Book Description

Optimization problems arising in practice involve random parameters. For the computation of robust optimal solutions, i.e., optimal solutions being insensitive with respect to random parameter variations, deterministic substitute problems are needed. Based on the distribution of the random data, and using decision theoretical concepts, optimization problems under stochastic uncertainty are converted into deterministic substitute problems. Due to the occurring probabilities and expectations, approximative solution techniques must be applied. Deterministic and stochastic approximation methods and their analytical properties are provided: Taylor expansion, regression and response surface methods, probability inequalities, First Order Reliability Methods, convex approximation/deterministic descent directions/efficient points, stochastic approximation methods, differentiation of probability and mean value functions. Convergence results of the resulting iterative solution procedures are given.

Book Description

Probably the most respected operations text on the market. This is an introductory operations management text that does well in both the introductory undergraduate OM course as well as at the senior level and graduate levels. It can also be found in industrial engineering. Chase's reputation for modern coverage and currency is largely the reason it has gained its reputation as an upper level course. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Good undergrad/MBA text.
If you're looking for a graduate textbook, Production & Operations Analysis by Nahmias is your essential text. I'm in a PhD program now, and I found Nahmias' book most helpful. But while I was in an MBA program, I used this POM book by Chase et al. I think the fact that it's on an eigth edition hurts it a little, since the services stuff (as opposed to manufacturing) looks like it's been thrown in as an afterthought, but at least it HAS services stuff, that's a good start - research is kinda hot in the area of services (such as my own research), so you can't expect the textbook to be complete in services topics until the research field matures.

It has an excellent discussion of supply-chain management, and is pretty comprehensive in all POM areas, at least in a qualitative way. The quantitative stuff is rather sporadic, which I think is a good thing - the undergrad/MBA student can learn POM issues without getting bogged down in quantitative details. If it is missing anything, it would be in revenue management (which has lately been incorporated into the supply chain) and risk analysis. Perhaps next edition...

Needs to cover supply chain mgt. and ERP more deeply
I am an MBA student and I used this book as the textbook for the course "Operations Management". The book is very good and helpful, very well written too. It also contains a CD-Rom with PowerPoint presentations for each chapter and some multimedia too. It covers all the basic concepts for Operations Mgt. in Manufacturing and it also tries to apply all this concepts in the service industry. Although, I would really like to see more coverage of the following subjects in the next edition:

Supply Chain Management, ERP, CRM, EBusiness, etc.....

Great coverage
Really well-written book with great coverage ... including SAP, service operations, strategy, etc.

The book is very well designed for a course on production/ o
My name is Muhammad Salim Khan. I am a Professor at the University here in Pakistan and have been using this book for teaching production / operation management to the students of MBA here at our university. In my opinion the book is well designed and fulfills all requirements of the course. I would request the author/ publisher if they can provide me the solution manual of this book which will in fact help me in clearing my own concepts of the problems given at the end of each chapter.

Perfect book for teaching Production Management Classes
We use the book in our production courses at the university of Oldenburg in Germany. It's highly appreciated by the students. The CD is a big support for preparing the classes. The only deficit is the fact that not all pictures and tableaus of the book are part of the CD.

Prof. Dr. Uwe Schneidewind University of Oldenburg schwind@hrz1.uni-oldenburg.de ... Read more

Book Description

Tens of thousands of readers rely on James Lewis's classic Project Planning, Scheduling & Control for hands-on help in bringing projects in on time and on budget. Now, this higher-level guide takes project managers beyond basic skills. Using the flexible and down-to-earth approach for which Lewis is famed, it covers advanced topics such as identifying customer requirements using QFD (quality function deployment); allocating resources for improved scheduling applying systems thinking; and using decision-support tools in project management. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great end to end reading
Very easy and fun reading. Hits all the right points that relate to project management. Examples are good, lots of creative ideas that I wasn't aware of and good reference to other books and material.

I would have liked to see more content on systems thinking and how they are applied in real life. Other than that, it is very un-common for me to read a book end to end. I enjoyed - and learned.

