An Introduction to Management Science: Quantitative Approaches to Decision Making: Dennis J. Sweeney, Thomas Arthur Williams, David Ray Anderson

• Filed under: Business

Editorial Reviews

Intended for business professionals and managers who would like a better conceptual understanding of the role of management science in the decision making process, this book blends problem formulation with managerial interpretation and maths technique.

About the Author
Thomas A. Williams is Professor of Management Science in the College of Business at Rochester Institute of Technology. Born in Elmira New York he earned his B.S. degree at Clarkson University. He did his graduate work at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where he received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees.
–This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Quantitative Analysis for Management and Student CD-ROM, Eighth Edition: Barry Render, Ralph M. Stair, Michael E. Hanna

• Filed under: Business

Editorial Reviews

This best-selling volume has long been considered one of the most user accessible books for management science. The new edition retains and updates the traditional, comprehensive coverage of past editions but now adds spreadsheet-based problem solutions to most chapters. In addition, the book is now packaged with free software. The authors provide a comprehensive introduction to quantitative analysis, probability concepts and applications and decision theory models, as well as forecasting, control models, linear programming models and applications, transportation and assignment models, integer programming, goal programming, nonlinear programming, and branch and bound models, network models, project management, lines and queuing theory models and statistical quality control. For those interested in a comprehensive, yet accessible presentation of QM for management.

From the Publisher
This easy-to-use text provides students with the skills to apply the techniques of quantitative analysis in all kinds of organizational decision-making situations. Designed for optimum teaching flexibility, it covers every major topic in the quantitative analysis/management science field, showing how each technique works, discussing the assumptions and limitations of the models, and illustrating the real-world usefulness of each technique with many applications in both profit-making and nonprofit organizations. Dramatically revised, the Sixth Edition now offers a completely new look and feel to make teaching more efficient and enhance students’ learning experience.
–This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Statistics for Managers Using Microsoft Excel: David M. Levine, Mark L. Berenson, David Stephan, Davidyes Stephan

• Filed under: Business

Statistics for Managers Using Microsoft Excel: David M. Levine, Mark L. Berenson, David Stephan, Davidyes Stephan

Editorial Reviews

Statistics for Managers Using Microsoft Excel contains Excel instructions and commands for every statistical topic covered in this book. In some cases, off-the-shelf features of Excel such as the Data Analysis tool or the Chart Wizard are discussed. In other situations, Excel worksheets that use Excel formulas, functions, and tools have been created to provide solutions not normally provided by Excel. The disk that is enclosed in every copy of this text includes Excel workbooks as well as the data files.

From the Publisher
This is the first business text designed specifically to use Microsoft Excel as a means of teaching statistical business applications. Provides streamlined coverage of a range of statistical topics with a managerial focus.

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Management and Control of Quality: James R. Evans, William M. Lindsay

• Filed under: Business

Editorial Reviews

Evans/Lindsay is a market leader in this area. James Evans is a well-known author in the field, and is the current president of the Decision Sciences Institute. With his past experience as an examiner for the Malcolm Baldrige Award, the text, chapters and content, are heavily influenced by the framework and essential content of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award criteria. The authors believe the principles of total quality as reflected in the Baldrige Award provide the best overall synthesis of the concept of quality. The text continues to provide a managerially-oriented, integrated view while also blending in technical topics. All chapters have been updated to reflect the most current thinking in the profession.

