The first succinct and authoritative overview of the making of the modern Middle East, this lucid book brings a valuable mix of historical perspectives and contemporary analysis to a wide audience of readers seeking expert knowledge about this troubled and fascinating region. Giving a rich perspective on the region's historical and political evolution, the book traces the influence of factors s…

The Long Tail is a powerful new force in our economy: the rise of the niche. As the cost of reaching consumers drops dramatically, our markets are shifting from a one-size-fits-all model of mass appeal to one of unlimited variety for unique tastes. From supermarket shelves to advertising agencies, the ability to offer vast choice is changing everything, and causing us to rethink where our marke…

The Executive's Guide to Information Technology is a sophisticated and comprehensive guide to running a cost-effective, efficient, and business delivery-focused corporate Information Technology (IT) unit. Eschewing the theoretical for the practical, the book gives managers the guidance they need to handle any problem effectively. It provides specific policies, approaches, and tools for each cri…

axing the financial sector, direction and indirectly, has long been relatively easy even for governments with limited taxing capacity. But growing awareness of the strategic importance of the financial sector in catalyzing economic growth has led governments to reconsider the financial sector's potential as a budgetary cash-cow. Indeed, the pendulum may have swung to the other extreme, with spe…

There's been plenty of loose talk about the reasons for the collapse of Arthur Andersen--much of it surrounding Andersen's culture. What, exactly, was the culture of Andersen? Did it really cause the collapse--and if so, what lessons can other organizations learn from Andersen's experience? The authors of Inside Arthur Andersen: Shifting Values, Unexpected Consequences bring their unique insigh…

How to Market Books, now in its fourth edition, has for many years been the place publishing professionals turn for advice on maximizing revenues and minimizing costs. This book provides the answers for the marketer whose job it is to sell and market books in today's increasingly competitive bookselling environment. Relevant to both new and veteran members of the publishing industry, How to Mar…

System administration is about the design, running and maintenance of human-computer systems. Examples of human-computer systems include business enterprises, service institutions and any extensive machinery that is operated by, or interacts with human beings. System administration is often thought of as the technological side of a system: the architecture, construction and optimization of the …

Economic Forecasting deals with macroeconomic forecasts from a global point of view. The focus is first on a large range of theories as well as empirical methods: business cycle analysis, time series methods, macroeconomic models, medium and long-run projections, fiscal and financial forecasts, and sectoral forecasting. In addition, the book addresses the main issues surrounding the use of fore…

The quality of corporate leadership is often the key factor that determines success - or failure - in the fiercely competitive business world. Offering a fresh perspective and practical advice, Coaching Competencies and Corporate Leadership explores how coaching executives can use a competency-based approach to become more effective leaders. The authors show you how to be an active partner in t…

Classical political theorists such as Thucydides, Kant, Rousseau, Smith, Hegel, Grotius, Mill, Locke and Clausewitz are often employed to explain and justify contemporary international politics and are seen to constitute the different schools of thought in the discipline. However, traditional interpretations frequently ignore the intellectual and historical context in which these thinkers were …