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Books in Decision sciences

Our Decision Sciences titles care essential reading for students and professionals, and cover key topics in decision support systems, and global logistics, among other areas of research and practice

  • Introduction to Security

    • 7th Edition
    • Robert Fischer
    • English
    Introduction to Security, Seventh Edition, presents the latest in security issues from security equipment and design theory to security management practice. This complete revision of the classic textbook has been reorganized to reflect the industry changes since the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. It includes new coverage throughout of terrorism as it relates to cargo and travel security, potential areas of attack and target hardening techniques, and the use of current technologies to combat new threats. The book begins with a new chapter on the development of Homeland Security in the United States. Traditional physical and guard security is covered in addition to advances in the electronic and computer security areas, including biometric security, access control, CCTV surveillance advances, as well as the growing computer security issues of identity theft and computer fraud. The Seventh Edition provides the most comprehensive breakdown of security issues for the student while detailing the latest trends, legislation, and technology in the private and government sectors for real-world application in students' future careers. As the definitive resource for anyone entering or currently working in the security industry, this book will also benefit law enforcement personnel, security consultants, security managers, security guards and other security professionals, and individuals responsible for Homeland Security.

  • Stochastic Programming

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 10
    • English
    Brings together leading in the most important sub-fields of stochastic programming to present a rigourous overview of basic models, methods and applications of stochastic programming. The text is intended for researchers, students, engineers and economists, who encounter in their work optimization problems involving uncertainty.

  • Multiple Criteria Analysis for Agricultural Decisions, Second Edition

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 11
    • C. Romero + 1 more
    • English
    This book presents the Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) paradigm for modelling agricultural decision-making in three parts. The first part, comprising two chapters, is philosophical in nature and deals with the concepts that define the underlying structure of the MCDM paradigm. The second part is the largest part consisting of five chapters, each of which presents the logic of a specific MCDM technique, and demonstrates how it can be used to model a particular decision problem. In the final part, some selected applications of the MCDM techniques to agricultural problems are presented and thus reinforce the development of an understanding of the MCDM paradigm.The book has been designed for use at different levels: as a textbook for final year undergraduate and postgraduate courses in modelling for decision-making; as a manual for researchers and practising modellers; and, as general reference on the application of MCDM techniques. Readers with basic appreciation of algebra and linear programming can easily follow the contents of this book.

  • The Manager's Handbook for Corporate Security

    Establishing and Managing a Successful Assets Protection Program
    • 1st Edition
    • Gerald L. Kovacich + 1 more
    • English
    Kovacich and Halibozek offer you the benefit of more than 55 years of combined experience in government and corporate security. Throughout the book, the authors use a fictional global corporation as a model to provide continual real-world challenges and solutions. New and experienced managers alike will find a wealth of information and practical advice to help you develop strategic and tactical plans and manage your daily operations.

  • Managing Technology in the Operations Function

    • 1st Edition
    • David Loader + 1 more
    • English
    'Managing Technology in The Operations Function' looks at issues in technology from the operations function rather than from an IT perspective. It explores the use of technology for processing, provision of client services, risk management and business management. The authors analyse the benefits of straight through processing and the practical implications of managing technology products in operations. System risk and opportunities are explored and case studies are examined along with industry trends to assess upcoming developments and their impacts.The use of technology is one of the key drivers of growth in the volumes of business in the financial markets today. The impact that technology has had, and is still having in the operations function is truly substantial. Technology now reaches into just about every aspect of the business. Electronic trading, messaging systems, and information distribution have created a global market that is, relatively speaking, instantly accessible and available. For operations this manifests itself in two ways: the automation of processes and the automation of information gathering and distribution. For operations managers this period of change has elevated the function from a pure support service into a dynamic revenue protector/generator, with a heavy client service and risk management focus. The reliance on technology to drive this progression forward and to meet the challenge is therefore of crucial consideration for the operations manager.The challenge for the operations teams and managers is to embrace technology and maximize the use of this vital and powerful tool within the business. A failure to do so will inevitably have a negative impact on the operations function and ultimately damage the whole business.

