Updated in its 3rd edition, Basic Methods of Policy Analysis and Planning presents quickly applied methods for analyzing and resolving planning and policy issues at state, regional, and urban levels. Divided into two parts, Methods which presents quick methods in nine chapters and is organized around the steps in the policy analysis process, and Cases which presents seven policy cases, ranging in degree of complexity, the text provides readers with the resources they need for effective policy planning and analysis. Quantitative and qualitative methods are systematically combined to address policy dilemmas and urban planning problems. Readers and analysts utilizing this text gain comprehensive skills and background needed to impact public policy.
Strategy Execution is no longer 'the gap nobody knows', the title of the first chapter of the best-seller 'Execution'. Thanks to the authors Bossidy and Charan, Strategy Execution pioneers Kaplan and Norton, several leading articles in respected business magazines such as The Harvard Business Review and a host of research, organisations have become very aware that much great strategy is lost before it's turned into performance mainly as a result of poor execution skills. The performance gap is known. And it's time for companies to close it. This book will help you get the job done. 'Strategy Execution Heroes' will help you to: 1. Approach Strategy Execution from a manager's perspective. 2. Align individual and organisational performance in a simple, easy-to-communicate, sexy Strategy Execution framework. 3. Communicate your strategy effectively. 4. Set great objectives for yourself and your team members. 5. Coach others through the implementation maze. 6. Simplify your Strategy Execution process. 7. Select, manage and deliver your strategic initiatives. 8. Set up a development platform to boost the execution skills of others in the organisation. 9. Turn Strategy Execution into a competitive advantage. In short, 'Strategy Execution Heroes' will help you get the execution job done. Don't expect complex theories or fancy words. This book gets right to the point and won't waste your time. It will boost your learning with 250+ practical tips revealed by senior executives from BT, Coca-Cola, Lockheed Martin, eBay and many others. It will inspire your thinking with useful insights from top experts such as Sir John Whitmore, Dr Peter Scott-Morgan and Prof Vincent Lion. And it will put your action plan on the right track with 27 valuable downloads. So whether you are a future manager preparing for the challenge or an experienced senior executive, get ready to boost your execution skills. Become a Strategy Execution hero and turn your great strategy into great performance.
Planning algorithms are impacting technical disciplines and industries around the world, including robotics, computer-aided design, manufacturing, computer graphics, aerospace applications, drug design, and protein folding. Written for computer scientists and engineers with interests in artificial intelligence, robotics, or control theory, this is the only book on this topic that tightly integrates a vast body of literature from several fields into a coherent source for teaching and reference in a wide variety of applications. Difficult mathematical material is explained through hundreds of examples and illustrations.
Life-cycle analysis is a systemic tool for efficient and effective service life management of deteriorating structures. In the last few decades, theoretical and practical approaches for life-cycle performance and cost analysis have been developed extensively due to increased demand on structural safety and service life extension. This book presents the state-of-the-art in life-cycle analysis and maintenance optimization for fatigue-sensitive structures. Both theoretical background and practical applications have been provided for academics, engineers and researchers. Concepts and approaches of life-cycle performance and cost analysis developed in recent decades are presented. The major topics covered include (a) probabilistic concepts of life-cycle performance and cost analysis, (b) inspection, monitoring and maintenance for fatigue cracks, (c) estimation of fatigue crack detection, (d) optimum inspection and monitoring planning, (e) multi-objective life-cycle optimization, and (f) decision making in life-cycle analysis. Life-cycle optimization covered in the book considers probability of fatigue crack detection, fatigue crack damage detection time, maintenance times, probability of failure, service life and total life-cycle cost. For the practical application and integration of recently developed approaches for inspection and maintenance planning, efficient and effective multi-objective optimization and decision making are presented. This book will help engineers engaged in civil and marine structures including students, researchers and practitioners with reliable and cost-effective maintenance planning of fatigue-sensitive structures, and to develop more advanced approaches and techniques in the field of life-cycle maintenance optimization and safety of structures under various aging and deteriorating conditions. Key Features: Provides the state-of-the-art in life-cycle cost analysis and optimization for fatigue-sensitive structures Provides a solid foundation of theoretical backgrounds and practical applications both for academics and practicing engineers and researchers Covers illustrative examples and recent development for optimum service life management Deals with various structures such as bridges and ships subjected to fatigue .
The Routledge Handbook of Planning Research Methods is an expansive look at the traditions, methods, and challenges of research design and research projects in contemporary urban planning. Through case studies, an international group of researchers, planning practitioners, and planning academics and educators, all recognized authorities in the field, provide accounts of designing and implementing research projects from different approaches and venues. This book shows how to apply quantitative and qualitative methods to projects, and how to take your research from the classroom to the real world. The book is structured into sections focusing on Beginning planning research Research design and development Rediscovering qualitative methods New advances in quantitative methods Turning research into action With chapters written by leading scholars in spatial planning, The Routledge Handbook of Planning Research Methods is the most authoritative and comprehensive handbook on the topic, providing both established and ground breaking coverage of spatial planning research methods. The book is an invaluable resource for undergraduate and graduate level students, young professionals and practitioners in urban, regional, and spatial planning.
The two-volume set LNAI 13067 and 13068 constitutes the proceedings of the 20th Mexican International Conference on Artificial Intelligence, MICAI 2021, held in Mexico City, Mexico, in October 2021. The total of 58 papers presented in these two volumes was carefully reviewed and selected from 129 submissions. The first volume, Advances in Computational Intelligence, contains 30 papers structured into three sections: – Machine and Deep Learning – Image Processing and Pattern Recognition – Evolutionary and Metaheuristic Algorithms The second volume, Advances in Soft Computing, contains 28 papers structured into two sections: – Natural Language Processing – Intelligent Applications and Robotics
