Managing Complexity And Change In Smes

The process of founding new enterprises and making them grow and prosper is a far more convoluted undertaking than it was just a few decades ago. This book explores the complexity faced by today s entrepreneurs. Institutional boundaries, evolutionary perspectives and the intricacies of management are the central themes in this study of entrepreneurs and SMEs in a world marked by major transitions. While mainstream research enhances our understanding of the dynamics of the entrepreneurial process, this book progresses the research yet further. It examines another fundamental role of research in entrepreneurship: our understanding of future organizational and managerial forms evolving from the globalization process. Issues addressed include: growth patterns among enterprises initiated by science-and-technology-based entrepreneurs the actions and motives driving radical entrepreneurs the role of experience versus formal education in entrepreneurship the role of endogenous growth processes managerial complexity in new knowledge-based enterprises the role of collaboration for innovation in new business ventures. The contributors aim to further encourage dialogue and reflections triggered by the growing emphasis on entrepreneurship in policy agendas and business communities all over Europe. As such, this book will prove stimulating reading for researchers, students, academics, consultants and advisers involved in entrepreneurship, business and management.

The insights of complexity science can allow today’s managers to embrace the challenges and uncertainty of the twenty-first century, and successfully oversee organizational change and development. Elizabeth McMillan's book brings these ideas into perspective by: outlining the historical relationship between science and organizations reviewing current perspectives on organizational change and best practice citing real-life examples of the use of complexity science ideas discussing issues which may arise when using ideas from complexity. Written in an accessible style to bridge the gap from scientific theory to commercial applicability, this text shows how organizations can become more effective, democratic and sustainable through complexity science.

"Using a series of global case studies from a variety of industries, the authors outline their frameworks for understanding and managing complexity. The book examines the role of complexity theory in organizations and the importance of flexibility in decision-making. Managing Complexity in Organizations goes on to discuss how flexibility allows for improved, quicker responses to ongoing change - a necessity in today's unpredictable business environment. The authors present four key drivers of complexity: diversity; interdependence; ambiguity; and fast flux, thereby providing the reader with an effective and thorough understanding of how businesses can successfully adapt and respond to constant change."--Publisher.

This book presents papers by experts in the field of Industrial Engineering, covering topics in business strategy; modelling and simulation in operations research; logistics and production; service systems; innovation and knowledge; and project management. The focus of operations and production management has evolved from product and manufacturing to the capabilities of firms and collaborative management. Nowadays, Industrial Engineering is concerned with the study of how to design, modify, control and improve the performance of complex systems. It has extended its scope to any physical landscape populated by social agents. This raises a major challenge to Industrial Engineering: managing complexity. This volume shows how experts are dealing with this challenge.

The concept of “chaos”, and chaos theory, though it is a field of study specifically in the field of mathematics with applications in physics, engineering, economics, management, and education, has also recently taken root in the social sciences. As a method of analyzing the way in which the digital age has connected society more than ever, chaos and complexity theory serves as a tactic to tie world events and cope with the information overload that is associated with heightened social connectivity. The Handbook of Research on Chaos and Complexity Theory in the Social Sciences explores the theories of chaos and complexity as applied to a variety of disciplines including political science, organizational and management science, economics, and education. Presenting diverse research-based perspectives on mathematical patterns in the world system, this publication is an essential reference source for scholars, researchers, mathematicians, social theorists, and graduate-level students in a variety of disciplines.

Creative industries are becoming increasingly important to the economic and social wealth of most economies. They are also inherently linked to entrepreneurship and this book provides thoughtful and comprehensive insights into the role of creative industries in contemporary economies and to the interface between creative firms and entrepreneurship. The book draws upon cutting edge research to illustrate and explain the diversity and nature of creative industries and to provide informed discussion on key topics relevant to developing theory and understanding of this vital sector. This book is a must for anyone interested in understanding and learning more about the opportunities which creative industries have created for entrepreneurship and the benefits which an entrepreneurial mind-set can offer to the creative industries.- Eleanor Shaw, University of Strathclyde, UK 'The creative industries have long been a hotbed of entrepreneurial activity. For decades vaudeville, theater, movies, art, and music have exemplified the key aspects of entrepreneurship, and the participants in these industries search for novelty and create innovations. But despite the fact that some countries have industrial policies to focus on creative arts, this is a little studied area of entrepreneurship. Colette Henry and Anne de Bruin offer one of the first academic books that showcases research in the creative industries. This volume presents a solid theoretical foundation and offers fascinating chapters that consider a variety of topics such as regional strategies, education, creative expression and the evolution of industry.'

There are hidden laws at work in every aspect of your business. Understand them, and you can create extraordinary growth. Ignore them, and you run the risk of becoming another statistic. It's become almost cliche: 8 out of every 10 new ventures fail. Of the ones that succeed, how many truly thrive-for the long run? And of those that thrive, how many continually overcome their growth hurdles ... and ultimately scale, with meaning, purpose, and profitability? The answer, sadly, is not many. Author Lex Sisney is on a mission to change that picture. After more than a decade spent leading and coaching high-growth technology companies, Lex discovered that the companies that thrive do so in accordance with 6 Laws - universal principles that govern the success or failure of every individual, team, and organization.