Part 1: Which tools to use and when. -- Part 2: Problem solving essentials.- Part 3: Problem solving techniques for individuals and small groups. -- Part 4: Large group probelm solving techniques. -- Part 5: Problem solving business games.

The failure of the Copenhagen climate conference in December 2009 revealed major flaws in the way the world's policy makers have attempted to prevent dangerous levels of increases in global temperatures. The expert authors in this specially commissioned collection focus on the likely costs and benefits of a very wide range of policy options, including geo-engineering, mitigation of CO2, methane and 'black carbon', expanding forest, research and development of low-carbon energy and encouraging green technology transfer. For each policy, authors outline all of the costs, benefits and likely outcomes, in fully referenced, clearly presented chapters accompanied by shorter, critical alternative perspectives. To further stimulate debate, a panel of economists, including three Nobel laureates, evaluate and rank the attractiveness of the policies. This authoritative and thought-provoking book will challenge readers to form their own conclusions about the best ways to respond to global warming.

The fun and simple problem-solving guide that took Japan by storm Ken Watanabe originally wrote Problem Solving 101 for Japanese schoolchildren. His goal was to help shift the focus in Japanese education from memorization to critical thinking, by adapting some of the techniques he had learned as an elite McKinsey consultant. He was amazed to discover that adults were hungry for his fun and easy guide to problem solving and decision making. The book became a surprise Japanese bestseller, with more than 370,000 in print after six months. Now American businesspeople can also use it to master some powerful skills. Watanabe uses sample scenarios to illustrate his techniques, which include logic trees and matrixes. A rock band figures out how to drive up concert attendance. An aspiring animator budgets for a new computer purchase. Students decide which high school they will attend. Illustrated with diagrams and quirky drawings, the book is simple enough for a middleschooler to understand but sophisticated enough for business leaders to apply to their most challenging problems.

Brian Kateman coined the term "Reducetarian"—a person who is deliberately reducing his or her consumption of meat—and a global movement was born. In this book, Kateman, the founder of the Reducetarian Foundation, presents more than 70 original essays from influential thinkers on how the simple act of cutting 10% or more of the meat from one's diet can transform the life of the reader, animals, and the planet. This book features contributions from such luminaries as Seth Godin, Joel Fuhrman, Victoria Moran, Jeffrey Sachs, Bill McKibben, Naomi Oreskes, Peter Singer, and others. With over 40 vegan, vegetarian, and "less meat" recipes from bestselling cookbook author Pat Crocker, as well as tons of practical tips for reducing the meat in your diet (for example, skip eating meat with dinner if you ate it with lunch; replace your favorite egg omelet with a tofu scramble; choose a veggie burrito instead of a beef burrito; declare a meatless day of the week), The Reducetarian Solution is a life—not to mention planet!—saving book.

In this book leading economists evaluate how the world can best spend money to combat the world's biggest problems.

Engineers and reliability professionals are increasingly being held accountable for materials and spare parts inventory management and in response they need to gain a better understanding of materials and spare parts inventory management principles and practices. This practical book delivers just that. This new edition will help you get the right parts, in the right place, at the right time, for the right reason. Fully revised, it provides specific coverage of the issues faced in, and requirements for, managing engineering materials and spare parts and what to do to improve your results. It includes 29 exclusive examples and real life case studies to demonstrate the application of the concepts and ideas so that you will easy and quickly understand how to implement them. What's more it will show you: What to do to truly optimize your inventory holdings, Why inventory levels are almost always too high, How to identifying the factors that have greatest impact on your inventory levels, When to apply the 7 Actions for Inventory Reduction, Where to focus your efforts for greatest effect, and Who to involve in taking action. The concepts, ideas, tools, and processes in this book have helped many companies achieve and sustain results that other inventory tools and approaches just could not match. And it is sure to help you achieve true inventory optimization as well! Features The second edition includes... A new chapter on The Mechanics of Inventory Management, a pragmatic review of the management of inventory including... Introducing the Materials and Inventory Management Cycle, Comparing theoretical and actual inventory outcomes, Discussion on normal and Poisson distribution models, How to determine the re order point, How to determine the re order quantity, and Commentary on Monte Carlo simulation. An expanded chapter on the financial impact of inventory, including a discussion of the key reports that need to be understood. Chapters on the influence of policies, procedures, and people. Additional discussion on issues faced and how to address them. An expansion of the central process discussed in the first edition to a more comprehensive review process...Inventory Process(TM) Optimization. An expanded section on executing an inventory review program. A closing 'where to from here' chapter. 57 figures and diagrams - 30 of them new and the others all revised and updated and six new tables (with 8 in total). Eight new checklists - specifically included as a new tool for the reader and is the result of direct reader requests. An expanded glossary.