Currently, change is the new normal. As change grows, so does risk. But how will leaders understand the risk if they don't measure it? In short, they won't. The reality is that ignorance is never bliss. What leaders and their organizations don't know will eventually impact them and their customers. Thus, situational awareness, forethought, and preparation are now key competencies for leaders to survive in high-risk environments. In this book, readers will learn the basics of leadership time management, the disruptability quotient, the leadership "canary" and why it's just as important to leaders as it was to coal miners, and the slippery slope of change management (do we improve, change, or model the current state?), signals of leadership maturity and false positives, mastering the art of organizational knowledge, the pearls, and pitfalls of leadership rebranding, and the risk of non-utilized talent. Why aren't current leaders required to undergo "storm proofing" from an operational perspective? As many of us experienced in various academic programs, the main foci are technical skills in management, organizational theory, data analysis, and many of the traditional leadership training courses. But, what happens when a leadership storm appears such as an unprecedented pandemic or supply chain crisis, or talent gaps where workers are not available to complete the basic services humanity relies on daily? Most leaders were not and are not prepared for today's storms. The result is reactive leadership, higher-than-expected risk propositions, and disruptive transformations that force leaders from their perches to find the next best role their skillsets will buy. This book is for leaders and professionals who are currently, or will be leading teams, divisions, and organizations. Its purpose is to provide practical guidance on how leaders can "stormproof" their portfolios. Thus, they will be able to survive, thrive in, and outlast high-risk leadership storms that will overwhelm their less-prepared peers.

Currently, change is the new normal. As change grows, so does risk. But how will leaders understand the risk if they don't measure it? In short, they won't. The reality is that ignorance is never bliss. What leaders and their organizations don't know will eventually impact them and their customers. Thus, situational awareness, forethought, and preparation are now key competencies for leaders to survive in high-risk environments. In this book, readers will learn the basics of leadership time management, the disruptability quotient, the leadership "canary" and why it's just as important to leaders as it was to coal miners, and the slippery slope of change management (do we improve, change, or model the current state?), signals of leadership maturity and false positives, mastering the art of organizational knowledge, the pearls, and pitfalls of leadership rebranding, and the risk of non-utilized talent. Why aren't current leaders required to undergo "storm proofing" from an operational perspective? As many of us experienced in various academic programs, the main foci are technical skills in management, organizational theory, data analysis, and many of the traditional leadership training courses. But, what happens when a leadership storm appears such as an unprecedented pandemic or supply chain crisis, or talent gaps where workers are not available to complete the basic services humanity relies on daily? Most leaders were not and are not prepared for today's storms. The result is reactive leadership, higher-than-expected risk propositions, and disruptive transformations that force leaders from their perches to find the next best role their skillsets will buy. This book is for leaders and professionals who are currently, or will be leading teams, divisions, and organizations. Its purpose is to provide practical guidance on how leaders can "stormproof" their portfolios. Thus, they will be able to survive, thrive in, and outlast high-risk leadership storms that will overwhelm their less-prepared peers.

Modeling Remaining Useful Life Dynamics in Reliability Engineering applies traditional reliability engineering methods to Prognostics and Health Management (PHM), looking at Remaining Useful Life (RUL) and predictive maintenance to enable engineers to effectively and safely predict machinery lifespan. One of the key tools used in defining and implementing predictive maintenance policies is the RUL indicator. However, it is essential to account for the uncertainty inherent to the RUL, as otherwise predictive maintenance strategies can be incorrect. This can cause high costs, or alternatively, ineffective predictions. Methods used to estimate RUL are very numerous and diverse, and broadly speaking, fall into three categories: model-based, data-driven, or hybrid, which uses both. The book starts by building on established theory, and applying cutting edge research to it, such as artificial intelligence models and deep learning. It looks at traditional reliability engineering methods through their relation to Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) requirements and presents the concept of RUL loss rate. Following on from this, the book presents a general method for defining a nonlinear transformation enabling the MRL to become a linear function. It also touches on topics such as Weibull distribution, gamma distribution and degradation, along with time-to-failure distributions. Features: Provides both practical and theoretical background of RUL Describes how the uncertainty of RUL can be related to RUL loss rate Provides new insights into time-to-failure distributions Offers tools for predictive maintenance_ The book will be of interest to engineers and researchers in reliability engineering, Prognostics and Health Management and industry management.

