This book investigates the functioning of contemporary matrix organizations based on a case study of a German leading commercial vehicle manufacturer. It creates a framework for research of matrix organizations and demonstrates empirically how a contemporary MNC can promote lateral coordination through the use of a matrix organization. The significant issues of decision-making and conflict in matrix structures, as well as the role of organizational cultures is analysed. The importance of boundary spanning as well as the boundary spanning skills needed and developed by a matrix organization have been identified. This work brings significant empirical understanding of matrix organizations thanks to a rich research field combined with a novel framework for analysis of matrix organizations.
Organization structures do not fail, says Jay Galbraith, but management fails at implementing them correctly. This is why, he explains, the idea that the matrix does not work still exists today, even among people who should know better. But the matrix has become a necessary form of organization in today's business environment. Companies now know that if they have multiple product lines, do business in multiple countries, and serve many customer segments through a variety of channels, there is no way they can avoid some kind of a matrix structure and the question most are asking is "How do we learn how to operate the matrix effectively?" In Designing Matrix Organizations That Actually Work, Galbraith answers this and other questions as he shows how to make a matrix work effectively.
This book offers the policy-maker or decision-maker key insights and practical information regarding the features of ethics frameworks best suited to the ethical assessment of human cognitive enhancement (HCE) applications, such as pharmaceutical cognitive enhancers and noninvasive brain stimulation techniques. This book takes as its departure point the entrenched philosophical debate between opponents and proponents of HCE and the increased feasibility of some applications of HCE. Recent calls for policy-making in the area of human enhancement reflect the need to find a balance between addressing current ethical issues and issues that are more speculative in nature or are underpinned by abstract philosophical concepts. Practical ethical approaches for policy or decision-making should enable the development of an evidence base for the risks and benefits of HCE applications. Moreover, such practical approaches should also incorporate a broader range of value bases that would facilitate convergence regarding certain decisions and judgements. This book identifies and evaluate tools that help us to go beyond polarised philosophical debates in order to assist practical decision makers in concrete ethical deliberation and decision-making. The focus is on systematic methods with which to identify relevant ethical values and assess the impacts of an HCE application on those values in order to facilitate decision-making regarding the ethical acceptability or desirability of the application.
In today’s world, ‘change’ is the only ‘constant’ factor. In the last few decades, there has been a radical change in how organizations function. To survive in this highly volatile environment, companies need a long-term strategic vision and thinking. In light of this, ‘strategic management’ has become a significant topic and is taught as the core subject in MBA/PGDM programmes in Indian universities and business schools. This is a book written in the context of the Indian business environment but with a global orientation. It is comprehensive and contemporary in its approach.
Professional's Handbook of Financial Risk Management is a major reference work in finance. A complete practical reference book covering all aspects of financial risk management including an in-depth look at operational risk management, regulation, risk-based capital, and risk adjusted performance measurement. The book focuses on practical financial risk management techniques and solutions, and is designed to guide the risk professional step-by-step through the implementation of a firm-wide risk management framework. This book covers the various roles of the risk management function. Rather than describing every possible role in exhaustive detail, the authors have provided a story line for each of the discussed topics, including practical issues that a risk manager needs to consider when tackling the subject, possible solutions to difficulties that might be encountered, background knowledge that is essential to know, and more intricate practices and techniques that are being used. By providing these fundamentals, the novice risk professional can gain a thorough understanding of the topic in question while the more experienced professional can use some of the more advanced concepts within the book. Thus the book can be used to broaden your own knowledge of the risk world, both by familiarizing yourself with areas in which you lack experience and by enhancing your knowledge in areas that you already have expertise. All authors are leaders in their field who between them have the expertise and knowledge, both practical and theoretical, to produce this definitive risk management guide. The editors of this book, Marc Lore and Lev Borodovsky, are senior financial risk managers at Sanwa Bank (International) London, and Credit Suisse First Boston, USA respectively. They also run The Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP), the industry association for financial risk management practitioners and researchers. - Endorsed by GARP - Global Association of Risk Professionals - Authored and edited by leading financial markets risk professionals - International in coverage; the concepts and methods covered are not specific to any country or institution, but rather to the risk management profession as a whole
This book offers a comprehensive assessment of the stability of modern power systems through advanced nonlinear analysis frameworks. It addresses the new challenges to power system stability posed by the anticipated integration of numerous power-electronic-interfaced devices needed to support renewable energy generation. Given the diverse operational timescales associated with controllers for power-electronic-interfaced devices, these devices can have an impact on a wide range of dynamic phenomena, thereby significantly influencing the system's dynamic performance and stability. The methodologies presented effectively manage the significant changes in system dynamics introduced by these devices. This research utilizes nonlinear methodologies, specifically bifurcation theory, to analyse various stability types in such power-electronic-rich systems. The book adopts a bifurcation-based methodology to evaluate power system stability through detailed examination of each type of instability mechanism. The methodology developed is extended to explore the interactions between multiple types of system stability considering the impacts of different voltage-source-converter controllers and grid strengths. Finally, to reduce the high computational burden imposed by the proposed methodology, a hybrid network model is developed to assess the system stability efficiently. Stability Assessment of Power Systems with Multiple Voltage Source Converters is of interest to students, researchers, and industry professionals in the field of electrical engineering.
Cast Iron: Physical and Engineering Properties describes the importance of iron and its properties, as well as the process of casting in the different fields of engineering. The book covers topics such as the mechanical, physical, and electrical properties of iron and the different tests under which it is subjected; the effects of heat treatment on gray cast iron; and the resistance of cast iron to heat and stress. Topics also include internal casting stresses; cast iron beams and columns; and the application of the specifications for cast iron to design. The text is recommended for metallurgists and engineers who are interested in cast iron, its properties, and its uses in construction.
The European Structural Integrity Society (ESIS) Technical Commitee on Fatigue of Engineering Materials and Structures (TC3) decided to compile a Special Technical Publication (ESIS STP) based on the 115 papers presented at the 6th International Conference on Biaxial/Multiaxial Fatigue and Fracture. The 25 papers included in the STP have been extended and revised by the authors. The conference was held in Lisbon, Portugal, on 25-28 June 2001, and was chaired by Manual De Freitas, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Lisbon. The meeting, organised by the Instituto Superior Tecnico and sponsored by the Portuguese Minesterio da Cienca e da Tecnologia and by the European Structural Integrity Society, was attended by 151 delegates from 20 countries. The papers in the present book deal with the theoretical, numerical and experimental aspects of the Multiaxial fatigue and fracture of engineering materials and structures. They are divided in to the following six sections; Multiaxial Fatigue of Welded Structures; High cycle Multiaxial fatigue; Non proportional and Variable-Amplitude loading; Defects, Notches, Crack Growth; Low Cycle Multiaxial Fatigue; Applications and Testing Methods. As is well-known, most engineering components and structures in the mechanical, aerospace, power generation, and other industries are subjected to multiaxial loading during their service life. One of the most difficult tasks in design against fatigue and fracture is to translate the information gathered from uniaxial fatigue and fracture tests on engineering materials into applications involving complex states of cyclic stress-strain conditions. This book is the result of co-operation between many researchers from different laboratories, universities and industries in a number of countries.
