Brands started out as communication tools to influence the image of companies or products (inside-out thinking) but have developed into channels of social forces. Powerful brands impact not just customer decisions but also markets and social institutions, such as fashion trends, city life, or even social movements. This book explores the implications of Niklas Luhmann’s theory of social systems for the theory and practice of agile brand management, in particular highlighting the central role of brand aesthetics and of brands as channels for mutual education between companies and consumers. Since the rise of social media, “perfect” brands have become the mirror of community values as the communities themselves develop brand content. Brands themselves become “living systems” and evolve like systems do. The author introduces systems theory to provide a conceptual framework that integrates the different views of branding: inside-out and outside-in thinking. This Luhmannian theory of branding is discussed against the current background of (Western) societies, which are undergoing a broad shift from hard to soft selling in marketing, influenced by social media. The book is not about whether closed systems analysis and discussion can or should replace traditional management; moreover, it emphasizes the fruitful insights and demonstrates that the power of management is limited and should be extended by looking at the means of closed systems. This book will be of primary value to scholars with an interest in systems theory and thinking, brand theory, and management. The interdisciplinary approach also makes the book a valuable resource for those researching change management, agile management, and sociology.

"Brands started out as communication tools to influence the image of companies or products (inside- out thinking) but have developed into channels of social forces. Powerful brands impact not just customer decisions, but also markets and social institutions, such as fashion trends, city life or even social movements. This book explores the implications of Niklas Luhmann's theory of social systems for the theory and practice of agile brand management, in particular highlighting the central role of brand aesthetics and of brands as channels for mutual education between companies and consumers. Since the rise of social media, "perfect" brands have become the mirror of community values as the communities themselves develop brand content. Brands themselves become "living systems" and evolve like systems do. The author introduces systems theory to provide a conceptual framework which integrates the different views of branding: inside-out and outside-in thinking. This Luhmannian theory of branding is discussed against the current background of (western) societies, which are undergoing a broad shift from hard to soft selling within marketing, influenced by social media. The book is not about whether closed systems analysis and discussion can or should replace traditional management, moreover it emphasizes the fruitful insights and demonstrates that the power of management is limited and should be extended by looking at the means of closed systems. This book will be of primary value to scholars with an interest in systems theory and thinking, brand theory and management. The interdisciplinary approach also makes the book a valuable resource for those researching change management, agile management, and sociology"--

Introduces a realistic approach to leading, managing, and growing your Agile team or organization. Written for current managers and developers moving into management, Appelo shares insights that are grounded in modern complex systems theory, reflecting the intense complexity of modern software development. Recognizes that today's organizations are living, networked systems; that you can't simply let them run themselves; and that management is primarily about people and relationships. Deepens your understanding of how organizations and Agile teams work, and gives you tools to solve your own problems. Identifies the most valuable elements of Agile management, and helps you improve each of them.

It is well understood that many business operations are evolving to fit within the mold of society’s technological advancement. This is no different for marketing. While there are indicators proving the evolution of marketing, there are still many questions that must be addressed when examining the changes made to the field: whether this evolution will force new tactics, whether it will be reduced to technological tools, and more. These questions must be answered in order to allow organizations to be more customer-oriented and competitive. Promoting Organizational Performance Through 5G and Agile Marketing provides knowledge and skills to allow readers the ability to understand the evolution and trends of marketing, as well as its implications in organizations and customer relationships. It consolidates concepts introduced in recent years and examines possible opportunities to broaden the breadth of marketing, demonstrating its interdisciplinarity. Covering topics such as loyalty programs, brand attachment, and purchase intention, this premier reference source is an excellent resource for business leaders and executives, brand managers, IT managers, marketers, communications professionals, students and faculty of higher education, librarians, researchers, and academicians.

In the rapidly changing business world, only a small percentage of firms are able to survive and prosper despite recessions, industrial evolutions and economic changes. An often-asked question is: What determines a firm’s sustainable competitive advantage? One of the most popular competitive strategies is partnering with other firms. So: How do firms make intelligent and informed decisions when it comes to selecting business partners, to utilizing available resources and capabilities in partnerships, and to managing relations to maximize partnership benefits? This book studies 300 firms across various industries, providing readers with a comprehensive view of how firms develop sustainable competitive advantages by establishing business partnerships. Young academics and experienced researchers alike will find solid theoretical foundations and fresh business insights.

