Contributions to Management Science – serie

The resource transfer problem (RTP) is a modeling and solution framework for integrated complex scheduling and rich vehicle routing problems. It allows the modeling of a wide variety of scheduling problems, vehicle routing problems, their combination with integrated problems, as well as various specific requirements and restrictions arising in practical scheduling and vehicle routing. Based on the unifying resource transfer problem framework, this book proposes a generic constraint propagation approach that exploits the specific structure of scheduling and routing problems.

The yard block of a container terminal is the central point of synchronisation for asynchronous container flows between deep-sea vessels and transport to the hinterland. This book describes a holistic and integrative approach to container handling in yard blocks to optimise productivity by minimising re-handling operations.

Taking into account the latest mathematical and econometric developments in finance, it analyzes the hedging securities and structured instruments that are offered by banks, since recent research in the field of fixed incomes and financial markets has raised awareness for changes in market risk management strategies.

This book brings together cutting-edge research on consulting in a single volume, thus helping to make the state-of-the-art in the field of consulting research more accessible, to promote better practices in business, and to spark further research. The respective articles approach consulting from very different angles, taking into account various approaches for and fields of consulting, consulting providers, clients and markets, as well as technologies and trends. The book will benefit all consultants who want to critically reflect on their own methods and approaches in light of recent scientific findings. It also offers a helpful guide for students in Management and IT-related courses who are either considering a career in consulting or want to be informed consulting clients. Lastly, the book provides a comprehensive review of current developments and trends in consulting that will foster future contributions in this important research field.

This book explores the nature and uniqueness of leadership in Iceland within a business and economic context. They particularly focus on leadership and human resource management within this unique societal culture and discuss the specific issues that are unique to Iceland, i.e.

This contributed volume explores and reveals the new developments, dynamics and recommendations for entrepreneurship education in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

This contributed volume focuses on diasporans, their characteristics, networks, resources and activities in relation to international business and entrepreneurship.

It also introduces a new 'open innovation bridge – a Tangram model' approach to business models that identifies the critical elements of the transactive structure of open innovation business models, especially, in the context of SMEs.

Recently, rapid technological advances have been influencing the global business operations strategies at companies of all sizes like never before. At the same time, there has been a shift in business cultures due to the rising prevalence of matrix organizations and innovative thinking. This book investigates the role of these factors in shaping the business operations of tomorrow. To address the topic comprehensively, the editors have gathered expert contributions exploring the following dimensions: the business and organizational environment, strategic design, innovativeness and risk management. Discussing aspects ranging from customer selection to understanding regional, national and supranational market dynamics, the contributions will help readers understand both the complexity of and opportunities presented by designing operations.

This book analyses the role of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Business Intelligence (BI) systems in improving information quality through an empirical analysis carried out in Italy.

This book provides a critical analysis of the current state of knowledge on the relationship between family firms and a wide range of accounting choices, including earnings management, accounting conservatism, and financial and non-financial disclosure.

This book examines key issues, challenges, opportunities and trends in innovation processes and supply chain management. It proposes ways for organizations to improve their performance by developing business strategies, establishing business innovation activities, and aligning business and innovation activities among firms.

Companies need to invest in innovation in order to ensure their long-term survival. This book focuses on how and why key players support or obstruct the implementation of a technological innovation in ambidextrous organizations, and how the interaction between players involved in daily business and innovation affects implementation of innovation in 'high reliability organizations'.This book argues that an organization has to create new innovations or adopt innovations to constantly deliver attractive products on the one hand, while also adjusting and improving current products and processes on the other. In turn, it addresses a specific problem: What if a company operates in an innovation-averse and procedural environment and culture? Drawing on case studies, focus group studies and a unique analytical framework, it then provides ways for companies to overcome this situation.

This contributed volume explores and reveals the dynamics, strengths and weaknesses, trends and implications of entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

This book provides a practice-driven, yet rigorous approach to executive management decision-making that performs well even under unpredictable conditions. In turn, Part III discusses in detail in situ case studies on executive management decisions.

This book presents an overview of corporate governance and risk management, analyzing their interdependence and particularly their relevance in banking.

This book presents a collection of interrelated research advances in the field of technological entrepreneurship from the perspective of competition in emerging markets.

The book brings together an international panel of experts on economic integration and international business to address the essential link between the two fields, namely the impact of integration processes on the business environment.

