Abstract
This paper is an examination of the Trust Company of the West, otherwise know as TCW, an asset management firm based in Los Angeles, California. The author talks about why the World Trade Center attack had a large effect on the asset management industry as a whole and more specifically, on the Trust Company of the West's syndicated loans group.

From the Paper
"Although September 11th will forever be the day associated with dramatic change, our economy was already in a downward spiral. The markets were weak and consumers and business owners were already preparing for the uncertainties that were predicted. Just a short while before September 11th, the dot-com industry spiraled downward and took the market with it. There were already massive corporate layoffs, business bankruptcies, corporate downsizing and restructuring, an energy crisis and over-consumption in the marketplace."

Tags:11, asset, business, management, september, terrorism, dot-com, layoffs, bankruptcies, markets, financial, attacks

Abstract
Improving the condition of the British Network Rail and the reliability of the train service cannot happen overnight. This paper shows that a strategic asset management approach is expected to yield benefits in the form of better asset inspection and remediation regime, improvements in the day-to-day delivery of timetable, and enhanced understanding of asset degradation and train performance. The paper argues that one of the changes that could make these possible is the return of the maintenance and renewal decision-making to the engineer, a crucial element of the whole scheme.

From the Paper
"Having compiled all the relevant data, the asset management team proceeds to set its objectives based on the size and configuration of the asset portfolio in its hands. These objectives have to be structured as to make the asset optimize its support for the delivery of service, giving due consideration to the issue on what exact amount of human, financial and IT resources is needed. In selecting the strategic objectives, the team is expected to choose those that are doable and hold greater promise to stakeholders."

Tags:management, support, tools, IT, commerce

Abstract
This paper describes asset management as the business system that enables a company to collect, maintain and manage a complete list of all the components possessed by the company. The paper then goes on to explain the concept and main objective of asset management. The paper also reviews another paper written on the related topic of estimating the costs of capital, explaining that, in the paper, the authors strived to find out the appropriate method for estimation of cost of capital with respect to insurance firms and that they proved their method (the full-information beta approach) to be an appropriate and dependable one.

From the Paper
"The difficulties in the estimation of the divisional cost of the capital are indicated to be the conglomerate firm itself instead of the division traded in the capital market. Universally, the pure play technique is applied to attain the desired results but specifically at the circumstances when a relatively large number of pure play firms of various sizes are found where it does not entail a satisfactory solution to the divisional cost of capital problem. Therefore, the paper applies a comparatively, new methodology, the full formation industry beta approach that resolves the principal problems of the pure play methodology. The paper mainly concentrates on demonstration of the full-information beta approach to cost of capital estimation applying a sample embracing all firms-insurance and non-insurance listed in the Compustat data base that caters to the selection criteria for the sample period 1997-2000."

Tags:financial, facets, ownership, record, items, spare, parts, replacements, depreciations, maintenance

Abstract
The paper explores at length the specifics of corporate identity and image, the concept of corporate social responsibility, the relationship between employee relations and favorable corporate identity and the role of public relations practitioners in human resource management. The paper shows how the public relations discipline has become more strategic and closer to the heart of business, and therefore its role is expanding dramatically in all areas of corporate life, especially in the area of human resource management.

Outline:
Introduction
Corporate Identity and Corporate Image
Corporate Social Responsibility
Corporate Assets and Asset Management
The Evolution of Human Resource Management
The Public Relations Practitioner's Role in Human Resource Management
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Numerous changes have occurred in society since the turn of the century which have directly and dramatically affected the conduct of business in the United States. As a result of these changes, many basic elements of corporate existence - corporate structure, culture and responsibility - have been redefined.
"Today, an increased emphasis has been placed on a company's corporate identity. A company's ability to become and remain successful and competitive is linked to its corporate identity. The way a company manifests itself - its corporate identity - determines the way people feel about it. The way people feel about a company - its corporate image - can have a tremendous impact on its success and profitability."

