This book introduces the reader to the optical switching technology for its application to data centers. In addition, it takes a picture of the status of the technology and system architecture evolution and of the research in the area of optical switching in data center. The book is organized in four parts: the first part is focused on the system aspects of optical switching in intra-data center networking, the second part is dedicated to describing the recently demonstrated optical switching networks, the third part deals with the latest technologies developed to enable optical switching and, finally, the fourth part of the book outlines the future prospects and trends.

This book introduces the reader to the optical switching technology for its application to data centers. In addition, it takes a picture of the status of the technology and system architecture evolution and of the research in the area of optical switching in data center. The book is organized in four parts: the first part is focused on the system aspects of optical switching in intra-data center networking, the second part is dedicated to describing the recently demonstrated optical switching networks, the third part deals with the latest technologies developed to enable optical switching and, finally, the fourth part of the book outlines the future prospects and trends.

Environmental certification is an effective tool for managing the environmental impact of companies, leveraging their competitive capabilities and ensuring their compliance with environmental principles. A growing number of countries across the world are adopting this practice and the growth of new environmental standards - with different scopes, aims and roles - calls for a clear and updated systematization of the issue. This book provides a comprehensive, up-to-date overview of the different environmental certification tools. As well as examining practical methods of implementing the standards for each type of certification, the book discusses their added value from a corporate management perspective. In identifying the most important requirements and standards for the issuing of environmental certification of both products and processes, the book demonstrates how companies can use operational methods to develop an environmental management system or a product certification in practice. Balancing a complete theoretical presentation of the issue with an operational perspective, the book supports the adoption and implementation of environmental certification tools. It will be a valuable resource for professionals as well as students and scholars of environmental management, sustainable business and corporate social responsibility.

Environmental certification is an effective tool to manage the environmental impact made by companies, to leverage their competitive capabilities and to ensure their compliance with environmental principles in the case of production processes located in developing countries. As a result, environmental certification is becoming increasingly adopted by companies globally and the growth of new environmental standards - with different scopes, aims and roles - calls for a clear and updated systematization of the issue. This book provides an up-to-date overview of the different environmental certification tools and their respective roles and added value in a corporate management perspective. New certifiable standards for processes and products have been continuously developed, updated and renewed. This book provides a comprehensive and operational overview of the different types of environmental certification as well as an examination of the practical methods and tools to implement the standards for each certification.In identifying the most important requirements and standards for the issuing of environmental certification of both products and processes, the book demonstrates how companies can obtain operational methods to develop an environmental management system or a product certification in practice. Balancing a complete theoretical presentation of the issue with an operational perspective, the book supports the adoption and implementation of environmental certification tools and should be an invaluable resource for professionals as well as students and scholars of environmental management, sustainable business and corporate social responsibility.

This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.

The relationship between competitiveness and environment has been deeply investigated by researchers and practitioners. The available empirical evidence are not consistent and do not allow to state that any strand of research has succeeded over the others. In order to enrich this debate, the present study aims at answer the following question: How can the environmental regulation and practices improve the environmental performance and provide competitive advantages to the targeted firms or adopters? Several research questions have been derived from this: 1. Is a stringent environmental regulation able to positively affect the competitive performance of firms? 2. Has the form of environmental regulation a relevant role in this relation? 3. Are the flexible forms of environmental regulation able to influence the environmental and competitive performance? 4. Which are the effects of environmental practices based on the cooperation between the supply chain actors? In order to answer the above mentioned questions, regression analysis was applied to different datasets, focused on several sectors. Useful recommendations for managers and policy makers emerge.