Combining conceptual, pragmatic and operational approaches, this edited collection addresses the demand for knowledge and understanding of IT in the healthcare sector. With new technology outbreaks, our vision of healthcare has been drastically changed, switching from a 'traditional' path to a digitalized one. Providing an overview of the role of IT in the healthcare sector, The Digitization of Healthcare illustrates the potential benefits and challenges for all those involved in delivering care to the patient. The incursion of IT has disrupted the value chain and changed business models for companies working in the health sector, and also raised ethical issues and new paradigms about delivering care. This book illustrates the rise of patient empowerment through the development of patient communities such as PatientLikeMe, and medical collaborate platforms such as DockCheck, thus providing a necessary tool to patients, caregivers and academics alike.

The reflection on university management is based on the question about the shape of universities of the future. Civic, responsible, sustainable, virtual, digital and many other universities can be mentioned among concepts present in the literature. All these names describe an important distinctive feature of a university, which will gain more and more importance in the future. However, given the fundamental importance of the radical change taking place, it seems that the most appropriate name, reflecting the essence of the emerging new formation, is 'digital university.' This is because of the importance of digital transformation, which has been developing for several decades, bringing deep and multidirectional changes in the areas of technology, economy, society and culture. It is a disruptive civilizational transition and, although stretched over many decades, it is revolutionary in nature, significantly changing our lives in the Anthropocene. The book has three cognitive and pragmatic objectives: to provide a new perspective on the changing academic organization and management; to reflect on higher education management concepts and methods; and to present an overview of university management, governance and leadership, useful from the perspective of academic managers, and other stakeholders.

With digital automation becoming ubiquitous, the relationship between man and machine is being redefined. This book, through a focus on America, identifies the tension this relationship has produced, and how it has divided America socially, politically, and economically, ultimately breeding two fundamentally incompatible nations within one: the "forgotten America" and "elite America." This book enables the reader to visualize the changes brought by automation on our producer and buyer identities, and suggests policy changes that global leaders could adopt to deal with the increasing discord. The book is heavily dependent on a few fundamental concepts of both economics and sociology, such as globalization, labor economics, and cultural homogenization. The book is ideally suited to students and academics researching political economics and sociology, with focuses on globalization, unemployment, and the social impacts of technological advances.

This edited volume provides deep insight into theoretical and empirical evidence on how digital technologies and high-tech brands are interrelated. It traces the mutual links between these two phenomena, identifies the multidimensionality of interdependencies, and shows the reader how and why new technologies are the driving factor of creation and global dissemination of high-tech brands. In this context, it also refers to various types of economic and social networks that, on the one hand, are the product of digital technologies, while on the other enforce global visibility of high-tech brands. The book contributes to the present state of knowledge, offering the reader broad evidence on how digital technologies impact the process of high-tech brands' nascence and how their growing role and global exposure influence the networked economies and societies. It sets out to deliver a bridge between brand management and economical approaches to understanding how digital technologies and high-tech brands are interrelated. This multidisciplinary approach creates a complex compilation of different views and perspectives that sheds new light on the high-tech brands' phenomena of being an input and output of technology-driven economies. Technology Brands in the Digital Economy is written for scholars and researchers from a wide variety of disciplines but especially for those addressing issues of brands and economic development and growth, social development and the role of technological progress in broadly defined socio-economic progress. It will also be an invaluable source of knowledge for graduate and postgraduate students in a variety of areas such as economic and social development, information and technology, worldwide studies, social policy, or comparative economics.