About the Author
James R. Evans is Professor of Quantitative Analysis and Operations Management, and Director of the Total Quality Management Center in the College of Business Administration at the University of Cincinnati. He received BSIE and MSIE degrees from Purdue, and a Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Professor Evans has published over 80 refereed journal articles and many conference proceedings papers, and is author or co-author of over a dozen books in the areas of quality management and control, management science, operations management, creative thinking, and mathematics. He serves on several editorial boards of research journals and is a Fellow in and was 1997-98 President of the Decision Sciences Institute. He has also been active in the Institute for Operations Research and Management Science and the Institute of Industrial Engineers, having served as Cincinnati Chapter President and national Director of the Operations Research Division. Professor Evans has done applied operations research for several companies, was a finalist in the INFORMS Franz Edelman Competition, and schedules umpires for The American Baseball League. He has served as an Examiner, Senior Examiner, and Alumni Examiner for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award from 1994 through 2001; judge for the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards, and judge for the U.S. Army Communities of Excellence Award. He has served on the Board of Trustees for the Ohio Award for Excellence and remains active in that organization.
–This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Short-Term Financial Management: Text, Cases, and Readings: Terry S. Maness, John T. Zietlow

• Filed under: Business

Short-Term Financial Management: Text, Cases, and Readings: Terry S. Maness, John T. Zietlow

Editorial Reviews

Most finance students will do short-term finance assignments when they go to work. In recent survey of CEO’s, Controllers, and Treasurers that appeared in Financial Practice & Education, the question was asked which elective is the most important and 81% responded a short-term financial management course should be required. Both authors hold a Certified Cash Manager credential. Strengths include broader and better integrated coverage of treasury and working capital management, while using valuation and the cash flow timeline as integrating themes. Up to date presentations of developments in treasury management, banking deregulation, globalization of financial services delivery, electronic commerce, international cash management, and foreign exchange risk with a decision making emphasis throughout offers a complete view for students. This text is appropriate for upper level undergraduate finance courses in short-term financial management, working capital management, treasury management, and cash and cash flow management. It can also fit the MBA level financial management and short-term financial management courses.
–This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author
John Zietlow, D.B.A., CTP, is presently a professor of finance and corporate treasury management program director at Lee University in Cleveland, TN. He also conducts treasury management training and consulting, focusing on non-profit organizations He has published in numerous finance journals, and is a member of the Association for Financial Professionals (AFP) and the Financial Management Association of Greater Knoxville. He chaired the 2002 national Task Force on the Corporate Treasury Management Program for the AFP.
–This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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The CRM Handbook: A Business Guide to Customer Relationship Management (Addison-Wesley Information Technology Series): Jill Dyché

• Filed under: Business

Editorial Reviews

As the thinkers have said, you should strive in all situations to know yourself and know your enemy. Most of history’s great thinkers, however, were not in business. In business, you have to know your customer and understand how your company interacts with him or her. The current term for this is customer relationship management (CRM), and The CRM Handbook is the best textbook for managers on the mechanics of CRM. It’s a standout in a field that’s filled with squishy books that go on at length about how important CRM is, but which lack details. Jill Dyché provides lots of factual information, real case studies, carefully considered commentary, and reasoned criteria with which to evaluate CRM products and strategies. Though you’ll certainly want to supplement Dyché’s work with vendors’ product literature and implementation proposals, you’ll get a lot from her carefully researched book.

Dyché devotes some of her (fairly slender) volume to CRM background information but quickly gets to the issues that managers confronted with CRM decisions need to consider. She makes great use of bulleted lists, scorable quizzes, and checklists (sections about what questions to ask vendors, and why, are particularly good) that you can use right now to gauge any organization’s suitability to CRM and determine how they need to change in order to get the most out of their systems. –David Wall

Topics covered: Customer relationship management (CRM)–as a business practice and as a set of technologies–explained for managers and corporate planners. CRM fundamentals, CRM product selection, and internal promotion of CRM are all covered well.

