This book presents a new approach to the valuation of capital asset investments and investment decision-making. Starting from simple premises and working logically through three basic elements (capital, income, and cash flow), it guides readers on an interdisciplinary journey through the subtleties of accounting and finance, explaining how to correctly measure a project's economic profitability and efficiency, how to assess the impact of investment policy and financing policy on shareholder value creation, and how to design reliable, transparent, and logically consistent financial models. The book adopts an innovative pedagogical approach, based on a newly developed accounting-and-finance-engineering system, to help readers gain a deeper understanding of the accounting and financial magnitudes, learn about new analytical tools, and develop the necessary skills to practically implement them. This diverse approach to capital budgeting allows a sophisticated economic analysis in both absolute terms (values) and relative terms (rates of return), and is applicable to a wide range of economic entities, including real assets and financial assets, engineering designs and manufacturing schemes, corporate-financed and project-financed transactions, privately-owned projects and public investments, individual projects and firms. As such, this book is a valuable resource for a broad audience, including scholars and researchers, industry practitioners, executives, and managers, as well as students of corporate finance, managerial finance, engineering economics, financial management, management accounting, operations research, and financial mathematics. It features more than 180 guided examples, 50 charts and figures and over 160 explanatory tables that help readers grasp the new concepts and tools. Each chapter starts with an abstract and a list of the skills readers can expect to gain, and concludes with a list of key points summarizing the content.

Many people struggle to lead a project with a successful outcome and they fail to keep them to budget, deliver on time and motivate a team. This book combines practical tools, personal tips and psychological insights to that you can:

- Realistically plan not only your time and resources but everyone else's
- Understand your team's strengths and weaknesses
- Monitor everyone's work and review their progress
- Ensure your communication skills and feedback inspire and encourage your team
- Successfully meet project initiatives and objectives

Chock-full of know-how and experience, and written in a style that is both rigorous and refreshingly light on jargon, The Performance Papers is an invaluable handbook for leaders who practise - or aspire to - the art of general management.

Although the study of knowledge is as old as human history, it has only been recognized in the last two decades as a crucial factor of organizational success. Knowledge management has gained much attention from both academics and practitioners; however, more research is needed as this discipline is still in its infancy. Implementing Knowledge Management Strategy in the Public Sector provides innovative insights and clear direction for the effective implementation of knowledge management initiatives and programs in organizations, specifically within the public sector. It serves to increase the awareness of knowledge management in a systematic and holistic way for both individuals and organizations. Centering on topics such as project management, smart technologies, and support sharing, this book is designed for researchers, academicians, business professionals, government officials, policymakers, consultants, managers, and practitioners.

For senior undergraduate courses and first year graduate courses in Project Management found in engineering and business departments. Centering on theory and practice, this text presents tools and techniques most suited for modern project management. The authors show the relationship between project planning and implementation, from budgeting to scheduling and control. Intended for undergraduate and graduate students in engineering or business, this text is also a thorough reference for practitioners, managers, engineers and technology experts.

A seminal collection of research methodology themes, this two-volume work provides a set of key scholarly developments related to robustness, allowing scholars to advance their knowledge of research methods used outside of their own immediate fields. With a focus on emerging methodologies within management, key areas of importance are dissected with chapters covering statistical modelling, new measurements, digital research, biometrics and neuroscience, the philosophy of research, computer modelling approaches and new mathematical theories, among others. A genuinely pioneering contribution to the advancement of research methods in business studies, Innovative Research Methodologies in Management presents an analytical and engaging discussion on each topic. By introducing new research agendas it aims to pave the way for increased application of innovative techniques, allow ing the exploration of future research perspectives. Volume I covers a range of research methodologies within the realms of philosophy, measurement and modelling, and focusses on meta-modern mixed methods such as neurophilosophy, diagnostic measurement, and emotivity and ephemera research.

Demonstrating the potential of building strong brands in the energy sector, this book explores the challenges of shifting the perception of energy from a commodity business into a consumer brand. Energy suppliers are increasingly being met with skepticism, indicating the need for a greater focus on marketing and branding in the energy industry. The author examines both perspectives of energy as a commodity business and a consumer brand, as well as the perception of energy consumers across Europe. Topics discussed include green energy, the liberalisation of the electricity industry, and the relationship between consumers and executives in the energy market. One of the first of its kind, this book offers a unique and innovative study of the development of branding in the energy industry, and sheds light on future marketing strategies.

