The practice of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the Middle East is explored in this volume, through a unique compilation of data and perspectives from authors living and working in the region. The authors demonstrate how the long-entrenched traditions of philanthropy and generosity in Arab culture have been reinvigorated in recent years and are starting to cross-fertilize with new and more institutionalized forms of giving, advocated through advances pertaining to CSR. Using a variety of cases, this book ponders the multiple facets of CSR in the region, including philanthropy, strategic giving, social entrepreneurship, internal CSR and responsible human resource management practices, effective CSR integration in SMEs, corporate environmental responsibility and its evolution, CSR reporting and lingering challenges in this respect. It also considers the relevance and applicability of CSR to a wider spectrum of societal actors and institutions. The contributions nicely capture and reiterate commitment to CSR in the Middle East.

Since the collapse of the former Soviet Union, tremendous changes have taken place in the Russian Federation's trade relationship with other countries--especially with former allies. Expansion or Exodus examines how and why Russian corporations invest outside the country and why most of that money remains abroad as the growth and performance of these companies increases at an accelerated rate. As the Federation moves closer to joining the World Trade Organization, this timely book provides a global view of Russia's outward expansion, exploring the operations of Russian firms in old, new, and forthcoming European Union member states.

The Emergence and Impact of MNC Centres of Excellence explores an important new element in the development of the multinational corporation. Whilst previously the parent company was seen as the centre, and the foreign subsidiaries as the periphery, today, it is recognized that different subsidiaries have different roles, and are linked to each other in a complicated pattern. One crucial aspect of this is that some subsidiaries become 'centres of excellence' (COE) controlling resources on which other parts of the corporation depend for their operations. This book investigates the existence of COEs in different countries, examining why they emerge and analysing their impact on corporate strategy.

In order to work effectively with Russian organizations, it is essential for potential Western partners and shareholders to fully understand their leadership style, organizational practices and business expectations. Based on extensive interviews with the pioneers of Russian business and the authors' own experiences, this perceptive new book attempts to decipher the enigma of Russia's new generation of business leaders. The authors present six in-depth case studies focusing on companies of vastly differing sizes, ranging from a newly-privatized operation, and the creation and organization of an oligarch's empire, to several entrepreneurial start-ups in different service industries. The case studies document the changes and developments that have occurred in Russia since the privatization era of the 1990s, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the emerging business leadership orientations. Grounded in Russian culture and history, the book takes a balanced view of the rapid development and transformation of the country's business leadership over the past ten years. The authors also offer perceptive conclusions and practical advice that will not only contribute to the success of Western businesses operating in Russia and other former communist countries in Eastern Europe but also help business people in Eastern Europe create high performance organizations. As we move towards a globalized economy, the need to recognise executive behaviour in Russia is becoming increasingly important. This book will provide a great source of information for academics and researchers of entrepreneurship, leadership studies and international business. Although the focus is on Russian entrepreneurs, the lessons in the book are equally as relevant for other cultures and leadership styles.

Original essays identify the channels through which inward investment can affect host economies and shape the size and structure of industrialized economies over the last decade. Leading experts in international investment and the behavior of national and multinational firms combine innovative methodologies and firm-level data to evaluate the impact of inward investment on such issues as productivity, technology, and innovation. They compare UK developments to those experienced by French, Italian, German and US economies.

To effectively deliver sustainable management in practice for Africa, we need responsible leadership. We need to deepen our understanding of sustainability in the unique socio-political and economic context of the continent. The roles of various actors across public, private and non-profit sectors as enablers of sustainable development need to be explored to understand the social, economic and environmental (SEE) trends in Africa and its emerging and developing economies, as well as to chart the way forward for the continent. This third volume focuses on education as a tool to build a sustainable Africa. It explores the use of pedagogical approaches, learning resources, and policy implementation to develop African leaders and managers with a sustainability mindset that feeds into leadership decision-making, systemic change management, and efficient and sustainable transfers of knowledge and practice. The case stories from various academic institutions present practicable and innovative ideas for educating those who will lead sustainable development for Africa's future. The African scope of the book is hinged on collaboration from authors across Africa and the inclusion of case stories from emerging economies in the five African subregions (East, West, North, Central and Southern Africa) within the chapters. The core message is that, to achieve effective and sustainable management and development for Africa, the practice of responsible leadership is critical.

"Ever since Simon Anholt coined the phrase "nation branding" in 1996, there has been more and more interest in the idea that countries, cities and regions can build and manage their brand images. But until now, there has been little guidance and little agreement on how the techniques of commercial brand management can really be applied to places. For the first time, in this authoritative new book, Anholt shares his insights and experience in the field, and shows in detail what countries, cities and regions can do to build and sustain their competitive identity."--Jacket.

