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.
