This study re-examines the role and relevance of manpower planning and analysis in the developing countries of Africa (notably Botwana) and Asia in the light of the imperatives of structural adjustment programmes, and explores the information needs of economies in transition in the context of a shift to market-oriented plicies. Topics covered include methodology, the role of government and the types of labour market analysis required. The book contains a suggested research agenda.

An Annotated Timeline of Operations Research: An Informal History recounts the evolution of Operations Research (OR) as a new science - the science of decision making. Arising from the urgent operational issues of World War II, the philosophy and methodology of OR has permeated the resolution of decision problems in business, industry, and government. The Timeline chronicles the history of OR in the form of self-contained, expository entries. Each entry presents a concise explanation of the events and people under discussion, and provides key sources where further relevant information can be obtained. In addition, books and papers that have influenced the development of OR or helped to educate the first generations of OR academics and practitioners are cited throughout the book. Starting in 1564 with seminal ideas that form the precursors of OR, the Timeline traces the key ideas and events of OR through 2004. The Timeline should interest anyone involved in OR - researchers, practitioners, academics, and, especially, students - who wish to learn how OR came into being. Further, the scope and expository style of the Timeline should make it of value to the general reader interested in the development of science and technology in the last half of the twentieth century.

Delves into the core and functional areas in the upstream oil and gas industry covering a wide range of operations and processes Oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) activities are costly, risky and technology-intensive. With the rise in global demand for oil and fast depletion of easy reserves, the search for oil is directed to more difficult areas – deepwater, arctic region, hostile terrains; and future production is expected to come from increasingly difficult reserves – deeper horizon, low quality crude. All these are making E&P activities even more challenging in terms of operations, technology, cost and risk. Therefore, it is necessary to use scarce resources judiciously and optimize strategies, cost and capital, and improve business performance in all spheres of E&P business. Optimization and Business Improvement Studies in Upstream Oil and Gas Industry contains eleven real-life optimization and business improvement studies that delve into the core E&P activities and functional areas covering a wide range of operations and processes. It uses various quantitative and qualitative techniques, such as Linear Programing, Queuing theory, Critical Path Analysis, Economic analysis, Best Practices Benchmark, Business Process Simplification etc. to optimize Productivity of drilling operations Controllable rig time loss Deepwater exploration strategy Rig move time and activity schedule Offshore supply vessel fleet size Supply chain management system Strategic workforce and human resource productivity Base oil price for a country Standardize consumption of materials Develop uniform safety standards for offshore installations Improve organizational efficiency through business process simplification The book will be of immense interest to practicing managers, professionals and employees at all levels/ disciplines in oil and gas industry. It will also be useful to academicians, scholars, educational institutes, energy research institutes, and consultants dealing with oil and gas. The work can be used as a practical guide to upstream professionals and students in petroleum engineering programs.