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Soft Law and the Global Financial System
by Chris BrummerThe global financial crisis of 2008 has given way to a proliferation of international agreements aimed at strengthening the prudential oversight and supervision of financial market participants. Yet how these rules operate is not well understood. Because international financial rules are expressed through informal, non-binding accords, scholars tend to view them as either weak treaty substitutes or by-products of national power. Rarely, if ever, are they cast as independent variables that can inform the behavior of regulators and market participants alike. This book explains how international financial law 'works' - and presents an alternative theory for understanding its purpose, operation and limitations. Drawing on a close institutional analysis of the post-crisis financial architecture, it argues that international financial law is often bolstered by a range of reputational, market and institutional mechanisms that make it more coercive than classical theories of international law predict.
Soft News Goes to War: Public Opinion and American Foreign Policy in the New Media Age
by Matthew A. BaumThe American public has consistently declared itself less concerned with foreign affairs in the post-Cold War era, even after 9/11, than at any time since World War II. How can it be, then, that public attentiveness to U.S. foreign policy crises has increased? This book represents the first systematic attempt to explain this apparent paradox. Matthew Baum argues that the answer lies in changes to television's presentation of political information. In so doing he develops a compelling "byproduct" theory of information consumption. The information revolution has fundamentally changed the way the mass media, especially television, covers foreign policy. Traditional news has been repackaged into numerous entertainment-oriented news programs and talk shows. By transforming political issues involving scandal or violence (especially attacks against America) into entertainment, the "soft news" media have actually captured more viewers who will now follow news about foreign crises, due to its entertainment value, even if they remain uninterested in foreign policy. Baum rigorously tests his theory through content analyses of traditional and soft news media coverage of various post-WWII U.S. foreign crises and statistical analyses of public opinion surveys. The results hold key implications for the future of American politics and foreign policy. For instance, watching soft news reinforces isolationism among many inattentive Americans. Scholars, political analysts, and even politicians have tended to ignore the soft news media and politically disengaged citizens. But, as this well-written book cogently demonstrates, soft news viewers represent a largely untapped reservoir of unusually persuadable voters.
Soft Power for the Journey: The Life of a STEM Trailblazer
by Sandra K. JohnsonThis is a story of an African American woman working at the highest levels in STEM. Dr. Sandra K. Johnson earned a Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering from Rice University, Houston, Texas, in May 1988, the first Black woman to do so. She then became a successful global technology leader and an IBM Chief Technology Officer (CTO). The story narrates the inextricable human dimension of dealing with various personal and familial challenges that people naturally encounter—with the highs and lows, and exhilarations and disappointments. It portrays her inner strength, persistence, dedication, boldness, quiet resilience, wisdom and strong faith, this soft power she leverages throughout her life. It is a heartwarming, compelling story designed to encourage, be aspirational and awe-inspiring, and uplift the spirits of a broad and diverse readership.From tragically losing her father at the age of two, to being raised by a single mother of four children, Sandra showed promise in math and science, and discipline and unrelenting drive at a young age. Raised in the deep South, she exhibited leadership even while in kindergarten and blazed trails in leadership while in junior high and high schools. Her early education was in segregated schools, with integration coming to her hometown as she started the 5th grade. Dr. Johnson’s innate abilities led her to a summer engineering program for high school students, then on to college and graduate school.Dr. Johnson has made innovative contributions in high performance computing – supercomputers – and other areas of computer engineering. She has dozens of technical publications, over 45 pending and issued patents, and a plethora of recognition and honors in her field. The book is a fascinating and intriguing story that conveys in captivating and relatable ways the remarkable life arc of a resilient person from an underprivileged background who persistently overcomes whatever odds and challenges are encountered in her life. It is a riveting human tale of a triumphant spirit, moving forward with soft power to celebrate achievement and handle obstacles with steel willpower, influential support, and faith.Access the authors' webpage here https://softpowerforthejourney.com/
Soft Power Superpowers: Cultural And National Assets Of Japan And The United States
by Yasushi Watanabe David L McConnellThe term "soft power" describes a country's ability to get what it wants by attracting rather than coercing others - by engaging hearts and minds through cultural and political values and foreign policies that other countries see as legitimate and conducive to their own interests.This book analyzes the soft power assets of the United States and Japan, and how they contributed to one of the most successful, if unlikely, bilateral relationships of the twentieth century. Sponsored by the U.S. Social Science Research Council and the Japan Foundation's Center for Global Partnership, the book brings together anthropologists, political scientists, historians, economists, diplomats, and others to explore the multiple axes of soft power that operate in the U.S.-Japanese relationship, and between the United States and Japan and other regions of the world.The contributors move beyond an "either-or" concept of hard versus soft power to a more dynamic interpretation, and demonstrate the important role of non-state actors in wielding soft power. They show how public diplomacy on both sides of the Pacific - bolstered by less formal influences such as popular cultural icons, product brands, martial arts, baseball, and educational exchanges - has led to a vibrant U.S.-Japanese relationship since World War II despite formidable challenges. Emphasizing the essentially interactive nature of persuasion, the book highlights an approach to soft power that has many implications for the world today.