Excellant Reading of the Finer Points of Project Management
This is a excellent overview for General Management, Stakeholders, PMs and PM Team Members to used not only as an overview of Project Management, but as an advance guidance in the planning, scheduling and controlling methodology. Mr. Lewis's approach to Systems Thinking vice the linear thinking is well addressed. The Chapter on Managing Quality in Projects is excellent and stresses planning, customer needs, rework, and cost should be reviewed at all levels of the Enterprise from General Management to individuals striving to complete a project. I will place this book next to my copy his book, "The Project Manager's Desk Reference."

Good High Level Concepts
I found this to be a good high level view of the PM discipline, its concepts, and processes. The section on Risk Management provided a good overview. All chapters are "overview" level, but the book has a good reference section for further reading. I'd refer readers to Lewis' The Project Managers Desk Reference" for more detailed reading. I do find I refer to this book and am glad I added it to my library.

Clear Text on Advanced Project Managment
I found this bookto be a very useful source of information associated with Project Managment. Lewis's ideas associated with Innovation in projects is very helpful in the R+D project world. ... Read more

Book Description

The field of Operations Research (OR) covers a wide range of mathematical topics. Because it is so broad, results and formulas relevant to the field are widely scattered in different texts and journals and can be hard to find. As the field continues to grow, OR practitioners and students need a convenient, one-stop source for the results relevant to their work. The Operations Research Calculations Handbook meets that need. It contains more than 300 results in a single, concise volume. Organized by topic and listed in a convenient summary format, it allows readers to have frequently used results at their fingertips. Although based on the author's experience in the manufacturing industry, many of the results are basic to system modeling. They carry over easily to applications in other areas of operations research and management science.While modern software packages are useful for obtaining numerical results, formulas continue to play a significant role in systems modeling. They allow one to draw general conclusions about system behavior, reveal the underlying system model, and help provide an understanding of system performance. Whether you are a student, professor, or seasoned professional, the Operations Research Calculations Handbook offers not only a handy reference that will save time, but also a tool that will help build the intuitive understanding you need to apply systems models with confidence. ... Read more

Book Description

In the most advanced service economies, services create up to three-quarters of the wealth and 85% of employment, and yet we know relatively little about managing innovation in this sector. The critical role of services, in the broadest sense, has long been recognized, but is still not well understood. Most research and management prescriptions have been based on the experience of manufacturing and high technology sectors. There is a clear need to distinguish which, if any, of what we know about managing innovation in manufacturing is applicable to services, what must be adapted, and what is distinct and different. Such is the goal of this book.

This unique collection brings together the latest academic research and management practice on innovation in services, and identifies a range of successful organizational responses to current technological opportunities and market imperatives. The contributors include leading researchers, consultants and practitioners in the field, who provide rigorous yet practical insights into managing and organizing innovation in services. Two themes help to integrate the contributions in this book:

· That generic good practices exist in the management and organization of innovation in services, which the authors seek to identify, but that these must be adapted to different contexts, specifically the scale and complexity of the tasks, the degree of customization of the offerings, and the uncertainty of the environment.· That innovation in services is much more than the application of information technology (IT). In fact, the disappointing returns to IT investments in services have resulted in a widespread debate about the causes and potential solutions — the so-called "productivity paradox" in services. Instead here the authors adopt a broader notion of innovation, including technological, organizational and market change. The key is to match the configuration of organization and technology to the specific market environment. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Too many typos
In this book, author not only lays the foundation of the technique of DEA effectively, but also dedicates a significant portion of the book to illustrate it through full-fledged applications implemented by the author himself. It covers the latest developments in this field and lists out resources. A "not-too-rigorous" mathematical treatment makes this book an easy rapid reading text. A chapter dedicated to do's and don'ts from the implementation point of view and solutions to the selected problems at the end of the book makes it very useful. The book emphasizes on practice rather than abstract theory.

