Optimal Enterprise: Structures, Processes and Mathematics of Knowledge, Technology and Human Capital

Enterprise firms, project programs, state agencies, transnational corporations, and various associations and compositions create the majority of the gross product in the modern world. The complexity of these systems makes it difficult to develop mathematically rigorous foundations for enterprise control. This book proposes an approach that looks at enterprise systems as complex sociotechnical systems composed of integrated sets of structural and process models. It develops original models and methods from contract theory, technology management, human behavior and human capital, and complex activity and resource planning to solve the enterprise control problem. The Optimal Enterprise Control Framework provides a practical solution to the problem.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 350 pages
Publication date: 24 July 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

In the modern world, a significant portion of the gross product is generated within enterprise firms, project programs, state agencies, transnational corporations, and their various divisions, as well as various associations and compositions of these entities. Enterprises, characterized by their complexity and widespread presence, are the subject of study in fields such as cybernetics, system theory, operations research, management sciences, and many others.

Despite the importance of enterprises, the development of mathematically rigorous foundations for enterprise control remains challenging due to the intricate nature of these systems. Moreover, the widely employed methods of operations research and related sciences focus on optimizing the components of an enterprise without considering it as a holistic system. However, optimizing individual parts does not necessarily result in optimal performance for the entire enterprise, and the absence of top-down and holistic mathematical models of enterprises contradicts the principles of holism and system-oriented thinking.

This book takes a unique approach by first examining enterprise systems and their fundamental characteristics as complex sociotechnical systems composed of integrated sets of structural and process models (Chapters 1 and 2). Subsequently, a comprehensive description of the diverse fields within modern enterprises, including marketing, sales, manufacturing, human resources, finance, and more, is provided (Chapter 3). The enterprise control problem is then framed as a top-down and holistic mathematical optimization challenge. To address this problem, original models and methods from contract theory (Chapter 4), technology management (Chapter 5), human behavior and human capital (Chapter 6), and complex activity and resource planning (Chapter 7) are developed.

These diverse approaches form the foundation of an Optimal Enterprise Control Framework (Chapter 8), which provides a comprehensive framework for managing and controlling enterprises effectively. By integrating structural processes and mathematical models, this framework offers a holistic perspective on enterprise management, enabling organizations to make informed decisions and achieve optimal performance in a rapidly changing business environment.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367702632