* A fully comprehensive guide to the entire supply chain management process as applied specifically to the fashion industry * Each chapter is complemented by an in-depth case study from a relevant global organization, alongside pedagogy to aid student comprehension, including quizzes, end-of-chapter activities, and role play scenarios. Online resources include chapter-by-chapter PowerPoint slides and a test bank. * Designed as a core textbook for Fashion Supply Chain and Operations Management modules at advanced undergraduate and postgraduate level.

The purpose of this book is to introduce the concept of Transformational Coaching and to educate professional business coaches or mangers-as-coaches in their organizations on the influential and relevant elements of Transformational Coaching for Effective Leadership designed for coaching individuals, teams, businesses or applying such elements in any levels of Organization Development intervention, either toward individuals, teams, groups, departments, or the organization itself. Given the power and long-lasting influence of transformational coaching, it also could be beneficial to professionals in fields of Human Resources Development (HRD), Workplace Learning and Performance (WLP), Human Performance Enhancement (HPE) and overall, in the domain of Workforce Education and Development (WFED). This book will start by reviewing the background and presence of Transformational Coaching in businesses and organizations, along with the general concepts, perceptions, and understanding of coaching. This book will examine the uses of Transformational Coaching in management and leadership development, human resources development for talent development and retention, and for developing managerial coaching skills and competencies. Additionally, this book will review the presence and use of Transformational Coaching concepts, theories, and practices, including transformational learning for HR and HRD professionals to influence the workforce's attitude, behavior, and productivity. This book: * Builds individuals' self-awareness, self-realization, and self-confidence. * Offers personal and professional development. * Teaches the concept of transformational learning and its use in transformational coaching. * Teaches rituals, skills, and strategies for individuals and teams to increase their productivity. * Offers an approach to building healthy and strong relationships with oneself and others. * Includes change management strategies for redirecting poor job performance. * Helps readers implement effective transformational coaching practices by offering many tools such as forms, checklists, and worksheets.

The purpose of this book is to introduce the concept of Transformational Coaching and to educate professional business coaches or mangers-as-coaches in their organizations on the influential and relevant elements of Transformational Coaching for Effective Leadership designed for coaching individuals, teams, businesses or applying such elements in any levels of Organization Development intervention, either toward individuals, teams, groups, departments, or the organization itself. Given the power and long-lasting influence of transformational coaching, it also could be beneficial to professionals in fields of Human Resources Development (HRD), Workplace Learning and Performance (WLP), Human Performance Enhancement (HPE) and overall, in the domain of Workforce Education and Development (WFED). This book will start by reviewing the background and presence of Transformational Coaching in businesses and organizations, along with the general concepts, perceptions, and understanding of coaching. This book will examine the uses of Transformational Coaching in management and leadership development, human resources development for talent development and retention, and for developing managerial coaching skills and competencies. Additionally, this book will review the presence and use of Transformational Coaching concepts, theories, and practices, including transformational learning for HR and HRD professionals to influence the workforce's attitude, behavior, and productivity. This book: * Builds individuals' self-awareness, self-realization, and self-confidence. * Offers personal and professional development. * Teaches the concept of transformational learning and its use in transformational coaching. * Teaches rituals, skills, and strategies for individuals and teams to increase their productivity. * Offers an approach to building healthy and strong relationships with oneself and others. * Includes change management strategies for redirecting poor job performance. * Helps readers implement effective transformational coaching practices by offering many tools such as forms, checklists, and worksheets.