  • Relationship and Resource Management in Operations

    • 1st Edition
    • David Loader
    • English
    'Relationship and Resource Management in Operations' explains in practical terms the importance of the business relationships with internal and external counterparts while demonstrating how things can go wrong and what causes the situation. The authors examine the need to instil cultures in the team focusing on client service, risk and cost effectiveness. The text covers, via practical examples, the kind of scenario managers or supervisors might face in their role and shows what decisions could and should be made. The operations function in a financial organization is crucial to the success of the business. It drives both profitability and reputation as well as contributing to business development and support. It is also a complex part of a business and one that is treated differently in different types of organizations. The complexity of operations and the diverseness of the teams and the people they interact with create a need for a high degree of relationship and resource management. For instance a bank that is involved in both retail and investment banking will have hundreds of different relationship situations, but so too will a small private client broker. Some situations may be common to all types of organizations; others common to particular types of organizations and a few will be very specific to an organization. These relationships may be very open or highly discreet and confidential. Whatever the type of relationship, whether problematic or successful, it is likely that any problems will have an impact of the business. For operations managers their role is a key one. Charged with managing resources and the numerous relationship issues, it is neither a simple task nor, because of the variety and frequency of the issues that might arise, one that is easy to find solutions for. This book, however, explores some of the situations that managers might find themselves in and puts forward some solutions. Relationships and resources are the energy source that makes operations work and managed well they will provide the means to grow and to attain success. The central aim of this book is to provide knowledge and guidance on this important and key area of operations management. Successful operations teams are built on talented resource and effective management - let this book be your guide.

  • Controls, Procedures and Risk

    • 1st Edition
    • David Loader
    • English
    'Controls, Procedures and Risk' covers the skills and procedures needed to enable the monitoring and managing of risk and the authors focus on procedures design, implementation and documentation. Considerable emphasis is also given to the key controls and the importance of control functions, audit and risk management groups and policy. Case studies are used to effectively demonstrate 'success' and 'failure'. In the financial services industry risk is a constant threat to organizations of all sizes and to the markets themselves. Many industry 'events' have shown how dangerous it is when a business operates in an uncontrolled way, particularly when the lack of control was not evident to the management of the business until it was too late.Controls, procedures and risk are occupying more and more management time. The responsibility to manage the risks lies with the whole operations team. If it is successful in fulfilling this role the overall risk of the business is reduced, if it is not successful the consequences may be severe.In this book the author has deliberately focussed on the practical side of risk, controls and procedures, rather than analyse the Basel Capital Accord and the capital requirements etc.(however, the Accord and updates are contained in the Appendices). Operations teams need to be aware of risk but not overwhelmed by it. Risk management within, and by, the operations function is the focus of this book. From day-to-day risk to wider risk implications the operations function is reviewed to show the sources and implications of risk situations.

  • Handbook of Econometrics

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 5
    • J.J. Heckman + 1 more
    • English
    The Handbook is a definitive reference source and teaching aid for econometricians. It examines models, estimation theory, data analysis and field applications in econometrics. Comprehensive surveys, written by experts, discuss recent developments at a level suitable for professional use by economists, econometricians, statisticians, and in advanced graduate econometrics courses.For more information on the Handbooks in Economics series, please see our home page on http://www.elsevier....

  • Pricing Derivative Securities

    An Interactive, Dynamic Environment with Maple V and Matlab
    • 1st Edition
    • Eliezer Z. Prisman
    • English
    Pricing derivatives theory comes alive in this self-contained interactive experience in financial pricing. The no-arbitrage perspective in a one-period state-preference model drives the book, and the Maple® and Matlab® programs help readers visualize payoffs and respond to various constraints and conditions. With clear explanations and lavish illustrations, Pricing Derivative Securities: An Interactive, Dynamic Environment with Maple V and Matlab teaches the core theoretical concepts so often disguised behind difficult terms and institutional details.Readers can experiment with the electronic packages forever, using the book and its solutions manual as a tutorial that can help solve problems of increasing complexity.

  • Microscopic Simulation of Financial Markets

    From Investor Behavior to Market Phenomena
    • 1st Edition
    • Haim Levy + 2 more
    • English
    Microscopic Simulation (MS) uses a computer to represent and keep track of individual ("microscopic") elements in order to investigate complex systems which are analytically intractable. A methodology that was developed to solve physics problems, MS has been used to study the relation between microscopic behavior and macroscopic phenomena in systems ranging from those of atomic particles, to cars, animals, and even humans. In finance, MS can help explain, among other things, the effects of various elements of investor behavior on market dynamics and asset pricing. It is these issues in particular, and the value of an MS approach to finance in general, that are the subjects of this book. The authors not only put their work in perspective by surveying traditional economic analyses of investor behavior, but they also briefly examine the use of MS in fields other than finance. Most models in economics and finance assume that investors are rational. However, experimental studies reveal systematic deviations from rational behavior. How can we determine the effect of investors' deviations from rational behavior on asset prices and market dynamics? By using Microscopic Simulation, a methodology originally developed by physicists for the investigation of complex systems, the authors are able to relax classical assumptions about investor behavior and to model it as empirically and experimentally observed. This rounded and judicious introduction to the application of MS in finance and economics reveals that many of the empirically-observed "puzzles" in finance can be explained by investors' quasi-rationality. Researchers use the book because it models heterogeneous investors, a group that has proven difficult to model. Being able to predict how people will invest and setting asset prices accordingly is inherently appealing, and the combination of computing power and statistical mechanics in this book makes such modeling possible. Because many finance researchers have backgrounds in physics, the material here is accessible.

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