This edited volume brings together a group of expert contributors to explorebthe opportunities and the challenges that Industry 4.0 (smart manufacturing) is likely to pose for regions, fi rms and jobs in Europe. Drawing on theory and empirical cases, it considers emerging issues like servitization, new innovation models for local production systems and the increase in reshoring. Industry 4.0 and Regional Transformations captures the complexity of this new manufacturing model in an accessible way and considers its implications for the future. It will be essential reading for advanced students and researchers and policy makers in regional studies, industrial policy, economic geography, innovation studies, operations management and engineering.

The Regional Economics of Technological Transformations provides a comprehensive overview of 4.0 technological transformations in Europe and their socio-economic impact, with a particular emphasis on the regional dimension of the phenomena. The authors employ extensive original data and robust quantitative methods to analyse technological change in all regions of the 27 EU countries plus the UK and shed light on this trend for Europe and beyond. Structured in four parts, the book first looks at conceptual definitions, empirical measurements and expected impacts on both the economic performance (GDP and productivity growth) and the labour market, and then moves on to analyse where 4.0 technological transformation actually takes place in Europe and the reasons for this. Next, it offers original empirical evidence on the impacts of the different transformations, and of their intertwined effects, on both the economy and the society. Finally, the book explores the policy implications of this technological transformation. This book will be valuable reading for advanced students, researchers and policymakers working across regional economics, industrial economics and innovation policy. It will be of primary interest to regional scientists interested in the field, who may enjoy the conceptual and empirical solutions to the study of a very complex, timely and still largely unexplored theme. Sociologists, engineers and political economists can benefit from the book’s analysis, noting the urgency of the development of new ethical rules governing the new digital and labour markets. Finally, the book may appeal to policymakers interested in opportunities to increase regional competitiveness and sustainability goals through the advent of 4.0 technologies.

The information age is reshaping current socio-economic structures and processes and this book touches upon the nature of clusters in the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0; I4.0). It focuses on the spatial perspective of digital business transformation and explores in natural context the interrelations between cluster and I4.0. It investigates the role of knowledge, business relations and policy in making cluster relevant for Industry 4.0 and uses the case study method and literature review to develop a conceptual framework outlining the functioning of Industry 4.0 cluster. This book argues that locally embedded knowledge accompanied by strong presence of industry and assisted by proper governance management facilitate the implementation of I4.0. The idiosyncrasies of Industry 4.0 impact also the functioning of cluster as they require more interdisciplinary integrative approach with the provision of industrial commons and development of related varieties. Natural processes of stretching of the cluster cannot be prevented, but should be harnessed for upgrading the core competences of cluster. This book can enrich existing literature on economic geography and regional studies by discussing the spatial aspects of digital transformation. It shows the cluster transformation as induced by the digital transformation, and will be of interest to researchers, academics, policymakers, and students who explore the regional and local development, competitiveness, or managerial aspects of fourth industrial revolution.

These proceedings gather contributions presented at the 1st International Conference on Applied Operational Research (ICAOR 2008) in Yerevan, Armenia, September 15-17, 2008, published in the series Lecture Notes in Management Science (LNMS). The conference covers all aspects of Operational Research and Management Science (OR/MS) with a particular emphasis on applications.

We believe that the world is standing on the very edge of the fastest industrial revolution ever. A revolution which will rapidly increase the efficiency of many production processes. Automation (both mechanical and the one happening with computer processes) will reduce the demand for human work and release a huge amount of time we can use for further development. With this book we try to provide the reader with information about various aspects of life and the socio-economic environment. For this purpose, we have invited authors representing the leading scientific research centers in Poland and specialists from foreign universities. Piotr Buła Bogdan Nogalski The monograph stands out from the publications related to change management in the context of entrepreneurial opportunities and flexibility of the organization. The authors attempt to integrate retrospective and prognostic approaches, so they not only assess the current status, but also point to challenges for management science. The work has been prepared by scholars whose authority in management sciences is undisputed. I positively assess the empirical and methodological layer of individual chapters of the monograph. Discussing the results of their scientific and research work, the authors presented the determinants of management processes described from the perspective of entrepreneurial opportunities and flexibility of the organization. Szymon Cyfert

The handbook presents an overview of Industry 4.0 and offers solutions for important practical questions. The law and its current challenges regarding data assignment (who owns the data? / EU guidelines), data security, data protection (General Data Protection Regulation), cyberattacks, competition law (right to access vs. monopolists, permissible and prohibited exchanges of information, possible collaborations) is the point of departure. In turn, the book explores peculiarities in specific areas of Industry 4.0 (Internet of Production, mechanical engineering, artificial intelligence, electromobility, autonomous driving, traffic, medical science, construction, energy industry, etc.). The book’s closing section addresses general developments in management, the digital transformation of companies and the world of work, and ethical questions.

This book traces the transformation of Shunde, a city in China's Guangdong Province, from a historically agricultural county to a bustling manufacturing hub cum liveable city, in the past 41 years since the reform and opening-up of China in 1978. It discusses the economic success story of Shunde by using historical narratives to show how the district has combined its enterprising private sector with the highly capable reform-oriented local government to become a national beacon of reforms in the 1980s and 1990s. It looks into the holistic approach to development adopted by the Shunde government since the 1980s. It also explores the potential role of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA). It analyses the strengths and weaknesses of the district as compared to other competing areas in the GBA.

How can developing countries become high-income nations? What are the reference points for measuring national development, public leadership and government performance? What is the nexus between public policies and geopolitical, political, emotional, historical, national governance-related, social and cultural norms, forces and factors which shape the process of the state building? This second edition of the book elaborates on many of these critical interconnections, focusing on 9 years after Georgia's Revolution of Roses in November 2003. The book explains what can be accomplished in two electoral terms at a given starting level of GDP per capita and which pitfalls to avoid. It contributes to documenting an almost decade-long history of Georgia.

This proceedings book showcases papers presented at the 2022 Rethinking Management and Economics in the (New) 20s conference in Leiria, Portugal. Rethinking Management and Economics in the (New) 20’s is focused on the investigation of key challenges and perspectives of Management and Economics. The chapters in this book explore new avenues of research and cover theoretical, empirical, and experimental studies related to different themes in the global context of Management and Economics. This book contributes towards deepening our understanding of what the new problems associated with achieving the goals of management and Economics in the 2020s and present possible solutions to the problems. This book is ideal for economists, businesses, managers, accountants, practitioners, stakeholders, researchers, academicians, and students who are interested in the current issues and advancements in corporate governance and earnings management.