterns in the workplace, and a blueprint for the emotional skills we need to overcome them. Modern businesses place huge emphasis on technical training. And yet a lot of what determines the success or failure of organisations has nothing to do with the sort of hard skills taught at business school; instead, it comes down to the degree of emotional intelligence circulating in the workplace. This is a book that introduces us to twenty core emotional skills that can help businesses to flourish. They range from giving honest feedback, to accepting that it's OK to fail, to addressing jealousies and insecurities within teams. We learn about how our childhoods continue to have an often unhelpful impact on how we deal with colleagues, and the best ways we might speak so that others will listen. The book is informed by the practical work that the Learning and Development division of The School of Life carries out, endeavouring to change the culture within organisations around the world through teaching teams the art of emotional intelligence. It shows us not only how to be a more effective worker, but a more well-balanced human too.

A refreshing approach to entrepreneurship centered on staying small and avoiding growth - maximizing happiness, sustainability and profitability. Paul Jarvis left the corporate world when he realized that working in a high-pressure, high-profile world was not his idea of success. Instead, he now works for himself out of his home, and lives a much more rewarding and productive life. He no longer has to contend with an environment that constantly demands more productivity, more output and more growth. In Company of One, Jarvis explains how you can do the same, including: * Planning to set up * Determining desired revenues * Keeping clients happy * And, of course, doing all this on your own. "Jarvis makes a compelling case for making your business better instead of bigger. A must-read for any entrepreneur who prioritizes a rich life over riches." -CAL NEWPORT, bestselling author of DEEP WORK and DIGITAL MINIMALISM "You're not a machine, so why would you run your business like one? Company of One shows you another way. If you've ever wondered how to have a business that works for you-instead of the other way around-you need this book." -CHRIS GUILLEBEAU, bestselling author of SIDE HUSTLE and THE $100 STARTUP

Workplace violence can occur anywhere: schools, office buildings, hospitals, or late-night convenience stores. It can occur day or night, inside or outside of the workplace, and it can include threats, harassment, bullying, stalking, verbal abuse, and intimidation. Left unchecked, workplace violence can lead to physical assaults and homicide. This updated edition of The Workplace Violence Prevention Handbook tackles this often overlooked but pervasive problem and provides a comprehensive five-step process for understanding and preventing it.

Extend the principles of diversity and inclusion to your company's suppliers Many people are familiar with the importance of ensuring and advancing inclusion, equity, and diversity amongst their employees and managers. But do your efforts include supplier diversity--an equally as important and essential part of any holistic diversity effort? In Supplier Diversity For Dummies, nationally recognized small business strategist and economic inclusion and supplier diversity expert Kathey Porter delivers an empowering and informative guide to implementing this integral part of any robust inclusion initiative: supplier diversity. You'll understand the relevance of supplier diversity and why it's important to encourage equal opportunity for diverse suppliers and businesses owned and managed by underrepresented groups. In this book, you'll also find: The answers to your most pressing questions about how to build a coherent and sustainable supplier diversity program Ways to contribute more fully to your company's diversity and inclusion functions Strategies to position supplier diversity as a central function in your organization Perfect for company buyers, purchasing and procurement professionals, material management executives, strategic souring professionals and supplier diversity practitioners, Supplier Diversity For Dummies is a must-read resource for supply chain professionals, diversity and inclusion leaders and anyone looking to increase their proficiency in supplier diversity, improve supply chain inclusivity and increase their social impact.

You can try self-employment! Successfully self-employed autistic author Robyn Steward shares her keen insights about the valuable skills and unique visions self-employed autistic people bring to the job market. This book will teach you how to bring these strengths into the world of self-employment, so that you can follow your passions as part of the community. Featuring first-hand accounts from self-employed autistic people in businesses ranging from arts and crafts to web developer and book shop owner, this book outlines the common challenges you may encounter and ways to overcome them. Based on a survey of over 100 self-employed autistic people all over the world and peer reviewed by experts, it covers everything you need to get started, from networking and marketing products to managing tax and business records and more. It also includes details about benefit systems, getting work and bookkeeping. Written specifically for autistic people, people with learning / intellectual disabilities, and the people who support them, this book is the essential guide to starting your own business.

TODAY'S LEADERS KNOW THAT SPEED and agility are the keys to any company's success, and yet many are frustrated that their organizations can't move fast enough to stay competitive. The typical chain of command is too slow; internal resources are too limited; people are already executing beyond normal expectations. As the pace accelerates, how do you inspire people's energy and creativity? How do you collaborate with customers, vendors, and partners to keep your organization on the cutting edge? What kind of organization matches the speed and complexity that businesses must master--and how do you build that organization? Jim Whitehurst, CEO of Red Hat, one of the world's most revolutionary companies, shows how open principles of management--based on transparency, participation, and community--reinvent the organization for the fast-paced connected era. Whitehurst gives readers an insider's look into how an open and innovative organizational model works. He shows how to leverage it to build community, respond quickly to opportunities, harness resources and talent both inside and outside the organization, and inspire, motivate, and empower people at all levels to act with accountability. The Open Organization is a must-read for leaders struggling to adapt their management practices to the values of the digital and social age. Brimming with Whitehurst's personal stories and candid advice for leading an open organization, as well as with instructive examples from employees and managers at Red Hat and companies such as Google, The Body Shop, and Whole Foods, this book provides the blueprint for reinventing your organization.

Organizations are about conversations. For any organization to achieve its goals, people need to interact and those interactions require dialogue and conversation. Yet, thanks to technology, we seem to be having fewer genuine conversations. This book seeks to change this, through "how to skills" and wider cultural change advice.