A unified treatment of the vulnerabilities that exist in real-world
network systems.with tools to identify synergies for mergers and
acquisitions

Fragile Networks: Identifying Vulnerabilities and Synergies in an
Uncertain World presents a comprehensive study of network systems
and the roles these systems play in our everyday lives. This book
successfully conceptualizes, defines, and constructs mathematically
rigorous, computer-based tools for the assessment of network
performance and efficiency, along with robustness and vulnerability
analysis. The result is a thorough exploration that promotes an
understanding of the critical infrastructure of today's network
systems, from congested urban transportation networks and supply
chain networks under disruption to financial networks and
the Internet.

The authors approach the analyses by abstracting not only
topological structures of networks, but also the behavior of
network users, the demand for resources, the resulting flows, and
the associated costs. Following an introduction to the fundamental
methodologies and tools required for network analysis and network
vulnerability, the book is organized into three self-contained
parts:

* Part I.Network Fundamentals, Efficiency Measurement, and
Vulnerability Analysis explores the theoretical and practical
foundations for a new network efficiency measure in order to
assess the importance of network components in various network
systems. Methodologies for distinct decision-making behaviors
are outlined, along with the tools for qualitative analysis,
the algorithms for the computation of solutions, and a thorough
discussion of the unified network efficient measure and network
robustness with the unified measure.
* Part II.Applications and Extensions examines the efficiency
changes and the associated cost increments after network
components are eliminated or partially damaged. A discussion
of the recently established connections between transportation
networks and different critical networks is provided, which
demonstrates how the new network measures and robustness
indices can be applied to different supply chain, financial,
and dynamic networks, including the Internet and electronic
power networks.
* Part III.Mergers and Acquisitions, Network Integration,
and Synergies reveals the connections between transportation
networks and different network systems and quantifies the
synergies associated with the network systems, from total
cost reduction to environmental impact assessment. In the
case of mergers and acquisitions, the focus is on supply chain
networks. The authors outline a system-optimization perspective
for supply chain networks and also formalize coalition formation
using game theory with insights into the merger paradox.

With its numerous network examples and real-world applications,
Fragile Networks: Identifying Vulnerabilities and Synergies in
an Uncertain World is an excellent book for courses in network
science, transportation science, operations management, and
financial networks at the upper-undergraduate and graduate
levels. It is also a valuable reference for researchers and
practitioners in the areas of applied mathematics, computer
science, operations research, management science, finance, and
economics, as well as industrial, systems, and civil engineering.

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