Proximity : how the coming breakthrough in just-in-time transforms business, society, and daily life

"The eponymous concept of Proximity is as follows: products and services are produced and provided ever closer to the moment of demand in time and space. As technological power accelerates, so does the transformative potential of proximity. This applies across industries -- from vertical farming in agriculture, to pharmaceutical production machines built by MIT researchers, to Amazon advertising products of interest to a given individual. As a result, consumers stand to benefit greatly. On the flipside, these technologies can also pose dangers to privacy and cybersecurity. The data-gathering efforts of tech companies like Google, Facebook, and Alibaba, used to advertise products as part of proximity strategies, are cause for concern. This book will examine both sides of the coin and show that the best proximity strategies provide what complexity theorists refer to as robustness and evolvability. A system's robustness reflects its ability to survive and operate effectively through shocks, while evolvability underscores its ability to change with conditions, navigate uncertainty and thrive. Business practitioners will learn to apply this thinking across industries, from manufacturing and agriculture to entertainment, healthcare, and defense."