Archive for December, 2009
Thursday, December 31st, 2009
Economic Growth: A Unified Approach
by Olivier de La Grandville
2009 (376 pages)
ISBN:9780521898010
Providing a fascinating introduction to the theory of economic growth, this user-friendly book shows us that by unifying the descriptive and normative aspects of growth theory we can generate many fresh insights.
Get this Book by clicking below:
Economic Growth—A Unified Approach
Introduction
Part I – Positive Growth Theory
Chapter 1 – The Welfare of Society and Economic Growth
Overview
1: Income as a Measure of Economic Activity
2: Is Income Per Person a Fair Gauge of Society’s Welfare?
3: A Major Caveat
Appendix: A brief review of some useful concepts in economics
Exercises
Chapter 2 – The Growth Process
1: The Growth Process: An Intuitive Approach
2: A More Precise Approach: A Simple Model of Economic Growth
3: Introducing Technical Progress
Appendix 1: The Concept of Elasticity, Its Use in Economics, and Its Applications to Growth Rates
Appendix 2: Solution of the first-order differential equation
Exercises
Chapter 3 – A Production Function of Central Importance
1: Motivation
2: The Links Between the Elasticity of Substitution and Income Distribution
3: Determining the Constant Elasticity of Substitution Production Function
Exercises
Chapter 4 – The CES Production Function as a General Mean
Overview
1: The Concept of the General Mean of Order p, and its Fundamental Properties
2: Applications to the CES Production Function
3: The Qualitative Behaviour of the CES Function as s Changes
Appendix: On General Means: An Alternative Proof of a Famous Theorem and a Conjecture
Chapter 5 – Capital–Labour Substitution and Economic Growth
Overview
1: Further Analytics of the CES Function in a Growth Model
2: The Elasticity of Substitution at Work
3: Introducing Technical Progress
4: Time-Series and Cross-Section Estimates
5: The Broader Significance of the Elasticity of Substitution in the Context of Economic Growth
Appendix: Derivation of the Cost Function with Capital and Labour-Augmenting Progress
Chapter 6 – The Long-Term Growth Rate as a Random Variable, with an Application to the US Economy
Overview
1: From Daily to Yearly Growth Rates
2: The First Moments of the Long-Term Yearly Growth Rate
3: Application to the Long-Term Growth Rates of the US Economy
Appendix: A Reminder on Moment Generating Functions
Exercises
Part II – Optimal Growth Theory
Chapter 7 – Optimal Growth Theory—An Introduction to the Calculus of Variations
Overview
1: The Euler Equation
2: Fundamental Properties of the Euler Equation
3: An Important Particular Case
4: A Necessary and Sufficient Condition for y(x) to Maximize the Functional
Appendix 1: Differentiating an Integral with Respect to a Parameter – the Leibniz Formula; a Geometrical Interpretation
Appendix 2: Solution of the Brachistochrone Problem
Appendix 3: Necessary and Sufficient Conditions for the Integrand of the Functional to be Concave in y, y’
Exercises
Chapter 8 – Other Major Tools for Optimal Growth Theory—The Pontryagin Maximum Principle and the Dorfmanian
Overview
1: The Maximum Principle in its Simplest Form
2: The Relationship Between the Pontryagin Maximum Principle and the Calculus of Variations
3: An Economic Derivation of the Maximum Principle
4: First Application: Deriving the Euler Equation from Economic Reasoning
5: Further Applications: Deriving High-Order Equations of the Calculus of Variations
Chapter 9 – First Applications to Optimal Growth
Overview
1: The Mainstream Problem of Optimal Growth: a Simplified Presentation
2: The Calculus of Variations Approach
3: The Pontryagin Maximum Principle Approach
4: Optimal Paths
Exercises
Chapter 10 – Optimal Growth and the Optimal Savings Rate
Overview
1: The Central Model of Optimal Growth Theory
2: The Consequences of Using Power Utility Functions
3: The Consequences of Using Exponential Utility Functions
Exercises
Part III – A Unified Approach
Chapter 11 – Preliminaries—Interest Rates and Capital Valuation
Overview
1: The Reason for the Existence of Interest Rates
2: The Various Types of Interest Rates and Their Fundamental Properties
3: Applications to the Model of Economic Growth
Exercises
Chapter 12 – From Arbitrage to Equilibrium
1: The Case of Risk-Free Transactions
2: Introducing Uncertainty and a Risk Premium
Chapter 13 – Optimal Savings—A General Approach
Overview
1: Competitive Equilibrium and its Resulting Savings Rate
2: The Optimal Savings Rate: Derivation from Optimal Growth
3: A Geometric Construction of the Optimal Savings Rate
4: Values of the Optimal Savings Rate and its Sensitivity to Parameter Changes
5: Estimating the Risk Premium of the Economy
6: Growth in Disequilibrium
7: Consequences for Our Future
8: Conclusion
Exercises
Chapter 14 – Problems in Growth—Common Traits between Planned Economies and Poor Countries
Overview
1: The Consequences of Planning
2: Common Traits of Centrally Planned Economies and Poor Countries
Exercises
Chapter 15 – From Ibn Khaldun to Adam Smith, and a Proof of Smith’s Conjecture
Overview
1: Ibn Khaldun’s Message
2: Two Illustrations of the Message of Ibn Khaldun and Adam Smith
3: A Proof of Smith’s Conjecture
In Conclusion—On the Convergence of Ideas and Values Through Civilizations
Further Reading, Data on Growth and References
Overview
Other References, Quoted in this Book
For 1000+ more Business Books & Economics Books, click below:
Did you like this? Share it:
Posted in Business Books | 1 Comment »
Thursday, December 31st, 2009
Managing Across Cultures: The Seven Keys to Doing Business with a Global Mindset
by Charlene M. Solomon and Michael S. Schell
2009 (368 pages)
ISBN:9780071605854
Providing actionable tactics for succeeding in today’s global business environment, this in-depth, strategic guide is filled with case studies illustrating the importance of understanding and dealing with cultural differences in all aspects of business.