The book though disappoints readers having a keen eye for details, due to a number of typographical errors, use of variables without defining them and inappropriate sequencing of problems within exercises and across chapters. The inadvertent insertion of technical details unnecessarily at numerous instances might distract or annoy readers. The matrix representation of the formulations need not have been left in the main body of the text. Similarly discussion on the non-Archimedean constant could have been extracted out to an appendix.

The author begins with very lucid and clear exposition of terms, concepts aided with graphical illustrations. He elucidates the applicability of DEA to Not-For-Profit organizations with reasoning and elaborates the underlying philosophy of DEA. The generalized mathematical formulation by first principles leading to formulation of fractional DEA program through a simple example elicits interest among readers. The CCR model laying the first stepping stone in the formal theory of DEA is immediately followed by dual DEA formulation which capitalize the interest aroused till then.

The relationship between output (input) maximizing (minimizing) multiplier DEA and the input (output) oriented envelopment DEA in chapter 2 could have been better illustrated through a solved example. The two-stage optimization procedure is yet another distraction which could have been avoided by taking it appendix as it is not used further in text. In the section on interpretation of dual, the example involving firms PQR & T is inserted unnecessarily which creates discontinuity and concludes in an adhoc fashion.

In line with the chronology of the theory of DEA, the concept of "economies of scale" is introduced subsequently in chapter 3, which includes basic concepts of CRS and VRS, technical and scale efficiencies, estimation of MPSS and their detailed investigation. This helps the reader understand the evolution of DEA to real life adaptation and its increasing acceptance. This chapter ends with ample examples for the reader to have a good grasp of the theory. This chapter introduces the BCC model quite succinctly backed by good references, but is plagued with a number of typographical errors. With this chapter, the basic theory and evolution of DEA during its foundation years is covered exhaustively and the text is fairly easy to understand as the shift to application of theory beyond this chapter. Besides a good understanding of the dual LP theory is a prerequisite to develop a sound foundation.

The variants of basic models and the recent developments have been covered in chapter 4 of the book which covers Multiplicative DEA models, Additive models, Window Analysis and Malmquist Productivity Index Approach. Similarly, variants in these models, such as use of non-discretionary input / output, treatment of categorical variables, incorporation of judgmental and subjective weights, are discussed. These models and variants are briefly introduced but examples for select few are illustrated. Examples for each type of variant could however have made the chapter more effective. The chapter ends with three exercise problems and a note for advanced readers on other DEA models which establishes its linkage with multi criteria decision making models. This evokes appreciation for utility of DEA extensions.

The best of the book lies in the chapter on computer support for DEA, wherein the computational features of DEA are taken into account along with the resources available in print and web media. DEA software is presented in the fifth chapter which is aptly detailed with finer implementation level details like compatibility with the OS, the embedded solver, limits on the size of the problem, interfacing with other common software etc. The format of data input, specification of variables, syntax of command, and snapshots of the various intermediate and final outputs along with their interpretation make very interesting and engaging reading. This is very helpful for readers who want to try out DEA. The software of varying degrees of robustness and complexity are demonstrated namely DEAP, EMS, GAMS formulation and Excel serving the vast range of readers on the spectrum of elementary to advanced level.

The chapter on DEA bibliography and application takes the reader to the world of "DEA in practice" which helps one understand the issues involved in problem formulation, implementation, sensitivity analysis of model, post DEA analysis, validation and reaffirmation of the results through techniques such as regression etc. The problems attempt to demonstrate full-fledged implementation which range from comparative performance of schools to productivity assessment of State transport undertakings in India, from comparative risk assessment of energy systems and energy efficiencies of transport modes in India to Carbon dioxide emissions of countries. This wide range of problems adds to the richness of the text especially when the studies have been carried out by the author himself.

The book concludes with a chapter on do's and don'ts for undertaking DEA studies. Some fundamental considerations enlisted for characterizing DMUs, selection of input/output and DEA model, post DEA procedures, strengths and weaknesses of DEA would enhance confidence of amateurs. The chapter climaxes with a graph clearly illustrating the severe limitation of DEA in case of DMUs having same peer members, leaving the reader wanting for more.