Review
Praise for The CRM Handbook~”Want to avoid being one of the estimated 70 percent of companies who have tried implementing standalone CRM systems and failed? Confused by what your IT suppliers are telling you about CRM? Then you need to read this book! Jill provides a comprehensive, practical, and easy to understand view of CRM and shows you how to successfully implement an enterprise customer-focused solution.” - Kevin Bubeck Director, North America Information Strategy, Coca-Cola~”CRM could be viewed as the ERP of the 2000s. As such, there will be multiple winners and losers as the marketplace places some large and strategic bets on this technology. In any case, Jill Dyche has captured the importance of the concepts and value derived through CRM solutions. Those needs will evolve, of course, but companies will always need the basics that have been discussed.” - Brian Berliner Co-founder & EVP, Product Development, Acies Networks~”The CRM Handbook provides information for the business person who is trying to understand CRM and how it can effect his/her business. It goes beyond the hype of the acronym and dives into the real issues that a company needs to consider before implementing a CRM solution.” - Joy Blake Scott Director, Marketing and Communications, Fastwater, LLP”I haven’t read anything that has such a practical approach. I view the book as having multiple benefits. It gives a good definition of CRM functionality but also gives detailed guidance of how to approach CRM in your organization.” - Francine Frazer Principal Consultant, Net Perceptions~”Even better than defining CRM, Jill took on all of the hyperlanguage around CRM and clearly differentiated the various incarnations of CRM. It’s also usefulto know what can go wrong and the potential affects of such missteps. Too few authors level with readers about pitfalls!” - Linda McHugh Director, Professional Services, Cygent Inc.”~The guides based on the business tools that Jill uses with her own clients are fabulous.” - Robin Neidorf President, Electric Muse/Clio’s, Pen Research & Interpretation, Inc.~”The language is easy to read and easy to understand. Terms were well explained so that someone with no prior CRM experience could easily understand the text.” - Marcia Robinson President, e-Business Strategies~”An excellent study into what defines today’s best practices in the CRM industry.” - Gareth Herschel Senior Research Analyst, Gartner Research”Jill writes very well. Her writing communicates subjects and topics in a very easy to understand way. At times, I felt like I was listening to her speak or discussing a subject. She is a good communicator! Jill did a very good job of covering all subject areas on the different topics of CRM. I am most impressed with Jill on pointing out all the possible mistakes and creating ‘lessons learned’ advice which most authors frequently omit.” - Mary Chan Information Management Consultant, Kagiso Inc. ~”Jill Dych’s The CRM Handbook is a good read for CRM novices and seasoned practitioners alike. Dych’s well-written, pragmatic approach to understanding CRM’s evolution and purpose is a map to a successful CRM program. Dyché uncovers the truth behind the CRM software vendor hype, highlights some common roadblocks to CRM project development, and describes how to delineate and prioritize CRM initiatives.” - Don Peppers Partner, Peppers and Rogers Group

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The Complete Arbitrage Deskbook: Stephane Reverre

• Filed under: Recommended

Editorial Reviews

The Complete Arbitrage Deskbook explains every aspect of the types, instruments, trading practices, and opportunities of modern equity arbitrage. It travels beyond U.S. borders to examine the worldwide opportunities inherent in arbitrage activities and demonstrates how to understand and practice equity arbitrage in the global professional environment.

Written specifically for traders, risk managers, brokers, regulators, and anyone looking for a comprehensive overview of the field of equity arbitrage, this groundbreaking reference provides:  Details of the financial instruments used in equity arbitrage–stocks, futures, money markets, and indices  Explanations of financial valuation and risk analysis, tailored to the characteristics of the underlying position and market environment  Examples of actual arbitrage situations–presenting a real-life snapshot of equity arbitrage in action

The Complete Arbitrage Deskbook is the only book to combine operational details with practical analysis of modern equity arbitrage. Concise in explanation yet comprehensive in scope, it provides an integrated overview of both the practices and the possibilities of the modern equity arbitrage marketplace.

From the Back Cover
How to Understand­­and Take Advantage of­­Arbitrage Opportunities in Modern Financial Markets

The Complete Arbitrage Deskbook explains every aspect of the types, instruments, trading practices, and opportunities of modern equity arbitrage. It travels beyond U.S. borders to examine the worldwide opportunities inherent in arbitrage activities and demonstrates how to understand and practice equity arbitrage in the global professional environment.

