Managing Business Complexity

by Michael J. North, Charles M. Macal

2007 · Oxford University Press

Agent-based modeling and simulation (ABMS), a way to simulate a large number of choices by individual actors, is one of the most exciting practical developments in business modeling since the invention of relational databases. It represents a new way to understand data and generate information that has never been available before--a way for businesses to view the future and to understand and anticipate the likely effects of their decisions on their markets and industries. It thus promises to have far-reaching effects on the way that businesses in many areas use computers to support practical decision-making.Managing Business Complexity is the first complete business-oriented agent-based modeling and simulation resource. It has three purposes: first, to teach readers how to think about ABMS, that is, about agents and their interactions; second, to teach readers how to explain the features and advantages of ABMS to other people and third, to teach readers how to actually implement ABMS by building agent-based simulations. It is intended to be a complete ABMS resource, accessible to readers who haven't had any previous experience in building agent-based simulations, or any other kinds of models, for that matter. It is also a collection of ABMS business applications resources, all assembled in one place for the first time. In short, Managing Business Complexity addresses who needs ABMS and why, where and when ABMS can be applied to the everyday business problems that surround us, and how specifically to build these powerful agent-based models.

Architecture and Patterns for IT Service Management, Resource Planning, and Governance: Making Shoes for the Cobbler's Children

by Charles T. Betz

2006 · Elsevier

Architecture and Patterns for IT Service Management, Resource Planning, and Governance: Making Shoes for the Cobbler's Children provides an independent examination of developments in Enterprise Resource Planning for Information. Major companies, research firms, and vendors are offering Enterprise Resource Planning for Information Technology, which they label as ERP for IT, IT Resource Planning and related terms. This book presents on-the-ground coverage of enabling IT governance in architectural detail, which can be used to define a strategy for immediate execution. It fills the gap between high-level guidance on IT governance and detailed discussions about specific vendor technologies. It provides a unique value chain approach to integrating the COBIT, ITIL, and CMM frameworks into a coherent, unified whole. It presents a field-tested, detailed conceptual information model with definitions and usage scenarios, mapped to both process and system architectures. This book is recommended for practitioners and managers engaged in IT support in large companies, particularly those who are information architects, enterprise architects, senior software engineers, program/project managers, and IT managers/directors.

Tobey (Tobie, Toby) Genealogy

by Rufus Babcock Tobey, Charles Henry Pope

1905

The Tobey family emigrated from England to Sandwich, Massachusetts during or before 1637.