A book covering so much is expected to be shallow, but it makes easy reading and opens the doors to the field of DEA. The most notable feature of the book is its use of many small case studies, comprehensive bibliography and illustration of software usage. "DEA made simple" or "DEA in 24 hours" could have been more appropriate titles. ... Read more

Book Description

New research and experiences are demonstrating that shareholder value is improved dramatically when companies reach higher levels of operational excellence. Supply chain management, when planned, designed, and executed effectively, is the key to achieving high levels of operating performance which, in turn, drives shareholder value.

The Ernst & Young Global Supply Chain Management Consulting Practice has assisted hundreds of well-known, multinational companies in minimizing their total costs, growing the business profitability, and achieving higher levels of customer satisfaction. Supercharging Supply Chains through speed, focus, and customer intensity enables smart companies to realize their visions and business strategies better than their competitors. Saving millions, increasing customer shares, and increasing "free cash flow" are kinds of benefits being reached by those select companies that operate high-performing supply chains in their global markets.

Now, for the first time, key partners and leaders of the firm's Global Supply Chain Management Team reveal their proven approaches and industry-leading experiences to help your business improve.

Beginning with an innovative view of supply chain excellence and its impact on shareholder value, Supercharging Supply Chains examines numerous management issues: why and how operational excellence helps companies sell more products; what new ideas are being implemented to achieve this excellence within the key business processes of Plan, Buy, Make, and Sell; how to introduce new products effectively into global supply chains; and how the best companies are making it happen.

Supercharging Supply Chains cites case examples of such leading names as Procter & Gamble, 3M, Reebok, Dell Computer, Hewlett-Packard, Ford Motor, and several others to illustrate how the leaders benefit from these new ways of achieving value through operational excellence.

Insightfully written by leaders in global supply chain management, and featuring their innovative perspectives and unparalleled expertise, this book is essential reading for all business executives and managers who want to achieve operational excellence and global supply chain success.

"More than a treatise, Supercharging Supply Chains gives senior managers clear, strategic insights linking this much talked about subject to free cash flow and shareholder value goals. Well organized, the authors provide a strong, practical framework for understanding how cost, time, and speed are changing the way successful companies achieve operational excellence." — John W. Snow, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, CSX Corporation

"Supercharging Supply Chains is a book whose timing is right. In today's global markets competition is fierce, and the best companies are competing more and more through operational excellence." — Ken Watchmaker, Chief Financial Officer Reebok International, Ltd.

"Probably one of the largest untapped opportunities in business today . . . Supercharging Supply Chains is loaded with practical advice on how to drive added value through integrated demand/supply management. We will put it to good use!" — Ralph W. Drayer, Vice President Efficient Consumer Response, The Procter & Gamble Company

"With this book, readers get innovative and strategic perspectives for the global and regional management of the entire supply chain. At the same time, large cost reduction potentials are unlocked through supply chain management to improve your competitive position." — Hans-Dieter Panzer General Manager Logistics, Siemens ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Solid Effort
This is a solid introductory effort to supply chain management and the integral function and role SCM plays in contemporary business.

The authors do an excellent job describing the importance of operational excellence in an age of increased globalization. The authors also do a superb job in emphasizing the role SCM plays in shareholder value, and how SCM can be used as an X factor in forging competitive advantage.

The only fault I see with the book is the focus on speed instead of authoritative SCM optimization. Charles Fine's Clockspeed and other works handle supply, demand, delivery issues in a more balanced and lucid manner.

Don't believe the hype
I am a consultant with the largest supply chain practice in the world, and I await the release of new texts on supply chain content with great interest. Based on the reputation of Gene Tyndall and a colleauge's personal recommendation, I purchased "Supercharging" with this same great enthusiasm. After finishing the book, however, my opinion is that its a grand testament to the hypebole, unsubstantiated claims and lack of professional rigor that so often gives consultants a bad name. The book seriously drops the ball in several areas.

