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"The Theory of the Leisure Class" is a classic examination of the economics of the upper classes and the impact that their habits have upon society. In this work Thorstein Veblen coins the phrase «conspicuous consumption» to describe the often wasteful and unnecessary use of resources that is typical of the wealthiest members of a society. Veblen argues that the social values of the rich have greatly contributed to a lack of substantive culture and proper use of wealth in our society. «The Theory of the Leisure Class» is a classic of economics and sociology that is as relevant today as when it was first written.

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Originally published in «Cornhill» magazine, «Unto This Last» is a series of four essays on the politics of economics. Considered by Ruskin as one of his most important works, «Unto This Last» argues that economics, art and science must have a foundation in morality. Ruskin, who cannot be strictly labeled as a liberal or conservative in his political ideology, crafts a thought-provoking exposition of prevailing economic theories that is as relevant today as when first written.

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First published in 1911, “The Principles of Scientific Management” by the American mechanical engineer and efficiency expert Frederick Winslow Taylor, is the highly influential study on industrial organization and management theory. Taylor is often referred to as the “Father of Scientific Management” and his approach to decision-making and management to optimize efficiency is often referred to as “Taylor’s Principles”, or “Taylorism”. The impact on the field of business strategy of Taylor’s work is undeniable and his legacy continues to inform and guide the study of industrial engineering and management methods. Taylor argued that the application of scientific principles and research methods to coordinate industrial enterprise would create a system that all parties could benefit from, including the employer, the worker, and society at large. The goal of Taylor’s approach was to secure both the maximum prosperity for both the owner and for each employee by using proper scientific training methods that focused on developing individual skill to its greatest effect. Taylor also encouraged the use of incentive programs to motivate increased effort and efficiency. “The Principles of Scientific Management” remains a truly lasting and important work of management science over a century after it was first published. This edition includes a biographical afterword.

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John Maynard Keynes was a British economist whose theories had a profound impact on twentieth century history and economic practice. Born and raised in Cambridge, England to highly successful, intelligent parents John and Florence Keynes, he attended Eton and King’s College, Cambridge where he joined the intellectual group called “The Apostles” with the likes of Virginia Woolf, E. M. Forster, and Bertrand Russell. In 1919, after attending the Paris Peace Conference as economic advisor to Prime Minister Lloyd George, Keynes resigned from a prominent position in the Treasury and published “The Economic Consequences of the Peace”, a stinging indictment of the Versailles Treaty. Keynes expressed his opposition to the political practices that were taking place, and the work gained him instant notoriety. The impact of this, and other, works on economic theory and policy led to what is now termed the “Keynesian Revolution” of the twentieth century, and helped shape modern macroeconomics.

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First published in 1899 by American economist and sociologist Thorstein Veblen, “The Theory of the Leisure Class” is a classic and important examination of the economics of the upper classes and the impact that their habits have upon society at the end of the 19th century. In this work, Veblen, influenced by the work of Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, and Adam Smith, contends that the evolutionary development of human society is the basis for our modern economic institutions, such as the divisions between the wealthy ruling class, the industrious middle class, and the working poor. Veblen was highly critical of the upper class and coined the phrases “conspicuous consumption” and “conspicuous leisure” to describe the often wasteful and unnecessary use of resources and time that is typical of the wealthiest members of a society. Veblen argues that the social values of the rich, which have their evolutionary basis in the primitive and barbaric behavior of humans during ancient times, have greatly contributed to an unnecessary division of class, as well as a lack of proper use of wealth in society. “The Theory of the Leisure Class” continues to be a thought-provoking and significant study of economics and sociology that is as relevant today as when it was first written.

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Genevan philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau was one of the most influential figures of the 18th century. His political philosophy has been pointed to as a major contributing factor in causing the French Revolution. Social and economic inequality has been a pervasive element of human existence for the entirety of recorded history. The causes of this inequality are principal to the discussion of political, legal, and economic theory. Rousseau acknowledges two primary forces that bring about inequality in the world. The first is that which arises from natural law. Given the fact that some men are more capable in both their desire and ability to produce wealth, it is only natural that some inequality will arise. Rousseau argued however that a greater inequality comes from a secondary cause, that which arises from the structural deficiencies of civil society. Central to «A Discourse on on the Origin of Inequality» is the idea that as civilizations have grown so has the power of the privileged to gain an unnatural advantage over the weaker members of society. As relevant today as when first written, the influence of Rousseau’s philosophy on the development of modern society cannot be overstated. This edition follows the translation of G. D. H. Cole and includes a biographical afterword.