This book illustrates two approaches for firms to shape successful circular strategies, namely, the Circular Economy and Circular Districts. The former considers firms' challenges when turning theoretical circular models into practice. Thus, it discusses the opportunities and difficulties in reshaping corporate strategies by reflecting on circular economy principles. The latter approach plays a new role within the new economy systems and this book conceptualizes and operationalizes its definition. The circular district can represent an effective way to accelerate the energy transition process by developing industrial collaborations and exploiting technology synergies to enhance circularity and achieve economic, environmental, and social targets. The book highlights how firms should adjust their strategic thinking, redesign their network of relationships, and reconsider the value creation process when the circular economy is a concrete option. Furthermore, it examines the evolution from circular economy to circular districts by revealing the motivations that push firms and supply chains to redesign their strategies by considering the perspective of a circular district. The book ends by analyzing business experiences in these two areas and proposes advancements for both the scientific community and the business world. The book offers a blend of theoretical frameworks and practical applications and will be of particular interest to scholars in the fields of sustainable operations, closed-loop supply chain, green supply chain management, and circular supply chains. Also, the operationalization of the concept of circular districts, offers a genuine and original theoretical contribution, thus targeting students from Executive programs, MBA programs, and PhD programs. The book will also attract managers, practitioners and professionals interested in real-world cases and experiences as well as practical developments in the domain.

This book offers readers a simple, attractive, detailed knowledge of TRIZ and applied TRIZ, Technology for Innovation.The genius of Genrich Altshuller and his many followers created TRIZ by using the best practices of thousands of most talented engineers and scientists, which made our technological civilization. TRIZ is a science and philosophy for new system creation and existing systems development, and related problem-solving. TRIZ helps to create the best possible solutions for even the most critical problems. TRIZ is the best we have today on our Planet for industry, technology, business, and education development.As a life philosophy, TRIZ helps realize every human being's privilege and obligation to be a creative person and live a creative and successful life. Applied TRIZ, Technology for Innovation is the process of using all parts of TRIZ combined with other proven design development methods and best practices of effective project teams for a system (products, devices, technologies, services) development and problem-solving.Technology for Innovation is applying through individual innovation Roadmaps for project creation and problem-solving.The structure and content of the book follow the standards and requirements of the curriculum for Universities. This book is a textbook for students and teachers at the university and high school level and a practical handbook for any manager, engineer, and specialist involved in product and technology development. Of course, the author believes it will also be beneficial and enjoyable to anyone with an inquiring mind, irrespective of age, and specialty.

* Illustrates the approaches to how business can stay agile and be sustainable in unprecedented situations * Outlines strategies for corporate governance and ethics in digital economy * Explains how to create an innovative culture and outcome based approach to achieve key business deliverables while meeting stakeholders' needs

Decision-makers at all levels are being confronted with novel complexities and uncertainties and face long-term challenges which require foresight about long-term future prospects, assumptions, and strategies. This book explores how foresight studies can be systematically undertaken and used in this context. It explicates why and how methods like horizon scanning, scenario planning, and roadmapping should be applied when dealing with high levels of uncertainty. The scope of the book moves beyond "narrow" technology foresight, towards addressing systemic interrelations between social, technological, economic, environmental, and political systems. Applications of foresight tools to such fields as energy, cities, health, transportation, education, and sustainability are considered as well as enabling technologies including nano-, bio-, and information technologies and cognitive sciences. The approaches will be illustrated with specific actual cases.

Best Practice in Inventory Management 3E offers a simple, entirely jargon-free and yet comprehensive introduction to key aspects of inventory management. Good management of inventory enables companies to improve their customer service, cash flow and profitability. This text outlines the basic techniques, how and where to apply them, and provides advice to ensure they work to provide the desired effect in practice.

With an unrivalled balance between qualitative and quantitative aspects of inventory control, experienced consultant Tony Wild portrays the many ways in which stock management is more nuanced than simple "number crunching" and mathematical modelling.

This long-awaited new edition has been substantially and thoroughly updated.