This book focuses on the role of subsistence entrepreneurs in creating social and sustainable business opportunities on the global marketplace. Subsistence entrepreneurs use scarce resources to create new business opportunities, often in developing or emerging economies. In addition, subsistence entrepreneurship is increasingly being used as a way to facilitate market entry for small and medium-sized business enterprises that focus on collaborative innovation. The interdisciplinary contributions gathered here will expand readers’ understanding of the nature and characteristics of subsistence entrepreneurs, as well as the challenges they face. The central connection between subsistence, sustainability and social entrepreneurship is also explored.

Over time, globalization has evolved into a shared journey of humanity, involving entrepreneurship, innovation, business and policy advances around the world.

Sustainable entrepreneurship focuses on how the environment is embedded within business practices. This book examines collaboration strategies and initiatives for sustainable entrepreneurs with a wide variety of partners, and demonstrates how they can be used to increase overall performance and achieve global competitiveness. Based on the latest empirical evidence from emerging economies, the book’s respective chapters address sustainability issues in connection with knowledge creation and learning, outsourcing, and the roles of universities, consultants, and the public sector.

Based on the latest empirical evidence from emerging economies, the book’s respective chapters address sustainability issues in connection with knowledge creation and learning, outsourcing, and the roles of universities, consultants, and the public sector.

Many managers and organizations still assume that employees who devote long hours to their jobs with no family interference are “ideal workers”.

Many managers and organizations still assume that employees who devote long hours to their jobs with no family interference are “ideal workers”.

This book analyzes how companies and employees can endogenously, i.e., without hiring external experts or consultants, achieve competitive advantages by deviating from behavioral standards in a productive way. The study explores eight transformative behavioral innovations that shaped the development of sports and, by analogy, uses the findings to advance solutions for prevalent problems in business. By developing triggers to creativity and applying mechanisms on how to overcome innovation resistance, the book gives concrete advice on how to manage the difficult quest of human transformation beyond the imperative of technological innovation.

This book analyzes how companies and employees can endogenously, i.e., without hiring external experts or consultants, achieve competitive advantages by deviating from behavioral standards in a productive way.

This book explores new perspectives on how to improve the chances of success regarding capacity building in developing and emerging countries. Drawing on lessons learned in the course of six decades of capacity building research and practice, it identifies the required conditions for the success of capacity building efforts, and suggests that a radical change in mindset has become a critical aspect in developing countries. In addition, the book discusses capacity building in connection with entrepreneurship (especially female entrepreneurship), transnational diaspora remittances, and combating corruption, which it considers to be essential drivers of sustainable development in developing and emerging countries.   The book’s contributing authors represent the leading minds in capacity building research and practice, and include researchers from prestigious universities in North America, Europe and Africa, as well as international development experts from institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, African Development Bank, and African Capacity Building Foundation. All authors have considerable expertise regarding capacity building issues, and represent 26 emerging and developing countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Caribbean Islands, North America and Europe.

This book explores new perspectives on how to improve the chances of success regarding capacity building in developing and emerging countries. Drawing on lessons learned in the course of six decades of capacity building research and practice, it identifies the required conditions for the success of capacity building efforts, and suggests that a radical change in mindset has become a critical aspect in developing countries. In addition, the book discusses capacity building in connection with entrepreneurship (especially female entrepreneurship), transnational diaspora remittances, and combating corruption, which it considers to be essential drivers of sustainable development in developing and emerging countries.   The book’s contributing authors represent the leading minds in capacity building research and practice, and include researchers from prestigious universities in North America, Europe and Africa, as well as international development experts from institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, African Development Bank, and African Capacity Building Foundation. All authors have considerable expertise regarding capacity building issues, and represent 26 emerging and developing countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Caribbean Islands, North America and Europe.

The creation, success and long-term survival of enterprises are fundamentally linked to the effectiveness of decision-making processes and negotiation capabilities. This book provides an overview of research into how decisions permeate entrepreneurial ventures throughout their lifecycle. A multidisciplinary approach combining psychology, sociology and political science is used to investigate how entrepreneurs address and deal with decision-making. The respective contributions highlight the latest empirical, theoretical and meta-research, and bridge the gap between literature on entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial and innovative behaviours with that on decision-making and negotiation. This book is one of the first to combine these streams of research, thereby offering a new and insightful addition to the field of entrepreneurship.