Get this Book by clicking below:
Managing Across Cultures—The Seven Keys to Doing Business with a Global Mindset
Preface
Why This Book? Why Now?
Everyone Can Learn about Culture
What Will You Gain from This Book?
Part I – Introduction
Chapter 1 – How We Got Here
Culture and the Bottom Line: Doing It Right; Doing It Wrong
The Global Century
From the Twentieth to the Twenty-First Century
What It Means to Manage Across Cultures
What Is a Global Mindset?
Lessons Learned to Develop Your Cultural Skills
Questions to Ponder
What Do You Think?
Chapter 2 – Deal or Debacle? DaimlerChrysler and Cultural Lessons from the Big Guys
Perfect Deal or Debacle? The Case of DaimlerChrysler
How a Global Mindset Translates to Bottom-Line Results
What Is Culture?
Lessons Learned to Develop Your Cultural Skills
Questions to Ponder
What Do You Think?
Part II – Culture Basics—How Culture and a Global Mindset Work
Chapter 3 – What Is Culture and What Is Personal Style?
The Fable of the White Elephant of Siam
Culture’s Core
Culture Is Layered
The Layers of Culture
The CW Model
The Need to Generalize and the Risk of Stereotyping
Using the CW Model: The Seven Keys
Personal Cultural Style
Lessons Learned to Develop Your Cultural Skills
Questions to Ponder
What Do You Think?
Part III – The Seven Keys to Managing Across Cultures
Chapter 4 – Hierarchy and Egalitarianism
Overview
How the Smart Guys at Wal-Mart Missed the Signals
How Can You See Hierarchy?
Hierarchical/Egalitarian Behaviors in Action
Lessons Learned to Develop Your Cultural Skills
Questions to Ponder
What Do You Think?
Chapter 5 – Group Focus
Overview
Do I Have to Listen to Everyone’s Opinion?
How Do you Recognize Group Focus?
Where Does This Come From?
Group Focus in Action
Lessons Learned to Develop Your Cultural Skills
Questions to Ponder
What Do You Think?
Chapter 6 – Relationships
Overview
The Dutch and Chinese Cultural Exchange
How Do You Recognize the Relationships Dimension?
Relationships and Trust
Expectations of Relationships
How Relationships Win Business
Team Behavior
Lessons Learned to Develop Your Cultural Skills
Questions to Ponder
What Do You Think?
Chapter 7 – Communication Styles
Overview
How Genentech Continues Its Quest for Best Practices
What Is Communication Style?
The Elements of Effective Cross-Cultural Communication
Recognizing Different Communication Styles
How to “Read” Nonverbal Clues
Using Silence and “Yes” to Avoid Conflict
The Impact of Language
Lessons Learned to Develop Your Cultural Skills
Questions to Ponder
What Do You Think?
Chapter 8 – Time Orientation
Overview
Understanding Time Orientation Can Save Your Business
Recognizing Time Orientation
Do You Believe You Control Time?
Time and the Impact of Relationships
The Impact of Monochronic and Polychronic Time on Business
Relationships and Time
Taking Time Seriously
Lessons Learned to Develop Your Cultural Skills
Questions to Ponder
What Do You Think?
Chapter 9 – Change Tolerance
Overview
Six Sigma, Italian Style
How Open Are People to Change and Innovation?