Buddhist and Taoist Systems Thinking explores a radical new conception of business and management. It is grounded on the reconnection of humans with nature as the new competitive advantage for living organizations and entrepreneurs that aspire to regenerate the economy and drive a positive impact on the planet, in the context of the Anthropocene. Organizations today struggle in finding a balance between maximizing profits and generating value for their stakeholders, the environment and the society at large. This happens in a paradigm shift characterized by unprecedented levels of exponential change and the emergence of disruptive technologies. Adaptability, thus, is becoming the new business imperative. How can, then, entrepreneurs and organizations constantly adapt and, at the same time, design the sustainable futures they’d like? This book uniquely explores the benefits of applying Buddhist and Taoist Systems Thinking to sustainable management. Grounded in Taoist and Zen Buddhist philosophies, it offers a modern scientific perspective fundamentally based on the concepts of bio-logical adaptability and lifefulness amidst complexity and constant change. The book introduces the new concept of the Gaia organization as a living organism that consciously helps perpetuate the conditions for life on the planet. It is subject to the natural laws of transformation and the principles of oneness, emptiness, impermanence, balance, self-regulation and harmonization. Readers will find applied Eastern systems theories such as the Yin-Yang and the Five Elements operationalized through practical methodologies and tools such as T-Qualia and the Zen Business model. They are aimed at guiding Gaia organizations and entrepreneurs in leading sustainable transformations and qualifying economic growth. The book offers a vital toolkit for purpose-driven practitioners, management researchers, students, social entrepreneurs, evaluators and change-makers to reinvent, create and mindfully manage sustainable and agile organizations that drive systemic transformation.

In the world of contemporary marketing, a challenge exists — the relationship between data engineering, artificial intelligence, and the essential elements of effective marketing. Businesses find themselves at a crossroads, grappling with the imperative to navigate this complex landscape. This challenge serves as the backdrop for the exploration in AI and Data Engineering Solutions for Effective Marketing, a comprehensive reference tailored for academic scholars. Seamlessly integrating theoretical models with real-world applications, the book delves into critical facets of strategic and operational marketing. From the adoption of data science techniques to grappling with big data's vast potential, it offers a guide for academics seeking profound insights into the future of marketing strategies and their efficient execution. Designed for researchers, practitioners, and students with an interest in the intersection of artificial intelligence, data engineering, and marketing, this book serves as a guide for implementing new marketing management solutions and optimizing their operational efficiency. While the primary audience is researchers and practitioners in the field, the book is also tailored to benefit students seeking a deep understanding of the latest developments in marketing.

The Go-To Resource for Large-Scale Organizations to Be Agile Rather than asking, “How can we do agile at scale in our big complex organization?” a different and deeper question is, “How can we have the same simple structure that Scrum offers for the organization, and be agile at scale rather than do agile?” This profound insight is at the heart of LeSS (Large-Scale Scrum). In Large-Scale Scrum: More with LeSS, Craig Larman and Bas Vodde have distilled over a decade of experience in large-scale LeSS adoptions towards a simpler organization that delivers more flexibility with less complexity, more value with less waste, and more purpose with less prescription. Targeted to anyone involved in large-scale development, Large-Scale Scrum: More with LeSS, offers straight-to-the-point guides for how to be agile at scale, with LeSS. It will clearly guide you to Adopt LeSS Structure a large development organization for customer value Clarify the role of management and Scrum Master Define what your product is, and why Be a great Product Owner Work with multiple whole-product focused feature teams in one Sprint that produces a shippable product Coordinate and integrate between teams Work with multi-site teams

As companies evolve to adopt, integrate, and leverage software as the defining element of their success in the 21st century, a rash of processes and methodologies are vying for their product teams' attention. In the worst of cases, each discipline on these teams -- product management, design, and software engineering -- learns a different model. This short, tactical book reconciles the perceived differences in Lean Startup, Design Thinking, and Agile software development by focusing not on rituals and practices but on the values that underpin all three methods. Written by Jeff Gothelf, the co-author of the award-winning Lean UX and Sense & Respond, the tactics in this book draw on Jeff's years of practice as a team leader and coach in companies ranging from small high-growth startups to large enterprises. Whether you're a product manager, software engineer, designer, or team leader, you'll find practical tools in this book immediately applicable to your team's daily methods.

This book targets the critical issue of decision making in uncertain conditions and situations. The aim is to increase readers’ understanding of complexity and of socio-economic interactions through the application of systems thinking perspectives. Among the various areas and topics addressed are complexity and sustainable management, markets as complex adaptive systems, the impacts of psychological and emotional factors upon value co-creation exchanges, and ICT enablers of service network performance and service exchange fulfillment. Thanks to the chosen perspectives, all of which are based on different systems research streams, the book will support more consistent and robust decisions, leading to sustainable, wise, and viable systems dynamics. It will aid managers, practitioners, and consultants in their decision-making processes and will also be of interest for academics and scholars in management, systems, computer science, engineering, and marketing.