This book offers fresh impulses from different industries on how to deal with innovation processes. Authors from different backgrounds, such as artificial intelligence, mechanical engineering, medical technology and law, share their experiences with enabling and managing innovation. The ability of companies to innovate functions as a benchmark to attract investors long-term. While each company has different preconditions and environments to adapt to, the authors give guidance in the fields of digitalization, workspaces and business model innovation.

Product design is becoming increasingly challenging as product complexity increases dramatically with the advent of autonomous control and the need to achieve zero emissions. Companies continue to have poor product launches with significant numbers of recall campaigns and high after-sales warranties. It is important that potential product failures are identified and fixed during the design of a product. Failure modes found late after the design has matured are normally easy to find with some being identified by the customer but are often difficult and expensive to fix since modifying one part will often have a knock-on effect on other parts causing other problems. Discovering failure modes early in the design process is often difficult requiring rigorous and comprehensive analysis but once found such failure modes are usually easy and cheap to fix. This book presents an approach to product design based on Failure Mode Avoidance that utilizes a series of strongly interrelated engineering tools and interpersonal skills that can be used to discover failure modes early in the design process. The tools can be used across engineering disciplines. Despite engineering being largely a team activity, it is often the case that little attention is paid to the team process after the team membership has been identified, with membership normally being based on technical expertise. In addition to technical expertise, an effective engineering team requires individual engineers to work together efficiently. Good leadership is also required with the leader able to both manage change and encourage individual team members to work to the best of their ability. The book interweaves technical skills, team skills, and team leadership in a way that reflects their real-life interrelationship. The book tells the fictional story of a small engineering team and its leader as they implement the skills introduced in the book and follows their experiences reflecting individual difficulties, enthusiasm, humor, and skepticism in applying the methodologies and tools for the first time. In addition, the story tells of team members' interactions with their management and peers within a company that, having been very successful, finds itself in financial difficulties. It promotes constructivist learning through the reader empathizing with the characters in the book. These characters ask questions that are typical of those that learners will ask about the subject matter. Learning reinforcement is also integrated into the storyline as a natural and unobtrusive feature. The book is intended to be read like a novel from cover to cover with a storyline that motivates the reader to read on. While including in-depth technical examples the book is not intended as a seminal text on Failure Mode Avoidance or team skills but is intended to give the reader an understanding such that they are motivated to learn more. Having read the book, it can be treated more typically as a textbook by returning to some of the technical detail or looking to further reading such as that identified in the book.

Product design is becoming increasingly challenging as product complexity increases dramatically with the advent of autonomous control and the need to achieve zero emissions. Companies continue to have poor product launches with significant numbers of recall campaigns and high after-sales warranties. It is important that potential product failures are identified and fixed during the design of a product. Failure modes found late after the design has matured are normally easy to find with some being identified by the customer but are often difficult and expensive to fix since modifying one part will often have a knock-on effect on other parts causing other problems. Discovering failure modes early in the design process is often difficult requiring rigorous and comprehensive analysis but once found such failure modes are usually easy and cheap to fix. This book presents an approach to product design based on Failure Mode Avoidance that utilizes a series of strongly interrelated engineering tools and interpersonal skills that can be used to discover failure modes early in the design process. The tools can be used across engineering disciplines. Despite engineering being largely a team activity, it is often the case that little attention is paid to the team process after the team membership has been identified, with membership normally being based on technical expertise. In addition to technical expertise, an effective engineering team requires individual engineers to work together efficiently. Good leadership is also required with the leader able to both manage change and encourage individual team members to work to the best of their ability. The book interweaves technical skills, team skills, and team leadership in a way that reflects their real-life interrelationship. The book tells the fictional story of a small engineering team and its leader as they implement the skills introduced in the book and follows their experiences reflecting individual difficulties, enthusiasm, humor, and skepticism in applying the methodologies and tools for the first time. In addition, the story tells of team members' interactions with their management and peers within a company that, having been very successful, finds itself in financial difficulties. It promotes constructivist learning through the reader empathizing with the characters in the book. These characters ask questions that are typical of those that learners will ask about the subject matter. Learning reinforcement is also integrated into the storyline as a natural and unobtrusive feature. The book is intended to be read like a novel from cover to cover with a storyline that motivates the reader to read on. While including in-depth technical examples the book is not intended as a seminal text on Failure Mode Avoidance or team skills but is intended to give the reader an understanding such that they are motivated to learn more. Having read the book, it can be treated more typically as a textbook by returning to some of the technical detail or looking to further reading such as that identified in the book.

