The metaverse has emerged as an influential force, beckoning entrepreneurs to navigate uncharted territories. Platform and gaming companies strategically position themselves to take advantage of the metaverse's potential, indicating that this shift transcends mere trendiness. The metaverse isn't confined to the realms of conceptuality or viral discussions anymore—it signifies a monumental revolution poised to reshape society and humanity at large. As entrepreneurs fervently adopt artificial intelligence, an unprecedented wave of creativity ensues, redefining the very fabric of business. Yet, with this surge comes a cascade of myths and challenges that shape the metaverse's entrepreneurial landscape, spanning technological intricacies, cultural dynamics, and ethical considerations. The book, titled New Business Frontiers in the Metaverse, aims to demystify the metaverse's complexities. Moving beyond the speculative buzz surrounding the metaverse, the book unfolds as a dynamic exploration of the relationship between entrepreneurship and this digital frontier. By addressing the myths and challenges head-on, it seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the dimensions that entrepreneurs will confront in the metaverse. Through an exploration of integrated technologies like NFTs, Web 4.0, augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality, the book offers a unique perspective on how these innovations intertwine to shape the metaverse's entrepreneurial landscape.

Within the context of higher education, teamwork and collaboration have become integral to organizational success. While there remains inherent complexity to developing high performing teams in higher education, many institutions have prioritized the integration of collaboration efforts, goal attainment, and student support. Academic excellence achieved through teamwork prioritizes improved student engagement, innovative teaching methods, and collaborative research environments. Developing Effective and High-Performing Teams in Higher Education explores the strategies, best practices, and case studies for developing effective higher education teams. It brings together diverse insights on effective academic collaboration to achieve a myriad of higher education goals. This book covers topics such as student culture, education psychology, and information sharing, and is a valuable resource for educators, administrators, policymakers, academicians, and researchers.

The Metaverse and Smart Cities: Urban Environments in the Age of Digital Connectivity explores the intersection between the rapidly growing metaverse and the future of cities. The metaverse is a virtual world that is increasingly gaining attention as a new frontier for human interaction and commerce. At the same time, cities are undergoing significant transformation as they face challenges such as population growth, urbanization, and environmental degradation. Urban planners and city administrators will find valuable insights on how the metaverse can be integrated into the planning and development of smart, sustainable and future cities. The book begins with an introduction to the concepts and technology of the metaverse as well as its history. It then sheds light on the current and future challenges and opportunities that the metaverse presents to cities and the quality of life of urban dwellers. It delves into the ways in which the metaverse can change cities, both in terms of their physical and virtual environments, and the impact it can have on the lives of those who live in them. It brings together the latest research and perspectives from experts in the fields of virtual reality, urban planning, and sustainability, to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date picture of this rapidly evolving field. The insights and recommendations presented in the book will be valuable to policymakers, urban planners, and technology professionals interested in shaping the future of cities and the quality of life of those who live in them. Urban dwellers will gain an understanding of the potential impact of the metaverse on their quality of life, and technology enthusiasts and real estate developers will gain insights into the potential opportunities and challenges of investing in the metaverse and its connection to cities. - Provides a comprehensive and in-depth examination of the relationship between the metaverse and cities, recognizing the role that virtual environments will play in shaping the future of urban life - Presents practical examples and case studies to demonstrate the possibilities and challenges of the metaverse in cities - Includes the historical foundations necessary for understanding the current challenges and potential future trajectories of the technology

Traditional marketing approaches must be more effective in a digital world where consumers seek more immersive and personalized experiences. Businesses need to help to engage with their target audience and to understand their evolving needs and preferences. This disconnect hinders their ability to create impactful marketing strategies that resonate with consumers and drive meaningful interactions. Consumer Experience and Decision-Making in the Metaverse offers a solution by exploring how the metaverse transforms consumer behavior and marketing practices. The book provides insights into immersive consumer experiences, virtual brand presence, data-driven personalization, and more through a collection of research. It equips readers with the knowledge and strategies to adapt to this new digital landscape and engage with consumers in innovative ways.

In the rapidly evolving 21st century, emerging digital technologies are transforming every aspect of modern life, from social interactions to business practices. These advancements are reshaping industries, influencing human behavior, and redefining societal structures. Understanding the impact of technologies like AI, blockchain, and virtual reality is crucial for navigating today's digital world and its challenges. Cutting-Edge Technologies for Business Sectors provides a comprehensive look at how these innovations are revolutionizing industries such as healthcare, education, law, and tourism. By exploring the ethical, practical, and societal implications of digital tools, this volume offers valuable insights for academics, professionals, and policymakers looking to harness the power of technology and shape the future.