Written specifically for traders, risk managers, brokers, regulators, and anyone looking for a comprehensive overview of the field of equity arbitrage, this groundbreaking reference provides:

• Details of the financial instruments used in equity arbitrage­­stocks, futures, money markets, and indices
• Explanations of financial valuation and risk analysis, tailored to the characteristics of the underlying position and market environment
• Examples of actual arbitrage situations­­presenting a real-life snapshot of equity arbitrage in action

The Complete Arbitrage Deskbook is the only book to combine operational details with practical analysis of modern equity arbitrage. Concise in explanation yet comprehensive in scope, it provides an integrated overview of both the practices and the possibilities of the modern equity arbitrage marketplace.

“Through the examination of actual examples and practical situations, the goal is to achieve an integrated view of arbitrage opportunities, precisely as a trader would see them…”
­­From the Introduction

When used with skill and caution, equity arbitrage­­despite relentlessly negative press and widespread popular misconceptions­­is a very low-risk strategy. It only becomes perilous in the hands of the inexperienced or overconfident. The Complete Arbitrage Deskbook provides anyone­­from capital market professionals to private traders to non-professionals with a serious interest in understanding Wall Street and its intricacies­­with a safe, solid foundation in the essential knowledge of equity arbitrage trading.

Before you can successfully employ equity arbitrage in the marketplace, you must first develop a complete understanding of its mathematics and practice. The Complete Arbitrage Deskbook covers every aspect­­mechanics, opportunities, risks, and valuation principles­­to help you move forward with knowledge and confidence. In-depth descriptions and demonstrations of each pertinent financial instrument­­stocks, futures and other derivatives, money market instruments including interest rate swaps, and stock indices­­show you what you need to know to manage these and where to focus your attention in terms of risk management. Detailed sections provide hands-on information about:

• Convergence continuums
• Cross-exchange listing
• Closed-end and convertible funds
• Holding companies
• Oscillators
• Mark-to-market versus theoretical valuation
• Valuation and random variables
• Risk management principles and tools, including value-at-risk
• Index arbitrage and absolute convergence
• Risk arbitrage and explicit convergence
• Pair trading and technical trading

Fallacies about what arbitrage is­­and is not­­are common among financial professionals. Concise yet comprehensive, The Complete Arbitrage Deskbook sidesteps fallacy to present fact. It is the only comprehensive overview of the opportunities and perils in the arbitrage markets­­and today’s only complete overview and practical analysis of modern equity arbitrage.

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Managing Bank Risk: An Introduction to Broad-Base Credit Engineering: Morton Glantz

• Filed under: Recommended

Editorial Reviews

Review
“…a groundbreaking achievement… Every banking professional should have a copy of this book and its accompanying CD on hand.” — JOHNATHAN MUN, Ph.D., Director of Corporate Finance Development, Decisioneering Crystal Ball

“…should be required reading for the growing number of ‘Credit Risk Managers’ and ‘Credit Risk Departments’ at … even community banks…” — KENNETH H. THOMAS, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

“Mort Glantz has succeeded in writing a book which reformulates proven concepts of credit risk management in the context of contemporary best practice techniques in portfolio management. The invaluable supporting and reference materials make this volume a benchmark publication for the financial community.”
—George Votja, Director, Financial Services Forum

“This book should be required reading for the growing number of ‘Credit Risk Managers’ and ‘Credit Risk Departments’ at big banks and even community banks. One thing we learned from Enron and other troubled borrowers that did not make it through the 2001-2002 recession is that there can never be too much credit analysis, especially on complicated deals which are becoming the rule rather than the exception. Managing Bank Risk will be one of the most important tools in this regard for bankers, examiners, and others interested in understanding and measuring credit risk.”
—Kenneth H. Thomas, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania — Review

“The invaluable supporting and reference materials make this volume a benchmark publication for the financial community.” — GEORGE VOTJA, Director, Financial Services Forum