Tags:corporate, identity, image, social, responsibility, employees, communication

Abstract
This paper explores the business factors that contribute to greater levels of demand-driven supply network performance while at the same time accomplishing sustainability objectives. The paper focuses on the areas of packaging, asset storage, the ability to reduce waste in high volume material flows and the use of take-back and recycling strategies. The paper shows how companies that set aggressive sustainability objectives can dramatically increase the efficiency of their company's operations management, supply chain, services and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) processes. The paper emphasizes that sustainability strategies within any supply chain deliver increased financial performance.

Outline:
Executive Summary
The Return on Investment (ROI) of Redefining Purchasing Criteria and Operations Management
Optimizing Operations Management for Sustainability and a Lean Supply Chain
Consolidating Storage Locations for more Efficient Operations Management and MRO Operations
Benefits of Seeking out Material Yield Optimization in Operations Management
Product Take-Back and Recycling Strategies
Summary
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The traditional roles of suppliers in the many supply chains that serve any given manufacturers' product lines and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) operations for re-vamping and refurbishing products traditionally are managed through a series of processes that keep them distanced from profitability measures of performance. In addition, the traditional approach to managing these suppliers concentrated more on how to attain cost and negotiation advantages to dominate the supplier-buyer relationship. This model was quickly found to severely limit the level of financial performance for all members of a supply chain. With the quickening pace of Internet-based selling, supplier enablement and MRO processes, supply chains have had to change to survive. The evolution of supply chains has moved away from strategies on the part of manufacturers of attempting to dominate supply chains and instead started to move towards creating a more collaborative foundation for sharing information and knowledge."

Tags:demand-driven, supply, network, packaging, asset, storage, waste, recycling, efficiency

Abstract
This paper takes an in-depth look at knowledge management, a relatively new business concept that is attracting the attention of informed and global-oriented companies because of its promise to introduce new elements of flexibility and efficiency in the entire business spectrum - from management, plant and production to front line activities. This paper attempts to answer many questions related to knowledge management, which a growing number of management scholars present as a newly discovered key to unlock the productive powers of all people in a company and to bind them in one neat package towards achieving organizational success.

This paper has chosen to focus on three examples of companies in the automotive industry, implementing knowledge management.


Table of Contents
List of Tables
List of Figures

Acknowledgement

Chapter I - Introduction

Chapter II - Literature Review
I.1. Knowledge Management
II.1a. Knowledge as Business Asset
II.1b. Types of Knowledge
II.1c. Key Players in KM
II.1d. Transfer of Knowledge
II.1e. Holistic Approach
II.1f. Primacy of People
II.2. The Automotive Industry
II.2a. Technology and Innovation
II.2b. Control Systems
II.3. Product Development
II.3a. Development Stages
II.3b. New Imperatives
II.3c. KM Strategies
II.3d. KM Terms and Concepts
II.4. Conceptual Framework
II.5. Information and KM Concepts

Chapter III - Industry, Country & Company Review
III.1. Industry Trends
III.2. Country Perspectives
III.3. Company Reports

Chapter IV - Research Methodology
III.1. Observation and Direct Communication
III.2. Quantitative vs. Qualitative Research

Chapter V - Results

Chapter VI - Discussion and Conclusion

From the Paper
"There are as many definitions of knowledge management as there are long-cherished ideas of how to run a business. If there is a common ground in the divergent perceptions of knowledge management, it is the generally accepted proposition that KM aims to transform knowledge into new levels of organizational capabilities and competences (Sanchez, R., 2006). The debate revolves around the question of how to implement it in the most effective manner. This study thus fixes its attention on the different KM strategies adopted by organizations, closing in on the international automotive industry because it is identified as among the sectors that especially needs and stand to derive enormous benefits from the new management technique. The focus shifts from there to the development process for new vehicles, where KM is said to be most helpful, and which calls for synthesizing all kinds of knowledge and specialization - the whole rationale for KM. As setting of the study, we pick out India for the simple reason that it now serves as manufacturing base for the internationalization efforts of many automotive companies."