Soft Skills For Dummies
by Cindi ReimanSoft skills make the hard skills work! Soft skills are the personal qualities that make you a great communicator, problem solver, and leader on the job—and in your personal life. Soft Skills For Dummies helps you hone in on the traits you already have—or fine tune the ones that may need some extra attention—to market yourself as a workplace leader who&’s in touch with what today&’s employers are looking for: people who can lead and inspire through interpersonal communication, cultural awareness, time management, teamwork, critical thinking, and problem solving. • Sharpen the skills you need for a successful career • Improve your ability to work with others • Become a more confident job seeker and leader • Grasp the concept of soft skills through real-world applications, inspirational stories, and industry spotlights With content based on a time-tested curriculum designed to prepare you for work and life success, this book is packed with everything you need to build your soft skills to make the strongest impact possible.
Soft Skills for Human Centered Management and Global Sustainability (Human Centered Management)
by Maria-Teresa LepeleyThis book is part of the Human Centered Book Trilogy, the 2021 volumes of the Routledge Human Centered Management HCM Series. HCM books are pioneering transformation from the traditional humans-as-a-resource approach of the industrial past, to the humans at the center management and organizational paradigm of the 21st century. HCM is built on the talent and wellbeing of people in the workplace driving work engagement, quality standards, high performance and productivity to attain long-term organizational sustainability in the global VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous) environment. This book was carefully crafted by recognized international human centered scholars from four continents. Models presented bridge persistent Soft Skills gaps in management and business and particularly between education and the workforce due to excessive testing and hard/technical skills. In contrast with hard skills, Soft Skills are transferable across jobs, industries and applicable to all dimensions of life. Soft Skills are the common language of empathy, collaboration, team building, resilience and agility transforming organizations. Human and social challenges cannot be solved only with hard skills. This is a "must read Soft Skills manual" for survival and success based on attributes all human beings possess but not everybody is optimizing to excel in life and work. This and its two complementary titles Human Centered Organizational Culture: Global Dimensions and Sensible Leadership: Human Centered, Insightful and Prudent are timely readings for leaders, managers, researchers, academics, practitioners, students and the general public responsible for organizations across industries and sectors pursuing quality standards, organizational transformation and sustainability.
Soft Skills for the Effective Lawyer
by Randall KiserIn this groundbreaking book, Randall Kiser presents a multi-disciplinary, practice-based introduction to the major soft skills for lawyers: self-awareness, self-development, social proficiency, wisdom, leadership, and professionalism. The work serves as both a map and a vehicle for developing the skills essential to self-knowledge and fulfillment, organizational respect and accomplishment, client satisfaction and appreciation, and professional improvement and distinction. It identifies the most important soft skills for attorneys, describes and applies hundreds of studies regarding psychology, law, and soft skills, and provides concrete steps and methods to improve soft skills. The book should be read by law students, attorneys, and anyone else interested in how lawyers should practice law.