This book provides a first-of-its-kind approach for using blockchain to enhance resilience in disaster supply chain and logistics management, especially when dealing with dynamic communication, relief operations, prioritization, coordination, and distribution of scarce resources - these are elements of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA) describing a dynamic environment that now form the "new norm" for many leaders. Blockchain-Enabled Resilience: An Integrated Approach for Disaster Supply Chain and Logistics Management analyzes the application of blockchain technology used to enable resilience in a disaster supply chain network. It discusses IoT and DVFS algorithms for developing a network-based simulation and presents advancements in disaster supply chain strategies using smart contacts for collaborations. The book covers how success is based on collaboration, coordination, sovereignty, and equality in distributing resources and offers a theoretical analysis that reveals that enhancing resilience can improve collaboration and communication and can result in more time-efficient processing for disaster supply management. This book provides a first-of-its-kind approach for managers and policy-makers as well as researchers interested in using blockchain to enhance resilience in disaster supply chains, especially when dealing with dynamic communication, relief operations, prioritization, coordination, and distribution of scarce resources. Practical guidance is provided for managers interested in implementation. A robust research agenda is also provided for those interested in expanding present research.

At last, a book that covers safety procedures and standards with information that is rarely available outside of proprietary materials. A comprehensive source for basic and essential operations and procedures in use in any facility, the book offers chemical operators and first line supervisors guidance in applying appropriate practices to prevent accidents, and suggests which practices to avoid.

This book constitutes the refereed post-conference proceedings of the 16th IFIP WG 5.1 International Conference on Product Lifecycle Management, PLM 2019, held in Moscow, Russia, in July 2019. The 38 revised full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 63 submissions. The papers are organized in the following topical sections: 3D modelling and data structures; PLM maturity and industry 4.0; ontologies and semantics; PLM and conceptual design; knowledge and change management; IoT and PLM; integrating manufacturing realities; and integration of in-service and operation.

The focus of this book is an application of Digital Twin as a concept and an approach, based on the most accurate view on a physical production system and its digital representation of complex engineering products and systems. It describes a methodology to create and use Digital Twin in a built environment for the improvement and optimization of factory processes such as factory planning, investment planning, bottleneck analysis, and in-house material transport. The book provides a practical response based on achievements of engineering informatics in solving challenges related to the optimization of factory layout and corresponding processes. This book introduces the topic, providing a foundation of knowledge on process planning, before discussing the acquisition of objects in a factory and the methods for object recognition. It presents process simulation techniques, explores challenges in process planning, and concludes by looking at future areas of progression. By providing a holistic, trans-disciplinary perspective, this book will showcase Digital Twin technology as state-of-the-art both in research and practice.

