The development of computer technology, particularly the work of the Fifth Generation Computer Project of Japan, will have far-reaching international implications. The author explores the uses of the new generation computer and information systems now under development in Japan by identifying their application, assessing their impact on society, and envisioning the transition to the future.

Fuzzy knowledge and fuzzy systems affect our lives today as systems enter the world of commerce. Fuzzy systems are incorporated in domestic appliances (washing machine, air conditioning, microwave, telephone) and in transport systems (a pilotless helicopter has recently completed a test flight). Future applications are expected to have dramatic implications for the demand for labor, among other things. It was with such thoughts in mind that this first international survey of future applications of fuzzy logic has been undertaken. The results are likely to be predictive for a decade beyond the millenium. The predictive element is combined with a bibliography which serves as an historical anchor as well as being both extensive and extremely useful. Analysis and Evaluation of Fuzzy Systems is thus a milestone in the development of fuzzy logic and applications of three representative subsystems: Fuzzy Control, Fuzzy Pattern Recognition and Fuzzy Communications.

Natural disasters, instability in the finance and banking sector, widespread social protests, and other crisis situations have increasingly become the focus of public attention. With the growing visibility of such events, accelerated by the rise and proliferation of social media, the study of risk and crisis management in the Internet age is of vital importance.Uncertainty and Catastrophe Management is a clear and comprehensive guide to a variety of crises, and seeks to offer practical advice on how best to avoid them, minimize loss and damage once they have occurred, and how best to recover from these situations. The book examines 104 cases that run the gamut from natural disasters such as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, to social movements like the Ukrainian protests in 2013, from the Syrian Electronic Army's cyber-attacks, to the reputational damage to firms in the wake of a corporate scandal.This book is a revised and expanded edition of Akira Ishikawa and Atsushi Tsujimoto's book, Risk and Crisis Management: 101 Cases, and explores a number of recent events. It draws on the expertise of the contributors to the volume to create a well-rounded book that will benefit professionals, academics, and the general public alike. In particular, safety professionals, public management professionals, CEOs, CIOs, students and researchers will appreciate its pragmatic approach to dealing with and recovering from crises in the interest of long-term survival and sustainability.

Natural disasters, terrorist attacks, financial collapses, and other crisis situations have occupied public attention to an unprecedented degree in recent years. In the face of these events, the study of risk and crisis management is becoming more important than ever before. This book is a clear and comprehensive guide to the most common emergency situations of our day, giving succinct, practical advice on how best to avoid them if possible, how to minimize loss and damage once they have occurred, and how best to recover sustainably. The 101 cases presented here cover both natural and man-made disasters, drawing on recent and current case histories to propose workable solutions for governments, corporations and ordinary people facing extraordinary times.This revised and expanded edition of the authors' 1999 book, Survival - Simulation of Risk and Crisis Management 69, is written in an accessible style and contains the latest research in the field. It will benefit laypeople, professionals, and academics alike. In particular, safety professionals, public management professionals, CEOs, CIOs, tertiary students and researchers will appreciate its pragmatic, vigilant approach to dealing with and recovering from natural and man-made disasters in the interest of long-term survival and sustainability.

This book discusses the essence, concepts, techniques, and applications of business intelligence. It also explores different aspects of crisis management, knowledge management and knowledge sciences, the applications of business intelligence in contingencies and crises, environmental issues and group intelligence.The book is divided into three parts. The first part focuses on the significance of business intelligence, competition and intelligence, competitive information strategy, conflicts on patent issues, and the current state-of-the-art of business intelligence education in the US and France. The second part encompasses business intelligence and risk and crisis management, ecological issues and crisis management, business intelligence and knowledge management, and business intelligence as an organizational knowledge. The third part consists of case studies in business intelligence with special reference to the retail industry and the military arena. This part also focuses on applications of business intelligence.Finally, the book also envisages the future direction of knowledge information strategy. It will be of interest to students, academicians and people working in non-profit or non-government organizations.

Corporate Strategy for Dramatic Productivity Surge deals with the very basics of productivity and cost performance - including abridgement of time, increase in speed, enhancement of capabilities, increase in sensitivity and precision, enhancement of efficiency and effectiveness, alteration of size, reduction of costs and increase in revenue, among others.This book consists of five parts - Introduction, Case Studies of Super Effects in Management Functions, Case Studies of Global Scale Super Effects Realized, Case Studies of Super Effects in Marketing Domains, and Conclusion: The Road to Realizing the Super Effect - featuring more than fifty successful cases of productivity surge or super effects, including risk-driven ones. Productivity surge herein means a dramatic reduction of costs, at least by one-tenth, while maintaining effectiveness or discontinuous increase in effectiveness by at least 10 times, while keeping the costs the same.Cases highlighted in the book are instrumental and valuable for the organizations worldwide to evaluate processes, avoid unnecessary failure and work towards future success.

When analyzing 7-Eleven Japan's advanced and innovative management style, the authors of this book highlight the existence of the "integrated information system". This is because of the key role it plays not only in forming this firm's corporate strategy but also in developing its functional strategies for logistic support, merchandising and store operations. The authors explore the integrated information system, a symbol of the competitiveness of 7-Eleven Japan.

Fuzzy knowledge and fuzzy systems affect our lives today as systems enter the world of commerce. Fuzzy systems are incorporated in domestic appliances (washing machine, air conditioning, microwave, telephone) and in transport systems (a pilotless helicopter has recently completed a test flight). Future applications are expected to have dramatic implications for the demand for labor, among other things. It was with such thoughts in mind that this first international survey of future applications of fuzzy logic has been undertaken. The results are likely to be predictive for a decade beyond the millenium. The predictive element is combined with a bibliography which serves as an historical anchor as well as being both extensive and extremely useful. Analysis and Evaluation of Fuzzy Systems is thus a milestone in the development of fuzzy logic and applications of three representative subsystems: Fuzzy Control, Fuzzy Pattern Recognition and Fuzzy Communications.

New products and new business development require innovative, creative marketing solutions in order to successfully differentiate them from competing products in the marketplace. This important book explores and elucidates the essence of creativity, with an emphasis on how to proceed with R&D activities strategically and how to connect them with successful products, services and commercialization. Using interesting, real case studies such as "Healthy Tea (TM)" developed by Japan Coca-Cola, Inc., the recommendation engine "Teach Me Electronic Appliances", and the development of various robots, the book uncovers the secret of successful marketing and shows how to develop and deploy new products and services on a sustainable basis. It will therefore appeal to both business practitioners as well as researchers and students interested in innovation and marketing issues.