The product of decades of experience and expertise in the field, Best Practice in Inventory Management 3E provides students and professionals, even those with no prior experience in the area, an unbiased and honest picture of what it takes to effectively manage stocks in a firm.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION

1 THE BASIS OF INVENTORY CONTROL

1.A The role of inventory management

1.B Objectives for inventory control

1.C Profit through inventory management

1.D Reasons for the current stock

2 CUSTOMER SERVICE

2.A Customer Relations

2.B Measuring availability

2.C Demand management

2.D Consuming forecast demand and supply lead time

3 SHAPING INVENTORY

3.A Using Pareto Analysis for control

3.B ABC Analysis

3.C Stock cover

3.D Pareto stock balance

　

4 PRACTICAL METHODS FOR REDUCING STOCKHOLDING

4.A Approach to Inventory Reduction

4.B The Reduction Project

4 C Obsolete and Excess Stock

5 MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL

5.A Where stock control fits into the organisation

5.B Responsibilities and targets

5.C Skills and Systems

5.D Inventory valuation

6 LEAN SUPPLY

6.A Lean Supply Philosophy

6.B Lean Principles

6.C Implementing lean

6.D Operational benefits of Lean Supply

6.E Developing Lean Operations

7 SAFETY STOCKS

7.A Learning from History

7.B Normal demand patterns

7.C Evaluating safety stocks

8 SETTING THE RIGHT STOCK LEVELS

8.A Simple Assessment of Review Levels

8.B Managing Lead Times

8.C Supplier Delivery frequency effects

8.D Target stock levels

9 PROCUREMENT

9.A The Role of Supply Chain Procurement

9.B Supply partnerships

9.C Single Sourcing

9.D Supply Partnerships

9.E Vendor Appraisal

9.F Pricing Methods

10 DELIVERY QUANTITIES

10.A Supply and Suppliers

10.B Organising Repetitive Supply

10.C Order types

10.D Order quantities

10.E Delivery Quantities

10.F Scheduling supply

10.G Supply Co-ordination

10.H Purchasing Processes

11 FORECASTING DEMAND

11.A Options for assessing demand

11.B Causes of forecasting inaccuracy

11.C Methods of improving forecasting

12 HISTORICAL FORECASTING TECHNIQUES

12.A Basic Forecasting Techniques

12.B Moving Average

12.C Exponentially Weighted Averages

12.D Improved Values for Mean Absolute Deviation

12.E Choosing the Best Forecast - Focus Forecasting

13 IMPROVED FORECASTING METHODS

13.A More Forecasting Tools

13.B Forecasting for seasonal sales

14 DEPENDENT DEMAND

14.A Avoiding uncertainty

14.B Material requirements planning

14.C Master planning

15 SUPPLY CHAIN INVENTORY MANAGEMENT

15.A The basis of the lean supply chain

15.B Coordination

15.C Supply Chain Operations

15.D Replenishment Techniques

16 MEETING THE CHALLENGES

16.A Review

16.B Recipe for success

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

The Media Convergence Handbook sheds new light on the complexity of media convergence and the related business challenges. Approaching the topic from a managerial, technological as well as end-consumer perspective, it acts as a reference book and educational resource in the field. Media convergence at business level may imply transforming business models and using multiplatform content production and distribution tools. However, it is shown that the implementation of convergence strategies can only succeed when expectations and aspirations of every actor involved are taken into account. Media consumers, content producers and managers face different challenges in the process of media convergence. Volume I of the Media Convergence Handbook encourages an active discourse on media convergence by introducing the concept through general perspective articles and addressing the real-world challenges of conversion in the publishing, broadcasting and social media sectors.

Since the Industrial Revolution, the efficiency with which energy resources are extracted and converted into work has played a prominent role in the accumulation of material wealth.The prominent role of energy resources, in conjunction with their scarcity and their uneven geographic distribution, has had significant repercussions. Collaboration, competition and conflict among nation states for energy resources have created global, geopolitical and market risks. In this volume, academic scholars and practitioners assess these risks from global, geopolitical and market perspectives. They do so by presenting empirical research and discussing our current understanding of this quickly changing and developing field.

