The Socio-Economic Foundations of Sustainable Business: Managing in the Fourth Industrial Revolution

Preface and context: rational for producing the work in this way and from this perspective

Chapter 1: Introduction: overall context; industrial revolutions; the fourth industrial revolution; the disciplines of sociology, psychology, economics, ethics; industry and commerce as a social infrastructure; social and economic disruption; conclusions.

This chapter will draw on and develop the agreed foundations of management in the above context, and review the disciplines indicated as they develop in the present context and environment.

Chapter 2: Business and Society: the relationships between business and society; the disciplines of business: strategy, marketing, staffing, production, finance and computing/IT; key socio/economic applications of finance, technology and industry; the position and expertise of leadership; conclusions.

This chapter draws on empirical and case studies relating to the development of society and business in the present and evolving context. This includes reference to social and personal networks as critical parts of business and organisation development; and reference also to the wider effects on society and the infrastructure that is developed as the result.

Chapter 3: The Environment: a socio/technological view of business, organisation and social development the development of technological, sociological and economic infrastructure; evaluating and valuing the technologically driven environment; environment responsibilities and accountability; conclusions.

This chapter draws on and develops standard and well known analytical approaches to the organisational and operating environment. It specifically reviews the PESTEL approach and places technology (rather than the organisation) at the core.

Chapter 4: Sustainability: an overview of strategy; risk; what sustainability is; the need to manage the environment; sustainable products and services; social demands; key sectors: health care; waste disposal; energy generation and usage; development and enterprise; financing issues; industrial and social regeneration; conclusions.

This chapter reviews an extensive range of literature on sustainability, looking at sustainability from the points of view of: designed and emerging markets and activities; evaluation of all factors; drives towards carbon neutrality and what carbon neutrality actually is; developing ways of working and enterprise development (entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial); and relating this to standard and industrial revolution 4.0 patterns of work and consumption.

Chapter 5: Products and Services: the nature of product and service development; production and services delivery processes; integration of delivery and distribution methods; managing and defining the supply side; data and its management, use and value; conclusions.

This chapter reviews and draws on sources that develop and adopt new patterns of getting products to market; how to create and sustain value; market segment and consumption patterns; changes and emphases in the business model canvas; and the integration of physical and virtual transport networks and systems.

Chapter 6: Technology Policies: legal and statutory coverage (eg GDPR); ethics applied in a digital, social and economic environment; roles and responsibilities; policies content; policies regulation and enforcement; the nature of access and security; conclusions.

This chapter draws on the key legal and statutory approaches to the design and implementation of technology policies, and key issues such as privacy. It also evaluates cultural and subjective/prejudicial approaches to international standards and influences (eg Huawei and 5G).

Chapter 7: The Value of Technology development: the nature of value; valuing technology and the technological infrastructure; value expressed in economic, financial, social and mathematical terms; immediate and enduring value; limited value and the limits of value; conclusions.

This chapter draws on work presently being carried out in a range of situations (eg infrastructure development; SAP/IBM; CIO groups; the built environment) in valuing and delivering new approaches to the overall and also specific value that is delivered, and how to value it. We also look at changing models of investment appraisal, and how to implement investments in which there are no predicted or assured returns.

Chapter 8: Key Technological Developments: overview of technological development; specific issues (artificial reality; augmented reality; machine learning; virtual reality; artificial intelligence; predictive technology); data generation and management; the need for accurate data; the sourcing of data; conclusions.

This chapter reviews specific examples and issues from the processes involved in the development of these technologies, and the deliverables required. It specifically looks at key issues of privacy, data assurance (and otherwise); and issues to do with control/loss of control; access/loss of access; inclusion and exclusion.

Chapter 9: Smart and Lean: smart cities; smart travel and transport; smart phones; smart communications; smart homes; smart work; smart environment; lean production; lean business; the effects on business and organisation structures; the effects on patterns of work; the effects on society and relationships; conclusions.

This chapter draws on the lessons from current, envisaged and historic approaches to lean production and service delivery. It relates also to business model development in terms of: access and assurance of technology; technology and systems developments (and failures); the use of business networks and social integration; and the development of the management and entrepreneurial body of knowledge that arise as the result.

Chapter 10: Social Media: the use and value of social media in socio/technological terms; the need for social media presence; managing the social media presence; key issues: presentation, access, influence and influencers; responsibilities and accountability; conclusions.

This chapter reviews the present and developing knowledge and understanding of the power, influence, use and misuse of social and business networks. It looks at the keys to effectiveness and the need for network design, development and management as key business instruments and integral parts of social fabric. It also again reviews present understanding of inclusion and exclusion.

Chapter 11: Conclusion: the nature and effectiveness of business and organisation leadership; transformation and disruption; the nature of disruption; developing expertise; evaluating and identifying opportunities; the role and function of management and organisation development.