First, I have read enough books, including this one, that promise enhanced supply chain management will directly improve share price; despite "Supercharging" positioning this as the central tenant of their argument, I am still waiting for valid proof. Anecdotes and self-serving case studies, which this book has in extreme abundance, will not suffice.

If you conduct a literature seach of academic databases you can find dozens of rigorous, statistically valid studies that attempt to isolate and identify the primary correlative variable(s) to a firm's share price. To my knowledge, the following variables have been examined: EVA generation, marketing capabilities, traditional accounting measures, change in EPS, product/process quality performance and even supply chain management. Conclusions from all these studies which I have read are typically mixed, but none of them claim to have found the "magic bullet;" Tyndall et. al. not only claim to have found the magic bullet, but they ask us to swallow this significant statement based solely on the collective experience of the authors. As they say, we believe God, all others must bring data.

For example, I would like the authors to provide the source data for a figure early in the book which shows a straight-line, linear relationship between a firm's "instrinsic" stock price and its working capital investment rate. So my conclusion is that by simply increasing working capital turnover, any firm can boost their market capitalization by several billion dollars. I would ask the authors to look at Sara Lee Corp. (NYSE: SLE), which dramatically improved its working efficiency in the recent past when it shed its manufacturing assets and became a "shell" corporation. There was a short-lived share price jump, which was simply a favorable reaction from The Street, which has long-since disappeared.

The lengthy point which I am trying to make is that for every self-serving case example the authors have dredged up, I can serve up one which is equally contradictory. I feel they are treading on complex ground with heavy boots and stepping on all kinds of land mines.

Second, this book is a great witch's brew of the latest supply chain programs and trends: integrated planning, customer-centric logistics, collaboration, etc. I am very uncomfortable with knowledgeable supply chain consultants presenting laundry lists of what the authors call "proven and common sense" ideas to readers with no discriminatory or categorical framework to support the ideas. For example, its very easy to claim that eProcurement is a great approach for gaining operational excellence. What this book does not do, and what is much harder to do, is to help a company decide what will give them a defensible, strategic advantage in thier supply chain. Maybe its not eProcurement, but a strategicu sourcing project to stabilize and capture sources of supply. Maybe its a supplier rationalization and management project to cut transaction and ordering costs. The point is, the approach used by the authors is analogous to giving an excited teenager his first new hunting rifle with no instructions: you know he's probably going to kill something, we're just not sure if its a deer or the neighbor's dog.

Last, this is just too much of a feel-good book for me. I felt like I was slowly being suffocated by all the consulting-ease, jargon and glittering generalities that pervade the book. Remember, I am a supply chain consultant that truly believes most all companies have significant untapped operational and financial improvement opportunities in their supply chains. I just feel that its the consultant's duty to temper his/her beliefs with (valid!) empirical data, rigorous approaches and a value-adding framework to discuss all of these new ideas.

I would never recommend this book to anyone. If you are supply chain beginner I would recommend purchasing one of the college texts which contain structured content on supply chain fundamentals. Don't allow this book to put stars in your eyes or make you skip all the good supply chain details that already exist in more basic texts.

If you are a supply chain professional, I recommend you also skip this book and search for texts that focus on your particular area of specialization. Don't believe the hype, and if you do, don't blame me just because I am a consultant.

Great Supply Chain Discussion Starter
Supercharging Supply-Chains is aimed at providing senior executives with an overview of the issues, and an approach to achieving operational excellence through the supply chain.

Highlights of the chapters include:

* Linking operational performance to shareholder value- greater free cashflow & market capitalization , operations as the bridge connecting strategy & shareholder value, key principles for operational excellence (e.g. differentiated supply-chain strategy, organize along processes, collaborate with customers & suppliers, invest in IT, people & expertise, manage by product/channel, outsource elements, think globally, build regionally, operate locally, and execute through focus, measurement & empowerment).