This is the third volume in a series on energy organized by the Centre for Energy and Value Issues (CEVI). The previous volumes in the series were "Financial Aspects in Energy "(2011) and "Energy Economics and Financial Markets" (2012)."

This contributed volume features state-of-the-art research from ten different countries on implementation, institutionalization and the future prospects of social entrepreneurship. This volume aims at bringing together research that considers the context of economy, politics and cultural issues combining with the needs of social and human development. By conceptualizing the notion of social entrepreneurship and societal entrepreneurship, this volume aims to disseminate the numerous streams of research and theory of social entrepreneurship to educators, libraries, scholars, non-profit researchers, public policy makers, practitioners, undergraduate and graduate students, and any organization or person interested in staying abreast of advances in this area. It is also an important reference book for teachers, students and faculty interested in conducting research or teaching social entrepreneurship.

This book sheds new light on the advancement of various industries in developing Asian countries through an application and re-examination of catch-up industrialization theory. With contributors presenting their own perspectives on the progression of a range of different industries in Asia, this volume provokes readers to reconsider their current understanding of industrialization in latecomer countries. More specifically, the chapters discuss Taiwan's semiconductor industry, Korea's steel industry, and Malaysia's palm oil industry, amongst others. The authors also explore the 'catch-down' innovation strategy in China and India. Varieties and Alternatives of Catching-up provides a thorough analysis of the strategies employed by numerous Asian countries to radically transform their low-income agricultural economies to middle-income industrialized ones. This book is essential reading for researchers and scholars interested in Asian economic development.

The digital transformation of finance and banking enables traditional services to be delivered in a more effective and efficient way but, at the same time, presents crucial issues such as fast growing new asset classes, new currencies, datafication and data privacy, algorithmization of law and regulation and, last but not least, new models of financial crime. This book approaches the evolution of digital finance from a business perspective and in a holistic way, providing cutting-edge knowledge of how the digital financial system works in its three main domains: banking, insurance and capital markets. It offers a bird's eye view of the major issues and developments in these individual sectors. The book begins by examining the wider framework of the subsequent analysis and over the next three parts, discusses the opportunities, risks and challenges facing the digitalization of these individual financial subsectors, highlighting the similarities and differences in their digitalization agenda, as well as the existing linkages and dependencies among them. The book clarifies the strategic issues facing the development of digital finance in these major subsectors over the coming years. The book has three key messages: that digital transformation changes fundamentally the way financial businesses operate; that individual trades have their own digitalization agenda; and that the State with its regulatory power and central banking and money has a particularly important role to play. It will be of interest to scholars, students and researchers of finance and banking, as well as policymakers wishing to understand the values and limitations of new forms of digital money.

This book provides deep insight into the emergent Chinese innovation economy, as we head towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution. It describes, discusses and analyzes the period from China's opening up to foreign investment in the 1980s until the New Silk Road project, from 2013 onwards. The developments are assessed from a systemic thinking and evolutionary economic standpoint. The book presents the latest research findings on the direction and achievements of the Belt and Road Initiative, and the results both for China, the countries along the new Silk Road, as well as for Europe and the United States are brought to light. The author asserts that the phenomenon of the New Silk Road as an innovation generator can be understood and explained through the effects of various social mechanisms. He labels these five social mechanisms as: the locomotive force; the explosive force of the butterfly effect; the force of co-creation; the force of expectation; and the force of competence. The book presents 20 cases to substantiate the descriptions, analysis, theoretical reflections and the practical utility of the questions examined in each chapter. It utilizes economic history research methods, scenario thinking, futures research and conceptual generalization to offer different views on the research problem under investigation. Further, the book offers policy suggestions, which include promoting effective macroeconomic policies, and extending microeconomic cooperation schemes, related to the innovation economy. The book will appeal to academics, researchers and graduate students concerned with Chinese economic expansion, Chinese foreign policy and US- and Europe-China relations, as well as policymakers and political advisors.