Review
“Mort Glantz has succeeded in writing a book which reformulates proven concepts of credit risk management in the context of contemporary best practice techniques in portfolio management. The invaluable supporting and reference materials make this volume a benchmark publication for the financial community.”
-George Votja, Director, Financial Services Forum

“This book should be required reading for the growing number of ‘Credit Risk Managers’ and ‘Credit Risk Departments’ at big banks and even community banks. One thing we learned from Enron and other troubled borrowers that did not make it through the 2001-2002 recession is that there can never be too much credit analysis, especially on complicated deals which are becoming the rule rather than the exception. Managing Bank Risk will be one of the most important tools in this regard for bankers, examiners, and others interested in understanding and measuring credit risk.”
-Kenneth H. Thomas, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

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Microscopic Simulation of Financial Markets: From Investor Behavior to Market Phenomena: Haim Levy, Moshe Levy, Sorin Solomon

• Filed under: Recommended

Editorial Reviews

Review
“Levy, Levy, and Solomon’s Microscopic Simulation of Financial Markets points us towards the future of financial economics. If we restrict ourselves to models which can be solved analytically, we will be modeling for our mutual entertainment, not to maximize explanatory or predictive power.”
–HARRY M. MARKOWITZ, President, Harry Markowitz Co., and Nobel Laureate in Economics
“Many theoretical physicists now try to apply their research techniques to problems in finance; this is a book to help them in such computer simulations. In contrast to earlier “econophysics” books, Levy et al. Emphasize the modeling of individual traders, and they give credit to economists who used such methods already before.”
–DIETRICH STAUFFER, Physics Department, Cologne University, Cologne, Germany
“This book contains the first fully comprehensive treatment of Microscopic Simulation in finance. The authors make a compelling case that this technique, originally used in physics to solve otherwise intractable problems, is destined to become a standard tool in finance. It is particularly well-suited for highly complex financial problems in behavioral finance where standard methods are inadequate.”
–RICHARD ROLL, Allstate Professor of Insurance and Finance at the Anderson School of Business, UCLA — Review

Review
“Levy, Levy, and Solomon’s Microscopic Simulation of Financial Markets points us towards the future of financial economics. If we restrict ourselves to models which can be solved analytically, we will be modeling for our mutual entertainment, not to maximize explanatory or predictive power.”
–HARRY M. MARKOWITZ, President, Harry Markowitz Co., and Nobel Laureate in Economics
“Many theoretical physicists now try to apply their research techniques to problems in finance; this is a book to help them in such computer simulations. In contrast to earlier “econophysics” books, Levy et al. Emphasize the modeling of individual traders, and they give credit to economists who used such methods already before.”
–DIETRICH STAUFFER, Physics Department, Cologne University, Cologne, Germany
“This book contains the first fully comprehensive treatment of Microscopic Simulation in finance. The authors make a compelling case that this technique, originally used in physics to solve otherwise intractable problems, is destined to become a standard tool in finance. It is particularly well-suited for highly complex financial problems in behavioral finance where standard methods are inadequate.”
–RICHARD ROLL, Allstate Professor of Insurance and Finance at the Anderson School of Business, UCLA

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All the Math You Need to Get Rich: Thinking with Numbers for Financial Success: Robert L. Hershey

• Filed under: Recommended

Editorial Reviews

Review
“I highly recommend Hershey’s book because he uses examples…to walk you through…everything from percentages to compound interest.” — Washington Post,February 10, 2002

With so many options for investing, retirement planning, and home financing available, consumers need a thorough understanding of the concepts and terms underlying financial decisions.

All the Math You Need to Get Rich will leave even the math phobic with a solid foundation in the mathematics behind mortgage and insurance payments, compound interest, stocks and mutual funds, cash flow, gambling, and risk-taking.

Writing in a light-hearted and humorous style, Robert Hershey takes readers step by step through several real-life sample problems in each area. Organized for easy reference, this book provides the necessary tools to make informed decisions about financial investments.

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