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The arrival of Information and Communication Technology may play a role in restoring competitiveness, since these technologies are also a factor in relaxing the constraints specific to SMEs. ICT makes a number of services possible in a large range of processes and transactions within and between companies. Internally, ICT applications can improve knowledge and information management practices; they can also allow more rapid and more reliable transactions between businesses (B2B) and between businesses and consumers (B2C). They are equally quite effective in improving external business communications and service quality for both new and existing clients. They also appear to be a source of competitive advantage for SMEs under certain conditions. Few studies have focused on the ways that SMEs can use ICT to improve and defend their competitive positions. This book provides a synthesis of the advantages of ICT for SMEs. Seven chapter illustrate the technologies used in such companies. Each of these chapters provides a theoretical and/or practical view of the way that SMEs can use ICT. This book is an indispensable reference for both academics and for practitioners.
BASYS conferences were initially organized to promote the development of balanced automation systems. The first BASYS conference was successfully launched in Victoria, Brazil, in 1995. BASYS'06 is the 7th edition in this series. This book comprises three invited keynote papers and forty-nine regular papers accepted for presentation at the conference. All together, these papers will make significant contributions to the literature of Intelligent Technology for Balanced Manufacturing Systems.
The Management of Industrial Forest Plantations. Theoretical Foundations and Applications provides a synthesis of current knowledge about industrial forestry management planning processes. It covers components of the forest supply chain ranging from modelling techniques to management planning approaches and information and communication technology support. It may provide effective support to education, research and outreach activities that focus on forest industrial plantations management. It may contribute further to support forest managers when developing industrial plantations management plans. The book includes the discussion of applications in 26 Management Planning in Actions boxes. These applications highlight the linkage between theory and practice and the contribution of models, methods and management planning approaches to the efficiency and the effectiveness of industrial plantations management planning.
In a context of global competition, the optimization of logistics systems is inescapable. Logistics Systems: Design and Optimization falls within this perspective and presents twelve chapters that well illustrate the variety and the complexity of logistics activities. Each chapter is written by recognized researchers who have been commissioned to survey a specific topic or emerging area of logistics. The first chapter, by Riopel, Langevin, and Campbell, develops a framework for the entire book. It classifies logistics decisions and highlights the relevant linkages to logistics decisions. The intricacy of these linkages demonstrates how thoroughly the decisions are interrelated and underscores the complexity of managing logistics activities. Each of the chapters focus on quantitative methods for the design and optimization of logistics systems.
This book consists of a collection of articles describing the emergingand integrated area of Energy,Natural Resourcesand EnvironmentalEconomics.A majority of the authors are researchers doing applied work in economics, nance, and management science and are based in the Nordic countries. These countries have a long tradition of managing natural resources. Many of the applications are therefore founded on such examples. The book contents are based on a workshop that took place during May 15–16, 2008 in Bergen, Norway. The aim of the workshop was to create a meeting place for researchers who are active in the area of Energy, Natural Resource, and En- ronmentalEconomics,andat the same time cel...
This book includes a number of selected papers from the PRO-VE '07 Conference, providing a comprehensive overview of recent advances in various Collaborative Networks domains. It covers trust aspects, performance and value systems, VO breeding environments, VO creation, e-contracting, collaborative architectures and frameworks, professional virtual communities, interoperability issues, business benefits, and case studies and applications in industry and services.
Collaborative Networks A Tool for Promoting Co-creation and Innovation The collaborative networks paradigm offers powerful socio-organizational mec- nisms, supported by advanced information and communication technologies for p- moting innovation. This, in turn, leads to new products and services, growth of better customer relationships, establishing better project and process management, and building higher-performing consortia. By putting diverse entities that bring different perspectives, competencies, practices, and cultures, to work together, collaborative networks develop the right environment for the emergence of new ideas and more efficient, yet practical, solutions. This aspect is pa...
A growing heterogeneity of demand, the advent of ';long tail markets';, exploding product complexities, and the rise of creative consumers are challenging companies in all industries to find new strategies to address these trends. Mass customization (MC) has emerged in the last decade as the premier strategy for companies in all branches of industry to profit from heterogeneity of demand and a broad scope of other customer demands.The research and practical experience collected in this book presents the latest thinking on how to make mass customization work. More than 50 authors from academia and management debate on what is viable now, what did not work in the past, and what lurks just belo...
This book takes a close look at recent progress in the field of supply chain management using agent technology and more specifically multiagent systems. Sixteen chapters are organized in four main parts: Introductory Papers; Multiagent Based Supply Chain Modeling; Collaboration and Coordination Between Agents in a Supply Chain; and Multiagent Based Supply Chain Management: Applications. The result is a comprehensive review of existing literature, and ideas for future research.
This edited book describes new trends in supply chain design and management with an emphasis on technologies and methodologies. It contains guidelines detailing the real-world applications of these technologies and methodologies. This book is of interest to researchers and practitioners and can also be used as a reference handbook by lecturers and postgraduate students in this field.