* Operations issues- business overview (develop, plan, buy, make, move, sell, market, and finance), only 4 organization structures, key metrics (EMV, share price, return on net assets, net profits after tax), 3 requirements for competitiveness (structure, measures & rapidity), 12 key imperatives (flexibility, plan & measure, structure logistics, leanness, information optimization, unequal customer treatment, operate globally, virtuality & collaborative management, e-commerce, leverage people, operationalize new product introductions, mass-customize & postpone), and dashboard performance measures.

* Demand and supply planning- 8 key tenets (high-level accountability, combine demand & supply planning, eliminate impact of product forecast, create a common language & focus on commonality, treat customers unequally, plan for spares & returns, replace inventory with information & analysis, and focus on deployment transparency).

* Sales- 4 key steps (segment markets & product groups, identify key value points by customer, identify consolidation opportunities around the customer, and identify & create common processes & systems around the customer).

* Sourcing & suppliers- 10 principles (extend chain towards suppliers, organize right people effectively, develop commodity teams, practice global sourcing & supplier management, focus on total costs, simplify, let suppliers manage (vendor-managed inventories, consortium buying, or outsourcing), leverage IT and e-commerce, enhance sourcing automation, partner smart), and 6 basic IT areas (tactical planning & support, core transaction processing, EDI/web, imaging/forms automation/bar-coding, automated purchase orders, and integration with suppliers' IT).

* Advanced logistics- reducing capital expenditures by improving use of fixed assets (rationalize distribution networks, outsource select processes, explore shared facilities, optimize use of equipment, and understand tax implications of chain) and reduce working capital by minimizing inventories (consolidate warehouses, use in-transit warehousing, replace inventories with information, reduce distribution cycle time, and implement demand/supply planning & management).

* Product introductions- 6 tenets- link PIP to supply/demand planning, concurrent/codevelopment, design with commonality, better business case, and world-class teams.

* Supply chain project management- ensure value, manage risk, use method, and use iterative approach.

* Summary findings from a basic supply chain survey study.

Strengths include: the timeliness and interest of the subject; the concise content-rich style; good use of appropriate & attractive sidebars, figures, and tables; mostly high-quality content; and good consistent chapter structure including summary and "questions for the managers".

On the negative side are: the occasional typos, errors & omissions; inconsistency & lack of definition of acronyms; poor supporting materials & references; some throwaway (non-value-add) content; re-labeling of older established technologies as current & innovative (e.g. EDI); and a "linear-generic" rather than "thorough" treatment of the subject (i.e. little option of tools for each stage). 'Supercharging' sometimes felt like a (good) sales document or lightly-referenced literature review, without enough guidance for you to directly use the material without (Ernst & Young) consulting support.

Overall, supercharging supply chains is a good starting discussion point on contemporary supply-chain practice. Use with a deeper operations text like Slack or Wild (with wide, referenced, rigorous toolsets), as well as supply-chain vendor specifics (standards/professional organisations, tools, and methodologies) to actually achieve business change. Clients beware- extracts from Supercharging charts and tables could be used by unscrupulous consultants to sell supply-chain engagements! ... Read more

Book Description

Intended for courses in multiobjective decision analysis or as a supplement to a first course in decision analysis, this text emphasizes practical applications and problem solving.Students learn how to use spreadsheets and other analytical tools in considering such important tradeoffs as cost versus quality and market share versus short-term return on investment. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Very Good Book
I like it for the small size, yet it provides 20 times more information on the subject matter. The instructor manual will provide readers with great examples for real-world applications. ... Read more

Book Description

Designed primarily as a resource book, this text is intended for use as either a supplement or a "stand alone" book in a variety of courses including Business Research Methods, Marketing Research, Business Communications, Introduction to Management, and Introduction to Business. The text is designed to help students as they learn how to do and engage in business research. Acting as a guidebook for students, the text answers the questions-what to look for, where to find it, how to use all of which are essential to completing good business research. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The handiest tool in the business research inventory.
As an economic analyst I WAS SHOCKED AT HOW MUCH THE MARKET NEEDS THIS BOOK. I thought I was well prepared to do research, but... my experience was, ask any manager or business student questions about business references and 95% of them responded with "don't know". PERHAPS YOU'RE SMARTER THAN THE REST, WANT TO TRY SOME EASY ONES?? What, for example, is the difference between Standard & Poors and Moodys? In what reference book can you find a bio on Bill Gates? What is the single journal in the US that specializes on China, one of the fastest growing economies in the world? What reference book will show you how many men's athletic shoes were manufactured in the US last year? What reference work will show which was consumed more in 1997: beer, milk,or coffee? Where can you find the CIA's economic profile of Germany? OK, How many of you got all of the questions right? Thought so.....