Soft Skills for the Professional Services Industry: Principles, Tasks, and Tools for Success
by Andreas CreutzmannSoft Skills for the Professional Services Industry Auditors, accountants, lawyers, consultants, and other highly educated and trained professionals frequently hold impressive credentials and offer clients specialized expertise in complex areas. At the same time, these professionals understandably focus on the analytical and technical components of their jobs, sometimes to the point of excluding or ignoring important soft skills critical to the success of their careers and practices. In Soft Skills for the Professional Services Industry: Principles, Tasks, and Tools for Success, veteran auditor and entrepreneur Andreas Creutzmann delivers an essential discussion of often overlooked professional competencies that can mean the difference between career, engagement, and business success or failure. In the book, you’ll find accessible guidance on critical soft skills that can make a difference between fulfilment and success and failure on a professional and personal level. You’ll learn to handle the blending of home and the home office, how to effectively manage staff, how to market yourself and your firm, practical strategies for client and colleague communication, and how to find happiness in your day-to-day work. Each chapter stands alone and can be read in any order. They provide professionals with invaluable skills for navigating the modern—and digital—reality of work, showing you how to combine your professional education with the latest research and common sense on everything from client management to firm marketing. Soft Skills for the Professional Services Industry uses the field of auditing as a template and guide, but it is highly relevant to all skilled professionals – including lawyers, consultants, medical professionals, and others. The book is a must-read for any knowledge worker trying to add to their toolbox of practical skills. Critical guidance for practicing professionals on how to build often overlooked soft skills Most highly educated and trained professionals aren’t lacking in analytical or technical skills. Lawyers know the law, accountants understand double entry bookkeeping, and doctors know anatomy. However, many of us are less familiar with often overlooked—and equally essential—soft skills: client management, communication, staff and employee management, and others. In Soft Skills for the Professional Services Industry, accomplished auditor, entrepreneur, and consultant Andreas Creutzmann walks you through how to build critical competencies, from self-marketing to balancing work and life when your office is in your house. The book is made up of numerous, self-contained chapters that can be read in any order, and it demonstrates how to navigate increasingly digital and insistent professional demands on your time, effectively manage client and colleague relationships, and sell new clients on the services your firm offers. An essential roadmap to achieving personal and career success, Soft Skills for the Professional Services Industry is an indispensable resource for lawyers, doctors, accountants, auditors, and any other extensively skilled professional. It offers practical tools in functional areas that are frequently neglected in formal professional training.
Soft Skills for the Workplace
bySoft Skills for the Workplace is a nontraditional approach to learning basic employability skills needed in today's workplace. Well-developed soft skills help an individual find a job, perform well in the workplace, and gain personal success in life and career. By studying this text, you will learn the soft skills that employers recommend, and require, of employees. Learning how to interact professionally with customers, coworkers, and employers is one sure way to prepare for your future. In today's workplace, it is necessary to have job-specific skills to perform on the job as well as know-how to interact with coworkers and customers. You may be the most qualified person in your field in terms of hard skills, but if you lack soft skills, you may have a challenge finding and retaining employment. No matter your career choice, Soft Skills for the Workplace will help you help you jump-start your future. In today's competitive work environment, well-developed employability skills can help you stand out in the crowd Soft skills are the new hard skills for the 21st century.
Soft Skills for Workplace Success (SAGE Back to Basics)
by SAGE Publications India Pvt. LtdFrom the ninjas of corporate world comes a curated recipe book on how to be happy and content in our professional lives. Soft skills for Workplace helps us in dodging the derailers such as ego and stress that can negatively impact our behaviour, and replacing them instead with humour and emotional intelligence as tools to find joy at the workplace. SAGE Back to Basics is a distilled compilation of proven and timeless ideas and best practices for new-age and experienced leaders alike. The hand-picked collection of books—on management, leadership, entrepreneurship, branding and CSR—offer advice from management experts whose knowledge and research has impacted and shaped business and management education. Other books in the series: Timeless Leadership | Advertising and Branding Basics | Leadership Lessons from Dr Pritam Singh | Corporate Social Responsibility in India | Basics of Entrepreneurship | Human Resource Development Insights | Ideate, Brainstorm, Create | Building Professional Competencies | Timeless Management
Soft Skills Revolution
by M. KaminSoft skills are the cluster of personality traits, social graces, communication, language, personal habits, friendliness, and optimism that characterize relationships with other people in the workplace. In an increasingly competitive and sometimes toxic and bulling environment, soft skills training has never been more important for organizational health. This book is designed specifically to help trainers and other organizational leaders build these important skills through a variety of methods including structured training programs as well as informal learning, mentoring and coaching.
