This book examines how the norms, culture, and practices of the socio-economic Nordic model give them a competitive edge in globalized production chains. Using the Norwegian automotive industry – one of the most globalized industries in the world – as the empirical foundation of the book, it examines the strengths, tensions, and challenges the Norwegian work organization style meets in this particular business environment. It explores the current indicators of competitiveness, innovation, ...

Today's economy is fueled by knowledge. Every leader knows this to be true, yet few have systematic methods for converting organizational knowledge into economic value. This book argues that communities of practice--groups of individuals formed around common interests and expertise--provide the ideal vehicle for driving knowledge-management strategies and building lasting competitive advantage. Written by leading experts in the field, Cultivating Communities of Practice is the first book t...

This book presents the latest management ideas in knowledge creation and management in readable and non-technical chapters. Leading experts have contributed chapters in their fields of expertise. Each distils his or her subject in a chapter that is accessible to managers who want to learn what can be applied to their organizations without the distracting details of research methodology. Each chapter, however, is based on careful research. The book is organized so that readers can easily fi...

This third edition of Total Relationship Marketing confirms it as a classic text on the subject of relationship marketing and CRM, areas which have become accepted – and debated – parts of marketing but are currently undergoing dramatic change.A major contribution to marketing thought internationally, this seminal title presents a powerful in-depth analysis of relational approaches to marketing where the three words relationships, networks and interaction are king. The book effects...

The SAGE Course Companion on Organization Theory is an accessible introduction to a challenging subject area. This book helps readers to extend their understanding of theories and make the connection between them and organizational practice. It will enhance their thinking skills in line with course requirements and provides support on how to revise for exams and prepare for and write assessed pieces. Readers are encouraged not only to think like a organizational theorist b...

'Managing Cultural Diversity in Technical Professions' provides managers of technical professionals with clear and tested strategies to improve communication and increase productivity among culturally diverse technical professionals, teams, and departments.Dr. Laroche outlines the differences in education and training, career expectations, communication styles, and management expectations in countries around the world. He explains cross-cultural concepts and presents his case for t...

Technology is a key driver of educational innovation, and a variety of programmes focusing on investment in infrastructure, equipment, in-service training and digital learning resources have been established to promote its usage in primary and secondary schools. So far, little comparative analytical attention has been devoted to understanding how digital resources improve the quality of learning and to assessing the public policies that support their development and use, and the role playe...

With project management becoming an increasingly global endeavour, a comprehensive and international student text that reflects this reality is essential.International Project Management does just that, systematically linking the key elements of cross-cultural management and the particularities of an international context, with the tools and techniques of project management.Key features include:- A wide variety of examples and illustrations, includi...

Design and other creative industries not only shape our lives in numerous ways, providing 'cultural' goods such as films, music and magazines, but also shape the look and feel of everyday objects and spaces. The creative industries are also important economically; governments and businesses now make considerable efforts to manage creativity for a range of political and economic ends. Does the management of design conflict with traditional ideas of creative freedom and autonomy? How do gove...

Contemporary consumer society is increasingly saturated by digital technology, and the devices that deliver this are increasingly transforming consumption patterns. Social media, smartphones, mobile apps and digital retailing merge with traditional consumption spheres, supported by digital devices which further encourage consumers to communicate and influence other consumers to consume.Through a wide range of empirical studies which analyse the impact of digital devices, this volum...

There is a growing interest in the knowledge economy, and the new types of job and ways of working associated with it. This book analyses how a particular group – creative knowledge workers – carry out their jobs and learn within it. Using empirical research from advertising and software development in Europe, Singapore and Japan, it develops a new conceptual framework to analyse the complexities of creative knowledge work.Focussing uniquely on the human element of working in the k...

The fourth in the readers' series Resources for the Knowledge-Based Economy, The Strategic Management of Intellectual Capital analyzes the link between the strategic and operational roles of intellectual capital in the organization. The Strategic Management of Intellectual Capital is the perfect resource for the growing number of companies pursuing a strategic approach to managing their intellectual capital and harnessing and leveraging their knowledge, experience, and expertise more syste...