The activity of working, a fundamental principle for human life, has suffered signification changes within the 21st century. Heavy physical work, the natural environment, bad weather conditions, have been replaced by mentally demanding, high intensity work, narrow working environments, constant stress, and mentally challenging conditions. These changes in lifestyle have led to a decrease in both physical activity, and physical work and, thereby, reduced energy requirements, causing an imbalance between energy needs and energy supplies.
Considering the fast emerging markets of nowadays, companies are constantly focusing on how to produce higher qualitative products, with less costs, and in a shorter period of time. Hence, organizations have started to focus increasingly more on product development processes.
Adulthood is generally characterized by maximum work capacity and pursuit of adaptation. Human being accomplishment is fulfilled by full intellectual and physical maturity, and biological factors provide an essential contribution to human being development. R. Mucchielli, in his work, “Caractères et visages”, divides the sub periods of adulthood as follows:
Ten years ago, cities rankings were mainly based on their growth per capita. Today, urban competitiveness revolves around the complex notion of a smart city. As such, one city stands out year after year, securing a top position in almost all city rankings. Tokyo excels due to attributes like livability, transparency, safety, future orientation and agenda, among so many others.
All organizations, from big to small, undergo fundamental changes at some point of their existence. What drives companies to put themselves at risk is the determination to cope better with new demands and challenges of the market environment. The expected outcome is for them to climb higher on the staircase of success. However, too often, the obtained outcome is a period of utter chaos, governed by confusion and financial losses, with little or no gain in return.