Project management tools can be used as an alternative to improve and strengthen a company's position in the market. However, the management of projects has been in constant transformation. Elements such as time, cost, and scope, on which it is based, have been complemented with other trends, such as the project team, change management, knowledge management, good negotiation practices, management of stakeholders, sustainability, etc. In order to improve the competitiveness of their company and increase earned value, managers must remain up to date on these latest transformations and best practices. The Handbook of Research on Project Management Strategies and Tools for Organizational Success is a pivotal reference source that analyzes and disseminates new trends that will allow managers to improve their skills and strengthen the performance of their companies through obtaining better results in the projects undertaken. While highlighting topics such as market growth, risk management, and value creation, this book is ideally designed for project managers, managers, business professionals, entrepreneurs, academicians, researchers, and students seeking current research on improving the competitiveness of companies as well as increasing their earned value.

This book provides a consistent and holistic managerial approach to product management and presents a practical and comprehensive methodology (roles, processes, tasks, and deliverables) that covers all aspects of product management. It helps students of product management, product management practitioners, product management organizations, and corporations understand the value, theory, and implementation of product management. It outlines a practical approach to clarify role definitions, identify responsibilities, define processes and deliverables, and improve the ability to communicate with stakeholders. The book details the fundamentals of the Blackblot Product Manager's Toolkit (R) (PMTK) product management methodology, a globally adopted best practice.

This book presents the fundamentals of project management as applied in the built environment and more specifically for the construction industry. It presents the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK) using practical examples to show how various project management principles and concepts can be applied in practice. Providing study notes for students and aspiring project management professionals in the construction industry, each of the 13 chapters includes a set of comprehensive revision questions that allow readers to reflect on what they have learned. The book offers an introduction to what project management is all about as well as the project life cycles, stakeholders and organizations involved. It explains the project management processes and how these processes are applied in integration, scope, time, cost, quality, human resource, communications, risk and procurement management. It concludes with ethics and professional conduct in the project management profession.

Project management is the art of analyzing and managing risks. Without risk, there is little need for project management. Project Risk Analysis Made Ridiculously Simple offers a step-by-step guide on how to perform project risk analysis and risk management for a wide range of readers: students, project schedulers not exposed to project risk analysis before, and to project risk experts. With this book, you will learn how to:Easily recognizable real-life stories and projects provide a compelling narrative while imparting valuable information on both the theory and practice of project risk management. You will not only understand why project risk management is important to the success of their projects, but you will also know how it can be implemented in your organization and the appropriate tools to use.

The primary focus of this book is an examination of longitudinal team communication and its impact on team performance. This theoretically-grounded, holistic examination of team communication includes cross-condition comparisons of team (i.e., distributed/in person, unrestricted/time pressured, two performance episodes) and employs multiple quantitative methodological approaches to examine the phenomena of interest. This book simultaneously provides practical content for researchers and practitioners in the social sciences and humanities. Included are step-by-step instructions for the methodologies employed, and distillations of findings via Managerial Minutes that highlight best practices and/or examples to help enhance team communication in practice.

This book provides science and technology ethos to a literate person. It starts with a rather detailed treatment of basic concepts in human values, educational status and domains of education, development of science and technology and their contributions to the welfare of society. It describes ways and means of scientific progresses and technological advancements with their historical perspectives including scientific viewpoints of contributing scientists and technologists. The technical, social, and cultural dimensions are surveyed in relation to acquisition and application of science, and advantages and hindrances of technological developments. Science and Technology is currently taught as a college course in many universities with the intention to introduce topics from a global historical perspective so that the reader shall stretch his/her vision by mapping the past to the future. The book can also serve as a primary reference for such courses.

This resource discusses the management of complex technical projects through systems engineering. Written for a wide spectrum of readers, from novices to experienced practitioners, it explores solutions for delivering projects on time and within budget, avoiding the failures and inefficiencies of past efforts. It provides a framework that encapsulates all areas of systems engineering, showing where the multitude of systems engineering activities fit within the overall effort. The top-down approach introduces the reader to the philosophical aspects of this discipline, and offers an understanding of a plethora of important terms, standards and practices that have been developed independently. Moreover, the authors present key systems engineering issues in a manner that seeks to promote individual thinking and unique approaches to the various projects encountered in the field.

This book introduces readers to essential facilitation techniques for leadership in the contexts of project and network management. It provides method-based messages, a facilitator curriculum, and a veritable arsenal of 50 carefully selected and 'reality-tested' tools for facilitation in non-hierarchical contexts. As such, readers will benefit just as much from learning by doing as from doing by learning. This book is also intended for all managers who are responsible for successful communication and co-operation in projects in and across organisations or networks of organisations, and who want to know how to share their plans effectively and improve collaboration. Though the book employs scientific principles, it is chiefly a practical guide, and draws on the authors' extensive experience in consultancy and management.