New Work and Industry 4.0 have matured and this book takes a practical, experience-based approach to project management in these areas. It introduces methods and covers the practical aspects. It critically examines existing approaches and practices and shows their limitations. The book covers appropriate methods as well as human and social aspects. It contributes to the ongoing discussion of business practices and methods. It also aims to stimulate dialogue in the professional community. Digital Project Practice for New Work and Industry 4.0 begins by introducing basic concepts in the context of Industry 4.0 and discussing how they might influence organizational communication and impact the work environment. After examining the possibilities and challenges of remote work and collaboration in distributed teams all over the world, the book looks at a company's fundamental changes related to New Work from a practical business perspective as well as legal and ethical perspectives. It reviews the case of the VW emission scandal and recommends ways to improve corporate culture. Legal issues include New Work and hybrid forms of collaboration as well as liability for automated decisions (i.e., the potential need for an 'electronic person'). Other implications for the workplace include how: Industry 4.0 might influence the potential demand for "Digital Unions" Industry 4.0, and lean production, and their applications can change industrial practices Open Banking presents new approaches and new business models Work structures and systems can empower employees' work self-management This book also looks at how New Work effects individual workers. It addresses digital stress, introduces strategies for coping with it, and discusses related topics. It also explores the benefits of meditation and the economics of mind, body, and spirit. In essence, this book cover appropriate methods along with human and social factors. It also covers practice, different perspectives, and various experiences from all around the globe. Contributing to the ongoing discussion on business practices and methods, this book will nourish and stimulate dialogue in the professional community.

* Presents the first quantitative index to measure construction project management performance

* Presents the first quantitative index to measure construction project management performance

Extraordinary technological progress, but also the experience gained from the global COVID-19 pandemic, force the future vision of the world's economic development to assume a close coexistence and intense interaction between production (manufacturing) and logistics and supply chain management. This perspective requires that the current functioning of organizations will have to be radically remodeled so that they can face not only market competition, but also the turbulent changes (VUCA) that take place in their close environment. Therefore, in the next few years, one of the most important tools for improving organizations may become the industry audits, especially logistics audit. This book explores the development, methods and impact of logistics audits on organizations. In a holistic way, the book refers to topics such as internal audit, control, logistics system of enterprises, principles of conducting logistics audit and its problem areas (risk), logistics audit of procurement, production, warehousing, distribution, and supply chains, impact of the digital economy on organizations, and the European market for logistics audit services. Undoubtedly, the greatest asset of this book is that, in international terms, it is the first compact book devoted to the issue of logistics audit. Unique and timely, the book will be an essential resource for academics and postgraduate students of logistics, supply chain management and global operations in particular.

Having a team that knows how to adapt and innovate quickly can make all the difference in these challenging and competitive times -- for your organization and you personally as a leader. Leaders as coaches are crucial for a true learning organization, and high-performance teams need and want their leader to coach -- not tell. But not just any kind of coaching! Coaching that is enabling and inspiring because it increases adaptiveness and creativity -- with each individual and the whole team -- so they achieve important goals together. That's what the Coaching Kata helps leaders to learn. Take a fresh look at this five-phase, dual-purpose coaching model, become the leader you always wanted to be, and your team needs you to be. This business novel will transform the way you see and lead your team.

The demand and supply chain planning process for manufacturers, distributors, and retailers has evolved over the years. It has gone from a disjointed, unconnected, slow, inaccurate, fairly manual set of processes to an integrated, timely process enabled by the use and coordination of highly trained people, lean, agile processes, and cutting-edge technology. To make this set of processes work effectively, one has to fully understand and appreciate that there is an "art and science" aspect to the process which can take years of education and experience to fully understand. Essentially, this book will offer the reader a chance to fully understand the interconnected set of processes in a "best-practice" application. Furthermore, examples and cases will be used to illustrate its practical application in today's complex global supply chain. In addition, readers will understand and be able to apply and articulate the concepts, tools, and techniques used in the efficient supply of goods and services in today's changing global economy. It will help them to learn how businesses, through their supply chain, work both internally and with their trading partners - both upstream and downstream - to build strong relationships and integrate demand and supply planning activities across the supply chain to deliver customer value efficiently and effectively. They will learn about the tools and technologies enabling integration, and the critical drivers and key metrics of supply chain performance.