Integrating electric vehicles (EVs) into power distribution systems presents significant challenges, particularly concerning power source dependability and grid stability. The distribution system, a critical element of the power system, is susceptible to failures and power outages exacerbated by the extensive adoption of EVs. Additionally, managing the administration, monitoring, and control of power systems in the context of EV integration is a complex and daunting task for energy experts. A Sustainable Future with E-Mobility: Concepts, Challenges, and Implementations offers a comprehensive solution to these challenges. It explores infrastructure frameworks, planning strategies, control strategies, and software applications for integrating EVs with power distribution systems, focusing on innovative grid developments. By providing insights into architectural reconfiguration, restoration strategies, power quality control, and regulatory aspects, the book equips students, researchers, academicians, policymakers, and industry experts with the knowledge needed to achieve a secure, resilient, and efficient integration of EVs into distribution networks.

In the current fast-paced business environment, organizations face the challenge of managing internal innovation efforts while leveraging external expertise and resources. Traditional innovation management approaches may struggle to keep up with the rapid changes in technology and market dynamics. Organizations must master innovation while ensuring sustainability and adopting more inclusive and collaborative innovation practices. To address these challenges, the book Mastering Innovation in Business provides a comprehensive solution by delving deep into the principles and practices of open innovation. By examining the evolution of management and the dynamics of open innovation, this book equips readers with the knowledge and strategies needed to manage innovation effectively in a rapidly changing business landscape. It explores intellectual property management, metrics for measuring innovation, and cultural influences on innovation. It offers practical insights and actionable strategies for fostering a culture of innovation within organizations. Additionally, the book delves into the role of digital transformation in driving innovation. It guides how organizations can leverage digital technologies to enhance their innovation efforts.

This book takes a historical approach to explore data, algorithms, their use in practice through applications of AI in various settings, and all of the surrounding ethical and DEI implications. Summarizing our current knowledge and highlighting gaps, it offers original examples from empirical research in various settings, such as healthcare, social media, and the GIG economy. The author investigates how systems relying on a binary structure (machines) work in systems that are instead analogic (societies). Further, he examines how underrepresented populations, who have been historically penalized by technologies, can play an active role in the design of automated systems, with a specific focus on the US legal and social system. One issue is that main tasks of machines concern classification, which, while efficient for speeding up decision-making processes, are inherently biased. Ultimately, this work advocates for ethical design and responsible implementation and deployment of technology in organizations and society through through government-sponsored social justice, in contrast with free market policies. This interdisciplinary text contributes to the timely and relevant debate on algorithmic fairness, biases, and potential discriminations. It will appeal to researchers in business ethics and information systems while building on theories from anthropology, psychology, sociology, management, marketing, and economics. Marco Marabelli is a Professor of Computer Information Systems at Bentley University, USA. His research focuses on the ethical and DEI implications of the use of emerging technologies in organizations and society and on the historical and legal aspects concerning social injustice associated with the use of artificial intelligence.

Machine learning algorithms are widely presumed to herald a world in which the crippling burdens of anxiety can be left behind. The digital revolution promises a brave new world where individuals, communities and organizations can at last take control of the future – anticipating, designing and commanding the future, possibly even with mathematical exactitude. Yet, paradoxically, algorithms have unleashed widespread fears and forebodings about the impact of digital technologies. Whether it’s worries about unemployment, distress about social media’s harmful effects on teenagers, or the fear of intrusive digital surveillance, we live in an age of turbo-charged anxiety where the prophecies of algorithms are increasingly enmeshed with fundamental disruption and anxieties about the future. In this book, Anthony Elliott examines how machine learning algorithms are not only transforming global institutions but also rewriting our personal lives. He tells this story through a wide-ranging analysis which takes in ChatGPT, Amazon, the Metaverse, Martin Ford, Netflix, Uber, Bernard Stiegler, Squid Game, Kate Crawford, LaMDA, Byung-Chul Han, autonomous drones, Jean Baudrillard and the automation of warfare. Questioning why people often assume that they need to adopt new technologies in order to lead fulfilling lives, Elliott argues that people may be as much entranced as inspired by their outsourcing of personal decision-making to smart machines.