Principles, Process and Practice of Professional Number Juggling


Book Description

Principles, Process and Practice of Professional Number Juggling (Volume 1 of the Working Guides to Estimating & Forecasting series) sets the scene of TRACEability and good estimate practice that is followed in the other volumes in this series of five working guides. It clarifies the difference between an Estimating Process, Procedure, Approach, Method and Technique. It expands on these definitions of Approach (Top-down, Bottom-up and ‘Ethereal’) and Method (Analogy, Parametric and ‘Trusted Source’) and discusses how these form the basis of all other means of establishing an estimate. This volume also underlines the importance of ‘data normalisation’ in any estimating procedure, and demonstrates that the Estimating by Analogy Method, in essence, is a simple extension of Data Normalisation. The author looks at simple measures of assessing the maturity or health of an estimate, and offers a means of assessing a spreadsheet for any inherent risks or errors that may be introduced by failing to follow good practice in spreadsheet design and build. This book provides a taster of the more numerical techniques covered in the remainder of the series by considering how an estimator can potentially exploit Benford’s Law (traditionally used in Fraud Detection) to identify systematic bias from third party contributors. It will be a valuable resource for estimators, engineers, accountants, project risk specialists as well as students of cost engineering.




Advanced Project Management


Book Description

When Advanced Project Management first appeared it quickly acquired a reputation for excellence on both sides of the Atlantic as a book that successfully bridges the gap between introductory texts on project management and specialist works on professional practice. Its aim is twofold: to provide a guide for managers, engineers, accountants and others involved in project work, and a reference for advanced students of project and construction management. This fourth edition of the book has been heavily revised, with substantial material to reflect the changes in project management. The following topics are either new to the book or have been given greater emphasis: ¢ Project definition and appraisal ¢ Procurement and the supply chain ¢ Concurrent engineering ¢ Cost and management accounting ¢ Quality management ¢ More detailed explanations of critical path analysis, now predominantly using the precedence system ¢ Increased treatment of resource scheduling ¢ Planning with multiple calendars ¢ Planning within fixed time constraints, using crashing and fast-tracking methods ¢ Standard networks, modules and templates ¢ Risk management.




Project Management for Practice


Book Description

In the 2nd edition, this book conveys updated content and, in addition to classic project management, now also agile project management in a practical manner and serves as a toolbox for projects. To this end, the most important terms and phases of project management are first explained in a standard-compliant manner. Then this book deals with cross-project cross-sectional topics and project phase-specific content, divided into agile and classic project management. Tips and hints, examples, templates and checklists from project practice in the automotive and IT environment complement the contents. For student readers, there is also an extensive question catalog to consolidate the knowledge learned. This gives readers good and quick access to the topic of project management and helps them to be able to carry out their projects successfully.




Project Management Handbook


Book Description

This practical handbook offers a comprehensive guide to efficient project management. It pursues a broad, well-structured approach, suitable for most projects, and allows newcomers, experienced project managers and decision-makers to find valuable input that matches their specific needs. The Project Management Compass guides readers through various sections of the book; templates and checklists offer additional support. The handbook’s innovative structure combines concepts from systems engineering, management psychology, and process dynamics. This international edition will allow to share the authors' experience gained in many years of project work and over 2,000 project management and leadership seminars conducted for BWI Management Education in Zurich, Switzerland. This is an excellent handbook for practical project management in today’s world. Prof. Dr. Heinz Schelle, Honorary Chairman of the GPM (German Project Management Association)The authors’ many years in practical experience in setting up, implementing and managing projects shines through in this book. The book also reflects the current trend towards increased social competence. I am therefore pleased to recommend this book as a basis for certification in project management. Dr. Hans Knöpfel, Honorary President of the SPM (Swiss Project Management Association)




Data Lives


Book Description

The word ‘data’ has entered everyday conversation, but do we really understand what it means? How can we begin to grasp the scope and scale of our new data-rich world, and can we truly comprehend what is at stake? In Data Lives, renowned social scientist Rob Kitchin explores the intricacies of data creation and charts how data-driven technologies have become essential to how society, government and the economy work. Creatively blending scholarly analysis, biography and fiction, he demonstrates how data are shaped by social and political forces, and the extent to which they influence our daily lives. He reveals our data world to be one of potential danger, but also of hope.




Content Production Technologies


Book Description

We are currently in a digital content era. With the increase in circulation of multimedia content globally via the internet it has lead to the need for reuse of content stored in archives; the utilisation of newly stored materials; partially finished broadcasting programmes and finished content. This book proposes to show solutions to these numerous content issues. It will discuss large scale archives for significant content and a retrieval method for large scale archives and remote editing. The book will also examine the protection of intellectual property rights, which is one of the most important issues facing content owners. Examines the design and implementation of a practical digital content production system Proposes to show solutions to various content issues Covers various retrieval methods for large-scale archives using MPEG-1 streaming technology and remote editing using an original time code Discusses large-scale video archive systems which will enable high speed retrieval and edit functions for large amounts of video data with multi-purpose applications A resource that all broadcast engineers, systems integrators and engineers for equipment manufacturers will find invaluable. The thorough approach to this topic ensures that this title will become the standard reference for R&D specialists in content production and digital archiving.




Global Business: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools and Applications


Book Description

"This multi-volume reference examines critical issues and emerging trends in global business, with topics ranging from managing new information technology in global business operations to ethics and communication strategies"--Provided by publisher.




cover Towards the implementation of formal formative assessment in inquiry-based science education in Switzerland


Book Description

Inquiry has been an important part of educational theory and practice for the last decades. As in other competence-oriented approaches to teaching and learning, the appropriate support and assessment of the students' competences has been much debated in the context of inquiry-based science education. One way to support and assess students in their learning is formative assessment. The concept is also known as "assessment for learning" which means that the information on the students' levels of achievement is not used for grading but for planning the next steps in teaching and learning. The use of formative assessment methods as a means of support for students' learning is promoted in national and international position papers and reports. However, in the Swiss teaching practice, formative assessment, particularly formal formative assessment methods which involve a certain degree of pre-definition, planning, and formality, are not widely used nor researched. Therefore, the focus of this study is on exploring possibilities and challenges for the implementation of formal formative assessment methods in the context of inquiry-based science education in Switzerland. The emphasis of the study will be on the teacher perspective.







Achievement and Assurance of Safety


Book Description

Each year there are improvements in safety-critical system technology. These arise both from developments in the contributing technologies, such as safety engineering, software engineering, human factors and risk assessment, and from the adoption or adaptation of appropriate techniques from other domains, such as security. For these improvements to be of real benefit, they need to be applied during the appropriate stage in the life cycle of the system, whether it be development, assessment, or operation. For this to occur, they must be communicated and explained. Each year the Safety-critical Systems Symposium offers a distinguished forum for the presentation of papers on such developments, and also for papers from industry on the lessons learned from the use of technologies and methods. The results of many collaborative research projects, with components from both industry and academia, are reported in a universally understandable form. In 1995 the Symposium was held in Brighton, a venue calculated to stimulate not just the presenters of papers, but all the delegates. Yet, this book of Proceedings is intended not only for the delegates but also for readers not able to attend the event itself. We welcome both categories of reader. Delegates have the benefit of attending the presentations and the opportunity to participate in the discussions; those who take up this book after the event can peruse it attheir leisure and, perhaps, on account of it will resolve to attend subsequent symposia.