Risk versus Caution
How You See Change Tolerance in Business
“Try, Try Again”
Lessons Learned to Develop Your Cultural Skills
Questions to Ponder
What Do You Think?
Chapter 10 – Motivation/Work-Life Balance
Overview
Espresso Culture at Work
How Motivation/Work-Life Balance Is Reflected in Society
The Impact of Motivation/Work-Life Balance in Business
Lessons Learned to Develop Your Cultural Skills
Questions to Ponder
What Do You Think?
Part IV – Doing Business With a Global Mindset
Chapter 11 – Creating a Global Mindset in Business
Integreon: The Global Mindset in Knowledge Outsourcing
What Is a Global Mindset?
What Do You Need to Know to Have a Global Mindset?
Lessons Learned to Develop Your Cultural Skills
Questions to Ponder
What Do You Think?
Chapter 12 – Creating Effective Global Teams and Working with Diverse Colleagues
Putting It All Together on Global Teams
What Are Global (Virtual) Teams and What Makes Them So Challenging?
Learning How Cultural Diversity Affects Global Teams
Decision Making
The Manager’s Role
Creating Effective Strategies for Teamwork
Additional Resources and Activities
Lessons Learned to Develop Your Cultural Skills
What Do You Think?
Chapter 13 – Effective Leadership: Managing Talent Across Cultures—Hiring, Training, and Retaining
Intel’s Corporate Culture Helps Managers Cross Cultures
Hiring and Selecting in a Global Environment
Guidelines for Selection
Steps for the Hiring Manager
People Make the Difference
Training for Excellence
Integreon Designs Training for a Global Mindset
Performance Appraisal in a Global Environment
Global Leadership
Lessons Learned to Develop Your Cultural Skills
Questions to Ponder
What Do You Think?
Chapter 14 – Women Crossing Cultures
Unique Challenges Women Face
The Path Isn’t Always Smooth
Women in Hierarchical Cultures Must Work Harder to Achieve Credibility
Women Can Be Successful in Muslim Countries
Women May Face Unwanted Attention Because of Their Gender
Women Face Greater Security Issues
Women Face a Challenge with Alcoholic Beverages
Expatriate Women Are More Visible
Questions to Ponder
What Do You Think?
Chapter 15 – Creating Cultural Competence—The International Assignee Experience
Colgate-Palmolive: The Corporation with Global DNA
Making a Global Mindset Operational
The Global Mindset in Marketing
International Assignments Lead to Cultural Wisdom
The Expatriate Adjustment Cycle, or Culture Shock
Culture Shock Helps Build Your Skills
Lessons Learned to Develop Your Cultural Skills
Questions to Ponder
What Do You Think?
Further Reading and Additional Resources
Diversity Web Sites and Organizations
Diversity Articles
Expatriate Web Sites
Country-Specific Expatriate Web Sites
Expat Spouse Web Sites
Expatriate Articles Online
Global Virtual Teams Online Articles
For 1000+ more Business Books & Cultural Management Books, click below:
Did you like this? Share it:
Posted in Business Books | 1 Comment »
Thursday, December 31st, 2009
Managing High Performance Healthcare: Using the Power of Relationships to Achieve Quality, Efficiency and Resilience
by Jody Hoffer Gittell
2009 (352 pages)
ISBN:9780071621762
Providing a long-awaited cure to an industry in crisis, this book explains the critical concept of “relational coordination”—coordinating work through shared goals, shared knowledge, and mutual respect.
Get this Book by clicking below:
Managing High Performance Healthcare—Using the Power of Relationships to Achieve Quality, Efficiency and Resilience
Preface
Part I – Transforming Healthcare
Chapter 1 – The Challenges We Face
Chapter 2 – What Is Relational Coordination?
Overview
What Is Relational Coordination?
The Power of Relationships
Differences in Relational Coordination Between Organizations and Between Roles
Bottom Line
Chapter 3 – How Relational Coordination Drives Quality and Efficiency Performance
Relational Coordination and Surgical Performance
Job Satisfaction
What We Found
Relational Coordination and Medical Performance
Relational Coordination and Long-Term Care Performance
Relational Coordination and Airline Performance
Bottom Line
Part II – Building a High Performance Work System
Chapter 4 – A Different Kind of High Performance Work System
Overview
A High Performance Work System that Supports Relational Coordination
Bottom Line
Chapter 5 – Select for Teamwork
Overview
Assessing the Impact of Selecting for Teamwork
Bottom Line
Chapter 6 – Measure Team Performance
Overview
Assessing the Impact of Cross-Functional Performance Measurement
Bottom Line
Chapter 7 – Reward Team Performance
Overview
Assessing the Impact of Cross-Functional Rewards
Bottom Line
Chapter 8 – Resolve Conflicts Proactively
Overview
Assessing the Impact of Cross-Functional Conflict Resolution
Bottom Line
Chapter 9 – Invest in Frontline Leadership
Overview
Assessing the Impact of Supervisory Staffing
Bottom Line
Chapter 10 – Design Jobs for Focus
Overview
Patient-Focused Job Design
Assessing the Impact of Patient-Focused Job Design
A Second Type of Job Focus: The Hospitalist Job Design for Physicians
Assessing the Impact of the Hospitalist Job Design
Bottom Line
Chapter 11 – Make Job Boundaries Flexible
Overview
Bottom Line
Chapter 12 – Create Boundary Spanners
Overview
Case Managers as a Replacement for Primary Nurses?
