New synopses this month

Title: Developing gender diversity in management
Breaking the glass ceiling, a key strategic issue

Analysis based on ideas published by leading experts, in particular in the book presented below and in the publications cited in the "Find Out More" insets

Be Your Own Mentor, Sheila Wellington, Catalyst, Random House, 2001, 302 pages.

Same Words, Different Language, Barbara Anise, Piatkus Books, 2002, 256 pages.

Women Don't Ask, Linda Babcock, Sara Laschever, Princeton University Press, 2003, 223 pages.

Manageris 134a.

Most companies currently express a desire to foster diversity within the organization, particularly at the management level. Yet, however sincere their intentions about developing gender diversity in management, companies are still hampered by a very real glass ceiling. Introducing a few measures such as flextime options is insufficient to attract and retain more women in the organization. A complete overhaul of all operating practices and a real cultural revolution are required to retain women and enable them to take on management positions in greater numbers

Main subject [Diversity]

	Title: Improve the valuation of your strategic investments Go beyond NPV with real options and game theory. Analysis based on ideas published by leading experts, in particular in the books presented below and in the publications cited in the "Find Out More" insets. Strategic Investment, Han T.J. Smit, Lenos Trigeorgis, Princeton University Press, 2004, 471 pages. Manageris 134b. When initiating costly investment projects, it is generally seen as a good idea to evaluate the probable return on investment beforehand. This is the purpose of Net Present Value (NPV), the main valuation tool used by most companies. However, NPV does not give the full picture. Two recent advances in strategic research offer ways to improve the valuation of your strategic investments, namely, real option theory, which integrates the fact that the content of projects can be adjusted depending on the situation or initial results obtained, and game theory, which takes account of the impact of competitive moves on the value of a project. Main subject [Finance and Cost Accounting]

New synopses this month :