Current systems are failing the poor because these systems are unable to provide the financial inclusion needed for basic subsistence and commerce, which in turn would drive micro and macro-economic growth. This book introduces the reader to a new way of thinking about how value can be created, captured, measured and understood, economically and financially, and within in the context of social contract. It underscores the need to revisit such models through technological advancements, namely Industrial Revolution 4.0, in order to solve pressing global issues like economic inclusion and poverty eradication. The book proposes that for humanity to make the leap forward and for any real sustainable development to occur, the world needs a disruptive approach to value creation using currency systems, considering that currencies underpin value exchange. This disruption will result in a level of decentralization that facilitates peer-to-peer value exchange and drives financial inclusion, all of which should be underscored by a new, digital social contract. The author asserts that a time-based digital currency could address these issues by creating a new and truly inclusive currency model that allows economies to gain more value than previously possible. In addition, by leveraging 4IR technologies, a currency system can be designed where each unit of money accurately reflects the context and range of socio-economic factors that influence each human interaction. This book is aimed at futurists, technologists, researchers, policymakers, and anyone that is curious about how technology could make a difference in our collective futures. It cuts across a range of subject areas from economics, finance, philosophy, innovation to social development and takes an interdisciplinary approach to present a logical framework and theoretical foundation for the monetization of time as a digital currency.

Blockchain Supply Chain Use Cases. Distributed Ledger Technology Supply Chain Use Cases. Blockchain-Enabled Digital Transformation Use Cases. Blockchain Supply Chain Diffusion/Innovation Use Cases.

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.

This volume collects selected papers of the 5th CESA Automotive Electronics Congress, Paris, 2018. CESA is the most important automotive electronics conference in France. The topical focus lies on state-of-the-art automotive electronics with respect to energy consumption and autonomous driving. The target audience primarily comprises industry leaders and research experts in the automotive industry.

The second volume of this edited collection offers a number of contributions from leading scholars investigating Blockchain and its implications for business. Focusing on the transformation of the overall value chain, the sections cover the foundations of Blockchain and its sustainability, social and legal applications. It features a variety of use cases, from tourism to healthcare. Using a number of theoretical and methodological approaches, this innovative publication aims to further the cause of this ground-breaking technology and its use within information technology, supply chain and wider business management research.

While science and technology research, sources of funding, performance, incentives, and motivations for technology innovation activities are reasonably well understood by academics and policy makers, the complex process by which scientific results are exploited and transformed into new technologies through an innovation process is poorly documented and studied little. Technology Dynamics is dedicated to the complex activity of technology innovation, with the aim of describing how innovative ideas are generated and their transformation into new technologies. It is based on the idea that technology evolves continuously with time, is changed by innovations, and is characterized by a dynamic that is constituted by technological processes occurring in organizational structures, as well as during the use of technologies. The five chapters Discuss technological processes for innovation; Describe innovation within organizational structures; Offer information on interfacing of science and economic factors with technology; Suggest new statistical studies for innovation and new approaches for innovation policies; and Examine the contribution of technology dynamics to statistical studies and promotion of technology innovation. This book is aimed at managers developing strategies for technology innovation, researchers interested in exploiting scientific results for innovative ideas and new technologies, scholars and students studying the economics of innovation. The book would also of interest to private or public financiers of innovation and policy makers involved in economic growth strategy.

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.

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.

The purpose of the present edited book 'Advances in Management Research: Emerging Challenges and Trends' is to provide a wide range of paradigmatic and theoretical substantive research articles in management research.

The book presents the first comprehensive account of how economists, engineers and industrialists mapped out the economic future of Greece in the aftermath of civil war devastation. It documents the policy debate that took place among Greece and its sponsors about the future course of the economy, the required investment and their financing. Through historical narrative, archival sources and oral history, this book offers a better understanding of the achievements proclaimed by many economists as an "economic miracle".