Functional analysis as set forth in the last chapter decomposes a technical system into functional components that do things to advance the system’s purpose and the goals of its designers. Functional analysis in turn can be used to construct value structure maps of technical systems. Such maps...

In the German automobile industry the vertical integration, as an indicator of value added, is on average low. Beyond the argument of relative high labour costs for manufacturing, several specific reasons for the level of vertical integration, linked to the flexibility of business administration...

Through an investigation of individual decision-making behavior and the impact it has on the perceived value of innovation, this thesis offers novel perspectives on key strategic management issues. We demonstrate how the value of innovation, when identified as a subjectively realized value by...

Failures of nonprofit organizations can be used either retrospectively or prospectively. The retrospective approach to failure focuses on how to find and correct the causes of failure. On the other hand, the prospective approach emphasizes more forward-looking ways to benefit from failure and...