Soft Skills to Advance Your Developer Career: Actionable Steps to Help Maximize Your Potential
by Zsolt NagyAs a software developer, your technical skill set is in high demand. Devices and technology have become an integral part of our everyday lives and no digital organization can thrive without technical professionals on the payroll. However, career plateaus are inevitable in even the most high-demand field. Companies do not only need software developers; they need software developers with soft skills.In Soft Skills to Advance Your Developer Career, author Zsolt Nagy explores how emotional intelligence can give your software development career an edge. These subjects are not taught in school, and unfortunately the career advancement of many excellent developers can be blocked by their inability to effectively communicate their needs, assert themselves, and negotiate confidently. Throughout this book, Nagy shows you how to actively improve and prioritize your soft skills so that you can better represent the holistic interests of your team, obtain better working conditions, negotiate raises, and increase your variety of employment options by elevating your interviewing skills.Discover the obstacles standing between you and a fulfilling career by finding and improving strengths you may not have even known you had. Jump out of your box with Soft Skills to Advance Your Developer Career and leverage your expertise with effortless confidence at all stages of your professional journey.What You Will LearnExamine why software developer careers cannot be treated similarly as any other career pathUnderstand the four soft-skills you need to advance your careerDevelop a strategy for your personal brand and align it with your career planRealize the role of assertive communication, and the importance of giving and receiving feedbackCreate a plan for setting yourself up for a raise or promotionDiscover techniques for acing the behavioral and coding interview Who This Book Is ForSoftware developers who have the technical skills required for career advancement, but want a guide on how to manage their careers
Soft Spaces in Europe: Re-negotiating governance, boundaries and borders (Regions and Cities)
by Jörg Knieling Graham Haughton Frank Othengrafen Phil AllmendingerThe past thirty years have seen a proliferation of new forms of territorial governance that have come to co-exist with, and complement, formal territorial spaces of government. These governance experiments have resulted in the creation of soft spaces, new geographies with blurred boundaries that eschew existing political-territorial boundaries of elected tiers of government. The emergence of new, non-statutory or informal spaces can be found at multiple levels across Europe, in a variety of circumstances, and with diverse aims and rationales. This book moves beyond theory to examine the practice of soft spaces. It employs an empirical approach to better understand the various practices and rationalities of soft spaces and how they manifest themselves in different planning contexts. By looking at the effects of new forms of spatial governance and the role of spatial planning in North-western Europe, this book analyses discursive changes in planning policies in selected metropolitan areas and cross-border regions. The result is an exploration of how these processes influence the emergence of soft spaces, governance arrangements and the role of statutory planning in different contexts. This book provides a deeper understanding of space and place, territorial governance and network governance.
Soft Target Protection: Theoretical Basis and Practical Measures (NATO Science for Peace and Security Series C: Environmental Security)
by Ladislav Hofreiter Viacheslav Berezutskyi Lucia Figuli Zuzana ZvakováThis proceedings volume includes articles presented during the Advanced Research Workshop on Soft Target Protection. The book presents important topics related to the protection of vulnerable objects and spaces, called Soft Targets. The chapters published in this book are thematically assigned to the blocks as follows: Theoretical aspect of soft target protection; Blast resistance of soft targets; Counter terrorism; Technical and technological solutions for soft target protection; Scheme and organizational measures; Blast protection and Forces for soft target protection. In this book, the reader will find a wealth of information about the theoretical background for designing protection of soft targets, as well as the specifics of protecting objects in armed conflict areas. New methods and procedures applicable to the soft target protection are described.
Softspace: From a Representation of Form to a Simulation of Space
by Sean Lally; Jessica YoungThis well-illustrated book unites essayists and emerging architectural practices to examine how digital tools are increasingly being used in architectural design, not only to show form, structure and geometries but also to visualize and simulate energies and material qualities such as air, gas, sound, scent and electricity. Softspace takes stock of current advancements in design and research, while drawing on historical and ideological trajectories rooted in the past fifty years. The varied contributors examine the capabilities of such 'energy matters' to act as catalysts for design innovation today. This well-presented and impressively authored title will provoke architects of all levels to consider the potential for creative and innovative design through the use of digital design tools.