Tags:automotive, behaviors, collaborative, competence, competency, cycle, explicit, flow, frameworks, industry, interpretive, km, knowledge, learning, life, making, management, map, organization, organizational, product, sense, tacit

Abstract
This paper examines the recent successes and failures of Ford Motor Company in light of their approach to management accounting. First, the paper gives an overall description of the company, focusing on its more recent fiscal years and describing its place in the US market. Additionally, the paper considers Ford's performance in light of the recent economic crisis. It also discusses Ford's four pillar strategy for dealing with this challenge. Then the paper explores how financial accounting impacts a company, and how it is applied at Ford. The paper suggests that to further understand management accounting at Ford, one must look at the company's public documents, which would shed some light into the function of accounting management. The paper concludes by explaining how the information generated by the financial accounting department at a company like Ford is used by managers.

Outline:

Ford Motors Company
Management Accounting Function

From the Paper
"Ford Europe is headquartered in Spain and the manager of this entity has released some information vital to the current endeavor. Through extrapolation, it can be believed that the accounting function at the Spanish headquarters is very much similar to the accounting function in all Ford facilities. In this order of ideas, the Ford headquarters centralize cost information from numerous plants, meaning then that the accounting system is very comprehensive and complex - Ford Spain for instance centralizes cost information from 28 European plants. The information collected is structured into six systems, which are in fact the pillar elements in the accounting process. These systems are the materials information system, the finished products information system, the standard costs and deviation information system, the non-productive materials ..."

Tags:Ford Motor Company, Toyota, audit, SMART goals, Troubled Asset Release Program

Abstract
The paper asserts that risk management may very well be the most under-appreciated aspect of administering any law enforcement organization. Because of its importance, the paper looks at the role risk management plays in federal, state, and local law enforcement and in security organizations in general. In so doing, the paper illustrates how proper risk management is arguably the most important thing these organizations do on a daily basis and how much of what they do in this regard can be broken down into a simple mathematical formula that weighs risks, possible damages, and asset values - all with the aim of coming up with a system of defense that limits the ability of criminal elements to destroy property or endanger lives. Ultimately, the paper shows how security organizations and law enforcement organizations apply the same broad principles even if they have somewhat different obligations.

Tags:role, risk, management

Abstract
This paper explains that, inevitably, bridges deteriorate over time at different rates: Timely maintenance activities, which are well-planned and carried out with minimal disruption to road users can present substantial savings in terms of both time and money for both bridge owners and road users. The author ponts out that, to tackle the complicated issues regarding bridge management, research activities in the UK as well as other countries in continental Europe concentrate largely on the bridge management process, with attention given to improving the use of limited finances to maximize the returns from the maintenance and repair of the bridge stock as well as reduce additional costs due to traffic delays and lane closures for these activities. The paper includes a critical review of other BMSs used worldwide, development of models to predict bridge condition over time, analysis of the various road user costs and using different optimizing techniques to best allocate finances and optimize bridge performance. 39 tables. 40 figures.