This is not a trivia game. Rather, Butler has issued a call to arms for business schools in the US and Europe to heed. Most business people and students do not know where to look for business information. The easy answer is the web. But it's the wrong answer in the sense that haphazard searches can be long, frustrating and empty if you don't know where to look. For example: Want an immediate profile of a company in the US or Europe, that tells you who's in charge, where they are located, what their history is, and how they are doing financially? Answer: Go to Hoover's Online, or a hardcopy in the library. Butler's book will tell you about Hoover's, Directories, Almanacs, Encyclopedias, Government Publications, International publications, Industry and Trade Magazines, Databases, Newspapers, etc. His "Reference Navigator" shows you how to immediately get to the web address, use the e-mail and find the database. He gives you a two-page description, an ACTUAL SAMPLE of the TABLE OF CONTENTS of the publication, plus an ACTUAL SAMPLE PAGE from the publication.

In my opinion, no business professor, student, investor, or analyst WHO THINKS SERIOUSLY ABOUT THEIR CAREER should be without this book. BUY IT! You can see it online at McGraw-Hill's Higher Education Website: www.MHHE.com/Butler

If you don't believe me listen to what Irving R. Levine (former Chief Economics Correspondent for NBC News) said: "Dr. Butler has skillfully undertaken the role of Sherpa on the treacherous slopes of the mountains of available business data and he guides the reader with precision and even a generous ration of wit. The problem for anyone doing research in the Information Age is not a lack of information, but rather how to target the information required for a particular project and how to get to it quickly. That's what this book accomplishes." ... Read more

Book Description

New efficiency theory refers to the various parametric and semi-parametric methods of estimating production and cost frontiers, which include data envelopment analysis (DEA) with its diverse applications in management science and operations research. This monograph develops and generalizes the new efficiency theory by highlighting the interface between economic theory and operations research.Some of the outstanding features of this monograph are: (1) integrating the theory of firm efficiency and industry equilibrium, (2) emphasizing growth efficiency in a dynamic setting, (3) incorporating uncertainty of market demand and prices, and (4) the implications of group efficiency by sharing investments. Applications discuss in some detail the growth and decline of US computer industry, and the relative performance of mutual fund portfolios. ... Read more

Book Description

How did Microsoft decide which technologies to use when itcreated Windows 95? According to this groundbreaking new book,technology integration--the process of choosing among a rich palette oftechnologies in order to make a product work seamlessly andreliably--is a critical element in launching successful newproducts.

The result of a six-year study of more than fiftycompanies--including major players like Intel, IBM, Microsoft,Netscape, Silicon Graphics, Sun Microsystems, and Toshiba--in thesoftware and computer industries, this book vividly illustrates thescope and complexity of high-tech new product development and thechallenges of translating the knowledge generated by research intoreal--and competitive--products. It takes readers through the processof technology integration at the managerial and strategic levels;reveals the significant evolution in the structure of research anddevelopment in the modern corporation; and uncovers some strikingsimilarities in how both large, science- based, capital-intensivehardware manufacturers and smaller, leaner software firms developtechnology integration capabilities.

Iansiti demonstratesconvincingly that the ability to leverage new science and technologyeffectively is not due just to the quality of the work performed in thelab or to the ability to transfer and develop individual technologies.It is also inextricably linked to the ability of the firm toconceptualize how to use a multitude of emerging technologicalpossibilities to define a product that makes business sense.