Easy to read and act on immediately, this concise guide shows how organizations can work more effectively with in-house or contracted project managers and their teams, using specific collaborative techniques to improve success rates, reduce project costs and enable organizations to benefit from common-sense, cost-effective project management approaches that work. Using a clear structure and accessible style, the book demonstrates how: Managers can create an organizational environment more naturally adapted for project work and recognition of business priorities; Barriers to project work can be removed so project managers can focus on resolving real project problems; Specific collaborative project management methods engaging business owners, users, and technical teams can be illuminated and implemented; Projects can fit within an architecture that aligns with business needs using models and workflow designs; and Standardized delivery management can unify in-house and vendor teams to create a uniform and predictable owner experience. The book is aimed at managers and executives (both IT and users) in corporations and vendor firms who are engaged in delivering projects. The book will also be invaluable to any project manager or senior practitioner who is interested a business-oriented, unified, and collaborative approach to project management.

Currently, the challenge for manufacturing organizations is how to achieve their expected profit by continuously improving productivity or reducing costs. Manufacturing organizations have been using different improvement approaches to achieving cost reduction and productivity improvement for years by eliminating various losses and waste structures, such as excess inventory, excessive workforce, excessive capacity, excessive utility consumption, and so on. But is the problem solved? Unfortunately, no! Often manufacturing companies focus on maximizing the flow and meeting customer needs but forget their real aim - to make a profit for their stakeholders. Too many organizations meet customer expectations by seeking to continuously synchronize the flow to market demand but forget to check that they are doing it profitably enough to ensure business continuity and prosperity. When the financial results show that they are not so profitable, it is already too late. Moreover, the strategic direction of systematic improvements according to the sales trend - depending on the current degree of production capacity utilization and its dynamic effects on cost structures - is deficient in many manufacturing companies. So, would the failure of strategic and profitable systematic improvements be an option? Of course not! If the ultimate goal of the organization is to create target profit for stakeholders, then the behavior and strategic systematic improvements must be directed to those scenarios, strategies, tasks, problems, and "production levers" that are best based on creating the target profit. That's what Strategic Kaizen thinking does - the simultaneous and consistent achievement of systematic operational and financial improvements in a strategic and operational manner. It achieves both synchronous operations at market demand by fulfilling takt time and profitable operations in accordance with profit demand by fulfilling takt profit. In short, the Strategic Kaizen mission is striving for the fulfillment of the ideal state of operations called synchronous profitable operations. In this book, the author, while presenting in detail the seven processes of Strategic Kaizen methodology, exposes the answer to historically incomplete thinking of productivity improvements for target profitability. The uniqueness of the book is reinforced by the detailed presentation of the successful application of the Strategic Kaizen thinking over the years in two multinational manufacturing organizations operating in highly competitive markets, addressing the synchronous profitable operations for both the sales increase scenario and the sales decrease scenario. Moreover, it presents examples of the practical application of the "white-collar" Strategic Kaizen. Essentially, by adopting the Strategic Kaizen methodology presented in detail in this book to consistently achieve the ideal state of a manufacturing organization, organizations will enter a new paradigm of thinking of strategic improvements - Strategic Kaizen thinking - to meet annual and multiannual target profits in a unique and effective way that operates according to its own strategic and operational management system.

Survival and thriving in today's business environment require companies to continuously strive for operational excellence at all levels of the organization. Simply working to maintain existing operations is not an adequate or sustainable business strategy, especially when competing in a global market. To remain relevant, companies must adopt a process control and continuous improvement mentality as an integral part of their daily work activities. These two operational disciplines form the foundation and stepping stones for manufacturing excellence. Processes must be stable, capable, and controlled as a prerequisite for sustainable improvement. Sustainable improvements must be strategic, continuous, and focused on process optimization. Modern-day manufacturing is rapidly changing in the face of technological, geopolitical, social, and environmental developments. These challenges are altering the way we think and act to transform raw materials into finished goods. Meeting these challenges requires particular attention to how we develop and engage people and apply technology for long-term sustainability and competitive advantage. This book takes you on a journey to explore the fundamental elements, management practices, improvement methods, and future direction of shop floor management. Part 1 of this five-part manuscript considers workplace culture, organizational structure, operational discipline, and employee accountability as the foundation for a robust manufacturing system. Part 2 studies the impact of process standardization, data analytics, information sharing, communication, and people on daily shop floor management. Once the management system has been adequately described, Part 3 concentrates on its effective execution, monitoring, and control with a deep look into the people, methods, machines, materials, and environment that make it possible. Like every good manufacturing text, efficiency and productivity are key topics. That's why Part 4 explores various methods, tools, and techniques associated with product and process development, productivity improvement, agile methods, shop floor optimization, and manufacturing excellence. The final section, Part 5, shifts focus to emerging technologies, engaging the reader to contemplate technology's impact on the digital transformation of the manufacturing industry.