Softwar: An Intimate Portrait of Larry Ellison and Oracle
by Matthew SymondsIn a business where great risks, huge fortunes, and even bigger egos are common, Larry Ellison stands out as one of the most outspoken, driven, and daring leaders of the software industry. The company he cofounded and runs, Oracle, is the number one business software company: perhaps even more than Microsoft's, Oracle's products are essential to today's networked world.But Oracle is as controversial as it is influential, as feared as it is revered, thanks in large part to Larry Ellison. Though Oracle is one of the world's most valuable and profitable companies, Ellison is not afraid to suddenly change course and reinvent Oracle in the pursuit of new and ever more ambitious goals. Softwar examines the results of these shifts in strategy and the forces that drive Ellison relentlessly on.In Softwar, journalist Matthew Symonds gives readers an exclusive and intimate insight into both Oracle and the man who made it and runs it. As well as relating the story of Oracle's often bumpy path to industry dominance, Symonds deals with the private side of Ellison's life. From Ellison's troubled upbringing by adoptive parents and his lifelong search for emotional security to the challenges and opportunities that have come with unimaginable wealth, Softwar gets inside the skin of a fascinating and complicated human being. With unlimited insider access granted by Ellison himself, Symonds captures the intensity and, some would say, the recklessness that have made Ellison a legend.The result of more than a hundred hours of interviews and many months spent with Ellison, Softwar is the most complete portrait undertaken of the man and his empire -- a unique and gripping account of both the way the computing industry really works and an extraordinary life.Despite his closeness to Ellison, Matthew Symonds is a candid and at times highly critical observer. And in perhaps the book's most unusual feature, Ellison responds to Symonds's portrayal in the form of a running footnoted commentary.The result is one of the most fascinating business stories of all time.
Software and Organisations: The Biography of the Enterprise-Wide System or How SAP Conquered the World (Routledge Studies In Technology, Work And Organizations Ser.)
by Neil Pollock Robin WilliamsThis is the first book that addresses the genesis and career of the modern day enterprise system in a comprehensive and robust manner. It does so through setting out a new approach for the study of packaged solutions and presents novel empirical studies based on in-depth ethnographic and longitudinal research conducted within supplier organisations
Software and Systems Architecture in Action (Applied Software Engineering Ser.)
by Raghvinder S. SangwanModern-day projects require software and systems engineers to work together in realizing architectures of large and complex software-intensive systems. To date, the two have used their own tools and methods to deal with similar issues when it comes to the requirements, design, testing, maintenance, and evolution of these architectures.Software and
The Software Architect Elevator: Redefining the Architect's Role in the Digital Enterprise
by Gregor HohpeAs the digital economy changes the rules of the game for enterprises, the role of software and IT architects is also transforming. Rather than focus on technical decisions alone, architects and senior technologists need to combine organizational and technical knowledge to effect change in their company’s structure and processes. To accomplish that, they need to connect the IT engine room to the penthouse, where the business strategy is defined.In this guide, author Gregor Hohpe shares real-world advice and hard-learned lessons from actual IT transformations. His anecdotes help architects, senior developers, and other IT professionals prepare for a more complex but rewarding role in the enterprise.This book is ideal for:Software architects and senior developers looking to shape the company’s technology direction or assist in an organizational transformationEnterprise architects and senior technologists searching for practical advice on how to navigate technical and organizational topicsCTOs and senior technical architects who are devising an IT strategy that impacts the way the organization worksIT managers who want to learn what’s worked and what hasn’t in large-scale transformation
Software Architecture
by Bedir Tekinerdogan Uwe Zdun Ali BabarA software architecture manifests the major early design decisions, which determine the system's development, deployment and evolution. Thus, making better architectural decisions is one of the large challenges in software engineering. Software architecture knowledge management is about capturing practical experience and translating it into generalized architectural knowledge, and using this knowledge in the communication with stakeholders during all phases of the software lifecycle. This book presents a concise description of knowledge management in the software architecture discipline. It explains the importance of sound knowledge management practices for improving software architecture processes and products, and makes clear the role of knowledge management in software architecture and software development processes. It presents many approaches that are in use in software companies today, approaches that have been used in other domains, and approaches under development in academia. After an initial introduction by the editors, the contributions are grouped in three parts on "Architecture Knowledge Management", "Strategies and Approaches for Managing Architectural Knowledge", and "Tools and Techniques for Managing Architectural Knowledge". The presentation aims at information technology and software engineering professionals, in particular software architects and software architecture researchers. For the industrial audience, the book gives a broad and concise understanding of the importance of knowledge management for improving software architecture process and building capabilities in designing and evaluating better architectures for their mission- and business-critical systems. For researchers, the book will help to understand the applications of various knowledge management approaches in an industrial setting and to identify research challenges and opportunities.
