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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

  • Reliability, Maintainability and Risk

    Practical Methods for Engineers including Reliability Centred Maintenance and Safety-Related Systems
    • 7th Edition
    • David J. Smith
    • English
    For over 30 years, Reliability, Maintainability and Risk has been recognised as a leading text for reliability and maintenance professionals. Now in its seventh edition, the book has been updated to remain the first choice for professional engineers and students. The seventh edition incorporates new material on important topics including software failure, the latest safety legislation and standards, product liability, integrity of safety-related systems, as well as delivering an up-to-date review of the latest approaches to reliability modelling, including cutsec ranking. It is also supported by new detailed case studies on reliability and risk in practice.
  • Economic Capital Allocation with Basel II

    Cost, Benefit and Implementation Procedures
    • 1st Edition
    • Dimitris N. Chorafas
    • English
    This book is a complimentary follow-on book to Operational Risk Control with Basel II. While the previous book focuses on operational risk, Economic Capital Allocation provides an overview of credit risk within the context of the Basel II accords.The book provides:* comprehensive coverage of the evolution of the banking industry with Basel II in mind* extensive information on the capital requirements for bank liquidity and solvency * coverage of the new rules as laid down by the supervisory authorities of the Group of Ten industrialized nations* key information on the technical requirements for credit institutions such as: new credit rating scales, modeling of credit risk, control of operational risks, and, novel ways and means for the management of exposure to Credit Risk
  • Regulation and Compliance in Operations

    • 1st Edition
    • David Loader
    • English
    'Regulation and Compliance in Operations' looks at how regulation affects the operations function by focusing on regulatory issues and drivers. As regulatory demands ever increasing, it is important for operations teams to be aware of the important regulatory issues which exist globally. Like any other part of an organization in the financial services industry, operations has rules and regulations to comply with. Although many view regulation as being about rooting out rogue traders and controlling speculators, its role is much more profound than this, and without it many more 'scandals' would undoubtedly occur. The problem for the regulator is that unless total oversight of every transaction, account, business and individual can be made, there will always be rogue traders or more recent examples like Enron and World.Com. As such intense oversight is not practical, the regulator can only do so much, with most of the responsibility resting with the firms and organizations themselves.For operations teams their role in protecting the firm stems from their ability to manage critical processes like reconciliation, asset position agreements and the nostro accounts efficiently and effectively. Regulators need the help and support of the businesses to have a 'business-friendly environment'. When some abuse the trust placed in them and the regulatory environment, a 'scandal' or worse occurs, with the result that the majority are penalized as regulators react to criticism and apply more onerous regulations.It is often the operations teams that bear most, or at least some, of the repercussions of greater regulatory oversight of the business. It is therefore vitally important for operations teams to have a firm understanding of the regulatory issues and drivers. This book will help you gain that understanding, as well as looking at the important regulatory issues in the various global markets in which your business operates.
  • 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.
  • 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....