This open access book explores supply chains strategies to help companies face challenges such as societal emergency, digitalization, climate changes and scarcity of resources. The book identifies industrial scenarios for the next decade based on the analysis of trends at social, economic, environmental technological and political level, and examines how they may impact on supply chain processe…
This comprehensive work presents a thorough exploration of celebrity “bromances,” interrogating how bromances are portrayed in media and consumed by audiences to examine themes of celebrity persona, performativity and authenticity. The authors examine how the performance of intimate male friendships functions within broadly “Western” celebrity culture from thr…
The Center for China Studies is among China's most influential think-tanks, and its China Studies Reports are read at the highest levels of government. Now for the first time, the most important of these and reports is collated in book form in English, providing a fascinating insight into the challenges and opportunities for Chinese development and the government's thinking on economic and and …
This open access book introduces the modern tontine and its applications in retirement and decumulation. Personal financial management in the later stages of life presents unique challenges, and renowned retirement planning expert Dr. Milevsky proposes the modern tontine as a solution. With the goal of guiding professionals and retirees in more efficient decumulation, the book demonstrates how …
Robots and artificial intelligence (AI) are powerful forces that will likely have large impacts on the size, direction, and composition of international trade flows. This book discusses how industrial robots, automation, and AI affect international growth, trade, productivity, employment, wages, and welfare. The book explains new approaches on how robots and artificial intelligence affect the w…
In recent years, the industrial environment has been changing radically due to the introduction of concepts and technologies based on the fourth industrial revolution, also known as Industry 4.0. After the introduction of Industry 4.0 in large enterprises, SMEs have moved into the focus, as they are the backbone of many economies. Small organizations are increasingly proactive in improving thei…
Public innovation and digitalization are reshaping organizations and society in various ways and within multiple fields, as innovations are essential in transforming our world and addressing global sustainability and development challenges. This book addresses the fascinating relationship of these two contemporary topics and explores the role of digital transformation in promoting public innova…
In a context best characterized by uncertainty and volatility, it is necessary to rethink the key concepts and assumptions underpinning the broad debate on international business. In brief, the world is more interconnected than ever, yet—as the cases of COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine confirm—supply chains are not immune to developments in politics and society. Other factors weigh in on the…
All organizations, institutions, business processes, markets and strategies have one aim in common: the reduction of transaction costs. This aim is pursued relentlessly in practice, and has been perceived to bring about drastic changes, especially in the recent global market and the cyber economy. This book analyzes and describes “transactions” as a model, on the basis of which organization…