Software Architecture for Business
by Lina KhalidThis book illustrates the role of software architecture and its application in business. The author describes enterprise architecture along with business architecture to show the role of software architecture in both areas. The place of software architecture in business is outlined from many perspectives in this context. The book outlines quality attributes and how managers can use software architecture to build high quality products. Topics include business software architecture, dealing with qualities, achieving quality attributes, managing business qualities, software product line, Internet of Things (IOT), and Service Oriented Business Architecture. The book is intended to benefit students, researchers, software architects, and business architects. Provides quick and easy access to all the important aspects of software architecture in business;Highlights a wide variety of concepts of software architecture in a straightforward manner, for students, practitioners, or architects;Presents different applications of software architecture in business.
Software Associates
by Robert S. KaplanThe president of a small consulting firm has just seen his second-quarter profit and loss statement, showing an increase in revenues but a substantial decline in profits. He asks his chief financial officer to explain the results. The CFO works hard to accumulate information to explain the impact of the quantity of billed hours, billing rates, consultant expenses, operating expenses, and the shifting mix of business between the two principal product lines.
Software Business: 13th International Conference, ICSOB 2022, Bolzano, Italy, November 8–11, 2022, Proceedings (Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing #463)
by Noel Carroll Anh Nguyen-Duc Xiaofeng Wang Viktoria StrayThis book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Software Business, ICSOB 2022, which was held during November 8-11, 2022 in Bolzano, Italy. The special theme of ICSOB 2022 was “Software for Digital Transformation”. The 19 full papers together with 6 short papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 53 submissions. The conference is covering different aspects of Digital Transformation, Software Startups, Software Ecosystems, Software Processes, Platform Economy, Software Sustainability, and People and Process Analytics.
Software Business: 14th International Conference, ICSOB 2023, Lahti, Finland, November 27–29, 2023, Proceedings (Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing #500)
by Sami Hyrynsalmi Jürgen Münch Kari Smolander Jorge MelegatiThis open access book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 23rd International Conference on Software Business, ICSOB 2023, which was held in Lahti, Finland, during November 27–29, 2023. The special theme of ICSOB 2023 was Digital Agility: Mastering Change in Software Business and Digital Services.The 27 full papers and 8 short papers presented in this book were carefully reviewed and selected from 79 submissions. They were organized in topical sections as follows: Requirements; software procurement; platforms, ecosystems and data; artificial intelligence; software startups; software product management; software and business co-development; and emerging digital world.
Software Business: 10th International Conference, ICSOB 2019, Jyväskylä, Finland, November 18–20, 2019, Proceedings (Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing #370)
by Sami Hyrynsalmi Mari Suoranta Anh Nguyen-Duc Pasi Tyrväinen Pekka AbrahamssonThis book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Software Business, ICSOB 2019, held in Jyväskylä, Finland, in November 2019. On the occasion of its tenth anniversary the conference theme this year was “The First Decade and Beyond” and focused on the development during the past decade, addressing the future of software-intensive business as well as studies on new and emerging ideas. The 18 full papers and 10 short papers presented together with 3 invited talks, 6 emerging research papers and a tutorial were carefully reviewed and selected from 52 submissions. They are organized in the following topical sections: software ecosystems; management of software products; continual improvement and product development; impacts of digitalization; software business education; software startups and digital business.