Fuzzy Logic in Management demonstrates that difficult problems and changes in the management environment can be more easily handled by bringing fuzzy logic into the practice of management. This explicit theme is developed through the book as follows: Chapter 1, "Management and Intelligent Support Technologies", is a short survey of management leadership and what can be gained from support technologies. Chapter 2, "Fuzzy Sets and Fuzzy Logic", provides a short introduction to fuzzy sets, fuzzy relations, the extension principle, fuzzy implications and linguistic variables. Chapter 3, "Group Decision Support Systems", deals with group decision making, and discusses methods for supporting the consensus reaching processes. Chapter 4, "Fuzzy Real Options for Strategic Planning", summarizes research where the fuzzy real options theory was implemented as a series of models. These models were thoroughly tested on a number of real life investments, and validated in 2001. Chapter 5, "Soft Computing Methods for Reducing the Bullwhip Effect", summarizes research work focused on the demand fluctuations in supply chains. The program enhanced existing theoretical frameworks with fuzzy logic modeling. Chapter 6, "Knowledge Management", outlines the collection, storing, transfer and management of knowledge using fuzzy logic. The principles are worked out in detail with software agents. Chapter 7, "Mobile Technology Application", introduces various applications including empirical facts and how mobile technology can be supported with software agents.

Implicitly the book develops themes that successful companies should use to (1) master effectiveness and quality in both the details and the whole, (2) build on and work with flexibility, and (3) support continuous learning in both the organizational and the individual level.

From the reviews:

"This well-written book presents application of fuzzy logic in the area of management. The book starts with a gentle introduction to management and decision support systems, which is followed by the principles of fuzzy sets and fuzzy logic arithmetic. The book concludes with applications of fuzzy logic to mobile technology, including how mobile technology can be supported with software agents." (Efstratios Rappos, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1092 (18), 2006)

"This book presents how fuzzy logic can be applied to handle the uncertainty in management . I found this book interesting and informative . the readers interested in the field of knowledge management and fuzzy logic will also find it pleasant reading. It contains the right material and is written in a way that someone new to the subject should find relatively easy to understand. I highly recommend it for someone looking to apply fuzzy logic for knowledge management ." (R Qu, Journal of the Operational Research Society, Vol. 56 (6), 2005)

"It is quite well written and offers detailed presentations of a wide range of application areas with a presentation style that is easy to follow. For a university course taught in the right context and at the right level, this would even make a great textbook. Overall, this compact book contains an impressive level of detail both in fundamental concepts and in the details of the applications. This is a mandatory source for anyone interested in advanced methodological applications of management." (H. W. Lewis, III, International Journal of General Systems, Vol. 34 (3), 2005)

Klappentext

This book shows how the application of fuzzy logic can benefit management, group decision making, strategic planning, supply chain management and other business imperatives. The theoretical analysis is fully supported by real-life case studies. The book develops themes that businesses can use to master effectiveness and quality, work with flexibility, and support continuous learning in the organization and the individual.

Inhalt

1. Management And Intelligent Support Technologies.- 1 Management.- 2 Decision Support Systems.- 3 Hyper Knowledge - a Brief Summary of Experiences.- 4 New Information Technology, Intelligent Systems and Soft Computing.- 5 Some Lessons for Future DSS.- 2. Fuzzy Sets And Fuzzy Logic.- 1 Fuzzy Sets.- 2 Averaging operators.- 3. Group Decision Support Systems.- 1 The Arrow Impossibility Theorem: From Classical to Fuzzy Approaches.- 2 Consensus Modeling in GDM.- 3 A Soft Degree of Consensus Based on Fuzzy Logic with Linguistic Quantifiers.- 4 An Interactive System for Consensus Reaching.- 5 The OCA Approach to Multicriteria Multiperson Consensus Modeling.- 6 Quality Evaluation of Elderly Persons' Homes Using Fuzzy Quantifiers.- 7 A Decision Support System for Strategic Planning Through Scenarios.- 8 An Artificial Neural Network Evaluator for Mortgage Loan Applications.- 9 A Linguistic Approach to Personnel Evaluation.- 10 An Application to Environmental Policies.- 4. Fuzzy Real Options For Strategic Planning.- 1 A Fuzzy Approach to Real Option Valuation.- 2 Nordic Telekom Inc..- 3 Summary.- 5. A Fuzzy Approach To Reducing The Bullwhip Effect.- 1 The Bullwhip Effect, Some Additional Details.- 2 Fuzzy Approaches to Demand Signal Processing.- 3 A Hybrid Soft Computing Platform for Taming the Bullwhip Effect.- 4 Summary.- 6. Knowledge Management.- 1 Introduction.- 2 The Current Stage of Knowledge Management Research.- 3 Knowledge Management: A Conceptual Framework.- 4 Knowledge Management Strategies.- 5 Knowledge Management Projects.- 6 Research in Knowledge Management Some Methodology Issues.- 7 IT-Solutions to Support Knowledge Management.- 7. Mobile Technology Applications.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Consumer Survey in Finland.- 3 An Expert Survey in Finland.- 4 Acceptance ofMobile Commerce in Finland, Hong Kong and Singapore.- 5 Mobile Commerce Products and Services.