Assessing the Impact of Cross-Functional Boundary Spanners
Bottom Line
Chapter 13 – Connect through Pathways
Overview
Assessing the Impact of Cross-Functional Pathways
Bottom Line
Chapter 14 – Broaden Participation in Patient Rounds
Overview
Assessing the Impact of Cross-Functional Rounds
Bottom Line
Chapter 15 – Develop Shared Information Systems
Overview
Assessing the Impact of Cross-Functional Information Systems
Bottom Line
Chapter 16 – Partner with Your Suppliers
Overview
Supply Partnerships at Beth Israel Deaconess
Supply Partnerships at Brigham and Women’s
Supply Partnerships at the Hospital for Joint Diseases
Supply Partnerships at the New England Baptist
Is Common Ownership the Solution?
Are Primary Care Physicians (or Family Members) the Solution?
Bottom Line
Chapter 17 – Combine Work Practices to Build a High Performance Work System
Overview
Bottom Line
Part III – Getting from Here to There
Chapter 18 – Respond to Pressure with Resilience
Overview
Is Pressure Always a Bad Thing?
How People Cope with Pressure
How Organizations Cope with Pressure
Beyond Coping to Resilience
Is Relational Coordination a Resilient Response to Managed Care Penetration?
What We Found
External Threats are Not Enough
Bottom Line
Chapter 19 – Transform Your Organization in a Systemic and Sustainable Way
Overview
Obstacles to Systems Thinking
Identify Leadership for Change
Choose a Focal Work Process and Map it Out
Measure Key Performance Outcomes
Measure Relational Coordination and Identify Gaps
Measure the High Performance Work System and Identify Gaps
Transform Work Practices Systemically
Repeat the Process
Bottom Line
Chapter 20 – Make Unions Your Partners, Not Your Adversaries
Seiu and the New York League of Voluntary Hospitals and Nursing Homes
SEIU and Allina Health System
Kaiser Permanente Labor-Management Partnership
Traditional Adversarial Relationships in Healthcare
Bottom Line
Chapter 21 – Support Change at the Industry Level
Fragmented Payment Systems
Fragmented Hospital-Physician Relationships
Fragmented Information Systems
Adversarial Labor Law
Industry Leadership for Change
Notes for Exhibits
Exhibit 2-4 (page 21)
Exhibit 3-1 (page 30)
Exhibit 3-3 (page 32)
Exhibit 3-5 (page 36)
Exhibit 3-6 (page 40)
Exhibit 3-7 (page 42)
Exhibit 4-2 (pages 54–55)
Exhibit 5-1 (page 63)
Exhibit 5-3 (page 64)
Exhibit 6-1 (page 78)
Exhibit 6-3
Exhibit 7-1 (page 87)
Exhibit 7-3 (page 89)
Exhibit 8-1 (page 101)
Exhibit 8-3 (page 103)
Exhibit 9-1 (page 112)
Exhibit 9-3 (page 113)
Exhibit 10-1 (page 119)
Exhibit 10-3 (page 121)
Exhibit 10-4 (page 123)
Exhibit 10-5 (page 124)
Exhibit 10-6 (page 125)
Exhibit 12-1 (page 146)
Exhibit 12-3 (page 147)
Exhibit 13-1 (page 157)
Exhibit 13-3 (page 159)
Exhibit 14-1 (page 167)
Exhibit 14-3 (page 168)
Exhibit 15-1 (page 182)
Exhibit 15-3 (page 183)
Exhibit 16-1 (page 205)
Exhibit 17-1 (page 211)
Exhibit 17-3 (page 212)
Exhibit 18-1 (page 226)
Exhibit 19-2 (pages 239–240)
Exhibit 19-3 (page 241)
Exhibit 19-4 (pages 242–243)
For 1000+ more Business Books & Healthcare Management Books, click below:
Did you like this? Share it:
Posted in Business Books | No Comments »