Withthese provocative findings, Technology Integration challenges the waytraditional R&D organizations should work, as it provides a new andrelevant framework for actively managing the space between the creationand the application of technology. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Very good. Concepts on integration are compelling.
This book highlights several key concepts on successful and unsuccessful approaches to integrating product features in the high tech arena. Despite the fact that some of the statistical analysis was over my head, I found the book readable and insightful. The depth of research is impressive. I recommend this book to anyone in the software or hardware industry.

A great book for people working in high-tech
This book was handed to me by the president of our company about five months ago, with the instructions, "Read this. I think it will change the way we build software." Turns out he was right.

The basic tenet of this book is that, in a rapidly changing and uncertain environment, companies must delay basic technology decisions as long as possible in order to best understand the context in which their product will be used. Changes in context can (i.e., new technologies, changing market requirements, competitive products) can take a product with killer potential and turn it into a market flop within weeks. This applies to manufacturing and system design as well as my industry, software, and was something that we ourselves had experienced.

Iansiti's writing style is fairly dry, and the exhaustive statistical analysis of his research can be, well, exhausting. I found myself skimming the middle of almost every chapter while he proved his points, so I could get to the good stuff: the case studies. Iansiti had access to Microsoft, Netscape, and Silicon Graphics, among other notable names, and his studies of successful and unsuccessful approaches to technology integration vividly illustrated the effect that a flexible decision-making process can have on a company's success, both in individual projects and in the market as a whole.

I used the basic principles Iansiti put forth and the case studies that he used to support them as a basis for redesigning my company's entire development process. We now have reduced the time-to-market for new features from over six months to less than two, and we are finding that our clients are happier and our products are seeing more success in the market as a result.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is scrambling to keep up with today's rapidly changing high-tech environment. It will make you take a hard look at the way you do business. ... Read more

Book Description

The book covers both theory and applications of locational analysis (LocAn). The reader will see the power of LocAn models in various real-world contexts varying from communication design, robotics, mail delivery, etc. As such it is a valuable source for practitioners, lecturers and students. The book is divided into two parts: The first part contains chapters in which an overview of some of the LocAn methodologies is given. The second part describes in more detail some selected applications. The book is well-suited as source for a graduate course, but also for students, lecturers and practitioners who want to learn about LocAn through self-study. It gives researchers a state of the art review of available location models. ... Read more

Book Description

This text, the second volume of Wayne Winston's successful OPERATIONS RESEARCH: APPLICATIONS AND ALGORITHMS, Fourth Edition, covers probability models with recent contributions from financial engineering, computational simulation and manufacturing. The specific attention to probability models with the addition of recent practical breakthroughs makes this the first text to introduce these ideas together at an accessible level. Excellent problem sets abound. The text provides a balanced approach by developing the underlying theory while illustrating them with interesting examples. All of the necessary mathematical requirements are reviewed in Chapter 1. ... Read more

Book Description

Queuing Theory and Telecommunications: Networks and Applications provides some fundamental knowledge in queuing theory, as well as essential analytical methods and approaches to be employed to evaluate and design telecommunication networks. This work provides methods for teletraffic analysis as well as descriptions of current network technologies such as ISDN, B-ISDN, IP-based networks, MPLS, GMPLS, NGN and local access systems, including ADSL-based, Ethernet, Token Passing, and WiFi. Also, numerous solved exercises are provided in order to illustrate the applications of queuing theory in telecommunication networks. The following advanced telecommunication problems are modeled and solved by means of queuing analysis: statistics of the transmission delay for packet data traffic arriving at a transmission buffer; blocking behavior for bursty call arrival processes; characterization of Markovian traffic sources; performance of traffic regulators, analysis of access protocols and more. The author provides readers with a correct understanding of fundamental methods to be applied in the analysis of telecommunications systems. Queuing Theory and Telecommunications: Networks and Applications is a reference text for advanced undergraduate and graduate level courses in telecommunications engineering and networking. It will also serve as a useful work for system engineers involved in network dimensioning. ... Read more

Book Description