Completely revised including six new chapters, this new edition presents a more comprehensive knowledge of issues facing developers of complex products and process management. It includes more tools for implementing a Systems Engineering approach to minimize the risks of delays and cost overruns and helps create the right product for its customers. Designing Complex Products with Systems Engineering Processes and Techniques, Second Edition highlights how to increase customer satisfaction, quality, safety, and usability to meet program timings and budgets using a Systems Engineering approach. It provides decision-making considerations and models for creating sustainable product design and describes many techniques and tools used in product development and the product life-cycle orientation. The book also offers techniques used in Design for Manufacturing, Design for Assembly, and product evaluation methods for verification and validation testing. Many new examples, case studies, six new chapters, and updated program and data charts held on our website are offered. The book targets practicing engineers, engineering management personnel, product designers, product planners, product and program managers in all industrialized and developing countries. In addition the book is also useful to undergraduate, graduate students, and faculty in engineering, product design, and product project and program management.

-- Only book written addressing the role of a Lean CFO. -- Explains how a Lean Management System integrated with a Lean Business Strategy drives financial success. -- In clear concise terms explains how & why Lean makes money for companies. -- Gives readers the logical reasons why a Lean Management System must replace a Management Accounting System. -- Answers the question "why do we need a Lean Management System?"

This book comprises a set of stories about being an engineer for many decades and the lessons the author learned from research and practice. These lessons focus on people and organizations, often enabled by technology. The settings range from airplanes, power plants, and communication networks to ecosystems that enable education, healthcare, and transportation. All of these settings are laced with behavioral and social phenomena that need to be understood and influenced. The author's work in these domains has often led to the question: "Well, why does it work like that?" He invariably sought to understand the bigger picture to find the sources of requirements, constraints, norms, and values. He wanted to understand what could be changed, albeit often with much effort to overcome resistance. He found that higher levels of an ecosystem often provide the resources and dictate the constraints imposed on lower levels. These prescriptions are not just commands. They also reflect values and cultural norms. Thus, the answers to the question were not just technical and economic. Often, the answers reflected eons of social and political priorities. The endeavors related in the book frequently involved addressing emerging realities rather than just the status quo. This book is an ongoing discovery of these bigger pictures. The stories and the lessons related in this book provide useful perspectives on change. The understanding of people and organizations that emerges from these lessons can help to enable transformative change. Fundamental change is an intensely human-centric endeavor, not just for the people and organizations aspiring to change, but also for the people helping them. You will meet many of these people in this book as the stories unfold. The genesis of this book originated in a decision made early in the author's career. He had developed a habit of asking at the end of each day, "What did I really accomplish today?" This was sometimes frustrating as he was not sure the day had yielded any significant accomplishments. One day it dawned on him that this was the wrong question - He needed to ask, "What did I learn today?" It is always possible to learn, most recently about public health and climate change. In planning this book, the author first thought in terms of accomplishments such as projects conducted, systems built, and articles and books published. He could not imagine this being interesting to readers. Then, it struck him - It is much more interesting to report on what he learned about people and organizations, including how he helped them accomplish their goals. This is a book of stories about how these lessons emerged. In planning this book, the author first thought in terms of accomplishments such as projects conducted, systems built, and articles and books published. He could not imagine this being interesting to readers. Then, it struck him - It is much more interesting to report on what he learned about people and organizations, including how he helped them accomplish their goals. This is a book of stories about how these lessons emerged.