This book is a novel contribution to a field dominated by conventional approaches to project management, it is about narratives in megaprojects. Some of the questions examined in this original new book include: * What are narratives? * Why are they important in megaprojects? * How are they formed and used in megaprojects? * How do promotors of and protestors against megaprojects craft narratives to their advantage? * What strategies can project managers employ to effectively use narratives in megaprojects? Built from longitudinal research studies in combination with internationally recognised teaching materials, this book will provide readers with a theoretical understanding of narratives and projects, as well as practical international case studies, including HS2, the Eden Project, the Sochi Olympics, Hyderabad and Chennai Metros, Westconnex and Tideway, to support their understanding. The authors explain the different types of narrative, how and why they are important in general and in relation to a megaproject and its life-cycle, but also how to craft narratives in different situations, and how they are changed and maintained over a project life-cycle. Narratives in Megaprojects doubles as a text supporting more advanced courses on project management or aspects thereof, and as a reflection of the state of the art in this particular perspective on megaprojects. It is essential reading for all students and professionals in Project Management, Construction, Infrastructure and Executive Leaders involved in megaprojects and infrastructure delivery.

Practical Project Management is a realistic and easy-to-follow guide to managing projects for voluntary organisations. It will help you shape and structure the passion that drives your work in order to achieve positive results. The book leads you through the key stages of project management from preparation to delivery and discusses the activities and decisions you will need to succeed. It covers: * Key tools and models for project planning * Resource management and risk control * Budget planning and dealing with finances * Project evaluation and assessing social benefit Incorporating down-to-earth examples and case studies, this book is essential for everyone involved in project management for the voluntary sector and vital to those who are new to this area.

Importance of cash flows rather than profits in project management and engineering economics. * Basic engineering economic expressions are explained through many examples. * Modern project evaluation techniques for successful project management are explained. * Many practical cases and examples are presented and explained. * All monetary values are in US$ (US Dollars). This book presents the basic tools of strategic cost analysis and engineering economy principles used by managers, engineers, estimators, project planners and project management personnel. The areas of emphasis are: Cash Flow, Profits, Financial Statements and the Purcell Diagram; Types of Interest and Money Values used in Cash Flow Analysis; Different Formulae used in Engineering Economy Decisions with examples; Cash Flow Analysis before taxes; Depreciation Types and Cash Flows after Taxes; Project Evaluation Techniques including present worth, average annual cost, return on investment, return on average investment, rate of return, benefit/cost ratio and project balances and basic Probability and Risk Analysis. Many illustrative problems are included in the book to provide practice in using the expressions and techniques presented.

This book develops a common understanding between the client and the provider in each of the four stages of strategic outsourcing. These stages range from discovery, where the parties envision their future collaboration; planning, where they lay the ground work for the contract and the project; building, where they effectively carry out the work; and lastly to running, where they orchestrate the relationship on a daily basis to ensure that the new, enlarged company achieves the results sought. In a simple yet direct style, it highlights the dos and don'ts the parties should bear in mind at each stage of the process and combines both the client's and the provider's perspectives by comparing their respective involvement at each stage of the process and considering, equally, their obligations in establishing a balanced relationship. The book is primarily intended for those in the private sector with experience of dealing with complex outsourcing situations and who are looking for the small or bigger differentiators that will support their decisions and actions. The target audiences include, on the client side: CCOs, CIOs, lawyers, procurement managers, outsourcing consultants and IT Service managers and, on the provider side: account managers, bid managers, outsourcing project managers, operation managers and service managers. However, it is also useful for anybody involved in outsourcing who is seeking to develop a global understanding of the main processes and roles upstream and downstream in the chain.

Relationship management (RM) is an essential part of business, but its success as a business model can be hard to measure, with some firms embracing a model that is truly relationship-orientated, while others claim to be relationship-orientated but in fact prefer transactional short-term gain. This open access book aims to develop a mid-range theory of relationship management, examining truly relationship-orientated firms to discover not only what qualities these firms have that make them successful at the RM model, but also what benefits this model has for the firm. It addresses questions like how RM-mature companies achieve and sustain competitive advantage, and what determines the scale and scope of these firms, illustrating with case studies. This book will be of interest to scholars studying leadership and strategy, especially those interested in relationship management, business ethics and corporate social responsibility. It will also be of interest to professionals looking to develop their understanding of relationship management.