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Combining the practical and academic aspects of event management this text presents an industry perspective, with real-life event examples and contemporary and relevant case studies.  It provides lecturers with a useful platform to integrate key event topics into the learning environment. The book discusses the management process throughout the ‘event cycle’, from the pre-event planning stage; on-site delivery to the post event stage. The book is divided into 4 distinct phases, which are:  The Event cycle ;  Before the event ;  Throughout the event  and  Beyond the event .  Within each of these 4 sections, there are 2 or 3 separate chapters, each with their own objectives. The book discusses practical and operational elements, such as project management, marketing, sponsorship deals and risk assessment, that need to be put in place both before and during the event. The final section:  Beyond the event , examines current and future event trends and issues, and discusses the various career paths that exist and the skills and qualifications required to gain employment and start a successful career in events.   Each chapter profiles someone currently working within the events industry, and presents a scenario of a real event challenge they have faced in their work role, relevant to the chapter. Further viewpoints from a second event practitioner and academic are included, before the final outcome is presented, showing us in each case, how real life situations develop and are resolved in practice within the events industry.   The feature  Event Ethics  explores a topical issue that should encourage lively discussion and the  Did you know?   section reveals an interesting and chapter-specific event fact. At the end of every chapter students can revise and extend their event knowledge with the list of  Chapter Summary Questions,  which help consolidate the learning outcomes. Additionally the  Key Terms  section explains any terminology used within the chapter. Each chapter concludes with a section called  For the Classroom,  featuring discussion points and activities based around the chapter content, as well as reference sources and suggested reading. Some of the forms and inserts used to contextualise the learning, will appear as weblinks for the students to download and use throughout.  

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In an age when managers can no longer rely on formal power, persuading people is more important than ever. Persuasion is a process of learning from colleagues and employees and negotiating shared solutions to solving problems and achieving goals. In The Necessary Art of Persuasion , Jay Conger describes four essential components of persuasion and explains how to master them, providing the information you need to fulfill your managerial mandate: getting work done through others.

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In The Discipline of Teams , Jon Katzenbach and Douglas Smith explore the often counter-intuitive features that make up high-performing teams—such as selecting team members for skill, not compatibility—and explain how managers can set specific goals to foster team development. The result is improved productivity and teams that can be counted on to deliver more than just the sum of their parts. Since 1922, Harvard Business Review has been a leading source of breakthrough ideas in management practice. The Harvard Business Review Classics series now offers you the opportunity to make these seminal pieces a part of your permanent management library. Each highly readable volume contains a groundbreaking idea that continues to shape best practices and inspire countless managers around the world.

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Great companies stumble and fall when they lose it. Highfliers crash when a competitor notices they don't have it. Start-ups shut down if they can't develop it. «It» is a strategy so powerful and an execution-driven mindset so relentless that companies use it to gain more than just competitive advantage–they achieve an industry dominance that is virtually unassailable and that competitors often try to explain away as unfair. In their «hardball manifesto,» authors George Stalk and Rob Lachenauer of the leading strategy consulting firm The Boston Consulting Group show how hardball competitors can build or maintain an enviable competitive edge by pursuing one or more of the classic «hardball strategies»: unleash massive and overwhelming force, exploit anomalies, devastate profit sanctuaries, raise competitors' costs, and break compromises.Based on 25 years of experience advising and observing a range of companies, the authors argue that hardball competitors can gain extreme competitive advantage–neutralizing, marginalizing, or even destroying competitors–without violating their contracts with customers or employees and without breaking the rules. A clear-eyed paean to the timeless strategies that have driven the world's winning companies, Hardball Strategy redefines and reinterprets the meaning of competition for a new generation of business players. George Stalk and Rob Lachenauer are directors of The Boston Consulting Group. Stalk is the author of Competing Against Time, the classic work on time-based competition.

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