Table of Contents
Introduction
Objective
Bridge Conditions in the U.K.
Introduction
Maintenance and Upgrading
Expenditure
Department of Transport (DoT) Programme
What is a Bridge Management System (BMS)?
Introduction
Department of Transport Structure
Maintenance Agents
BMS in the U.K. and Other Countries
Introduction
Bridge Condition
Other Information in BMS's
Condition Prediction
Cost Models
Decision for Maintenance and Repair
Prioritization
BMS in the U.S.A.
BRIDGIT System
PONTIS System
SMIS System
Inventory
Inspection and Assessment
National Structures Programmes (NSPs)
Prioritization
Project Creation
Whole Life Assessment and Costing
Activities Schedule
Data Accuracy
Design Specifications
Access
Integration with External Systems
Bridge Inspection and Assessment
Bridge Inspection Types
Defects
Bridge Scoring
Introduction
Definitions
Bridge Condition Score (BCS)
Bridge Condition Index (BCI)
Bridge Stock Condition Index (BSCI)
Multi Span Bridges
Bridge Scoring Example
Interpreting BCS's
BCS Results
Histograms for Bridge Stock
Interpreting BCI's
BCI Results
Interpreting BSCI's
Predicting Bridge Condition with Time
Introduction
Markov Chain Approach
Example Calculation
Bridge Condition Example
Bridge Condition Results
Bridge Aggregation Example
Bridge Aggregation Results
Bridge Stock Example
Bridge Stock Results
Traffic Costs
Introduction
Traffic Count Example
Traffic Count Results
Traffic Delay Cost Examples
Delay Costs Results (1st Example)
Delay Costs Results (2nd Example)
Accident Cost Example
Accident Costs Results
Environmental Impact
Introduction
Emissions Example
Emissions Results
Decision-Making and Prioritization
Decision-making
Introduction
Prioritization
Introduction
Dynamic Programming
Budget Allocation Approach
Budget Allocation Results (1st Example)
Budget Allocation Results( 2nd Example)
Budget Allocation Results ( 3rd Example)
Improvements to Budget Allocation Approach
Introduction to BCI optimization approach
Service Potential (BCI) Examples
BCI Optimization Results (1st Example)
BCI Optimization Results (2nd Example)
BCI Optimization Results (3rd Example)
Maintenance Costs Examples
BCI Optimization Results (4th Example)
BCI Optimization Results (5th Example)
BCI Optimization Results (6th Example)
Conclusion
Future Research

From the Paper
"It is proposed that the transition probabilities to be used are the Bridge Condition Index (BCI), which operates on a linear scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best). The degree of severity of bridges is linearly distributed over this range (i.e. BCI of 50 to 51 is the same as 90 to 91), except that costs are expected not to have a linear distribution. This is a useful approach as the BCI (average) is interpreted as 'service potential' and is used as a performance indicator.
Using the example for multi span bridges earlier on, the transition probabilities for a three-state Markov chain model with limiting stage value of 3 is proposed. The probabilities are in accordance to the BCI values for the 'good' bridge arranged in order of descending magnitude (i.e. P(1) = 0.9845 and P(2) = 0.9246). For the purposes of comparison, the other two bridges ('medium' and 'bad') are also modelled and the three are plotted together."

Tags:allocation, asset, costs, delay, environmental, highway, maintenance, management, optimisation, resource, traffic

Abstract
The paper states that employees are a company's most valuable asset and organizations constantly develop new strategies to improve their human resource management. The paper discusses human resource strategies and confirms that extensive changes are adapted to the requirements of the company. The paper also relates that a new component of the strategic human resource management is that of helping the employees cope with organizational change. The paper then quotes examples of a certain company's activities with regard to change and concludes with a discussion on the company's strategies.

Outline;
Change in the News
Literature on Change
Proposed Strategy for Change

From the Paper
"A new component of the strategic human resource management is that of helping the employees cope with organizational change. This change can occur in numerous forms and can relate to several features of the business operations conducted by the organization. For instance, change occurs when the company undergoes a merger or an acquisition. The leadership of the company is prone to change and employees must be prepared to cope with it. What will this change mean to them? Maybe it will bring about new tasks, new colleagues, new responsibilities or new remuneration systems. Whichever the case, they must be prepared. Also, a change affecting the employees is given by the financial difficulties faced by the organization, when employees might themselves be subjected to repercussions, such as downsizing, delays in getting their salaries or reduced benefits. Finally, change can affect employees in the form of new internal policies which implement new codes of conduct."

Tags:change, strategy, personal, strategic, human, resource, management