Contemporary scholars debate the factors driving despotic labour conditions across the world economy. Some emphasize the dominance of global market imperatives and others highlight the market's reliance upon extra-economic coercion and state violence. At the Margins of the Global Market engages in this debate through a comparative and world-historical analysis of the labour regimes of three global commodity-producing subregions of rural Colombia: the coffee region of Viejo Caldas, the banana region of Uraba, and the coca/cocaine region of the Caguan. By drawing upon insights from labour regimes, global commodity chains, and world historical sociology, this book offers a novel understanding of the broad range of factors - local, national, global, and interregional - that shape labour conditions on the ground in Colombia. In doing so, it offers a critical new framework for analysing labour and development dynamics that exist at the margins of the global market.

In the twenty-first century, as traditional divides are redefined, bargaining over corporate responsibilities has increasingly centred around corporate reputation and the question of whether businesses are part of society's problems or part of their solution. This ground-breaking book treats issues, strategies and societal interaction in a homogenous manner and analyzes the nature of the international bargaining society as it has matured. Discussing and contextualizing contemporary debates on international corporate social responsibility, globalization and the impact of reputation, this key text integrates them into a new and coherent framework: Societal Interface Management. Using this unique framework, it explores the interfaces between international corporations, governments and civil society representatives. Analytic and revealing, the text applies the framework to in-depth studies of Nike, Shell, Triumph International, GlaxoSmithKline and ExxonMobil. It investigates the conflicts surrounding Burma, blood diamonds, child labour, oil spills, food safety, patents on HIV/AIDS medication and labour rights that have resulted in a large number of disciplining activities. An accompanying website (www.ib-sm.org) contains additional case studies, as well as issue dossiers on the challenges confronting international firms. Drawing on a wealth of experience both in research and teaching, the authors have developed a text that integrates reputation, responsibility, ethics and accountability. Clearly constructed, it is a must-have book for all those studying or teaching business ethics, political economics, economic geography, public relations, and corporate social responsibility.

Global Automobile Demand is a two-volume work analysing the impact of the Great Recession and the structural factors which shape automobile demand in developed and emerging countries. The second volume examines the automobile demand in the BRICS and other emerging countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, Turkey, Mexico, Thailand and Malaysia.

Learn the how, when, and why of entering Asian markets Retailers entering Asia are faced with not only a consumer and retail culture very different from their own, but with a variety of cultures that vary greatly among countries within the continent. International Retailing Plans and Strategies in Asia examines the strategies of Western retailers entering into Asian markets and provides specific case examples showing why some companies have failed in Asiaas well as factors that helped others succeed. Important concepts for international retailers exploring Asian markets are clearly explained, and the material is particularly relevant to current WTO and UNCTAD debates about the globalization of retail markets. Helpful tables, charts, and illustrations make complex information easy to access and understand. International Retailing Plans and Strategies in Asia examines: how foreign investment influences domestic retail systems how strategies for entering European markets can be adapted and applied to various Asian markets the important practice of incorporating local cultural values into trading relationships in Asian markets the investment of Japanese retailers in China and the trend toward internationalization in Asia by Asian retailers the evolution of foreign investment in Koreawith a look at foreign firms' specific investment strategies issues of local competition and the need for foreign firms to adapt to local consumer cultures, particularly as analyzed in case studies of Metro Cash and Carry, Toys R Us, and Carrefour what understanding foreign markets means in terms of adaptation and success for retailers and wholesalers The material in these pages will help to inform business decisions about how to (and how not to) enter foreign markets and whether or not it is proper for governments to intervene. The chapters in this book, originally presented as papers at a workshop held at Chung-Ang University in Seoul in November 2003, address issues of diversity in international retailing and distribution in Asia. International Retailing Plans and Strategies in Asia is designed to be essential reading for international marketing students, retail researchers, business managers, and policymakers, and to be a useful addition to university business school library collections.

Car manufacturing epitomizes modern industry, yet the overall perspective has been lost in speculation and self-promotion. Based on six years of research, this book is the first in years to reassess the industry. The result is a paradigm that quantifies the fundamental economies of scale and firm organizational structure.

The goals of this book are to provide a comprehensive review of identity policies as they are being implemented in various countries around the world, to consider the key arenas where identity policies are developed and to provide intellectual coherence for making sense of these various activities.

The rapid social and economic changes in China have brought about unprecedented challenges and opportunities to international stakeholders. This book provides valuable information about the key sectors of China's health care system after its entrance into WTO, including the pharmaceutical industry, health insurance services, and hospitals and related health service provision in terms of policies, legal framework and market potential. It offers a critical analysis from a multi-disciplinary perspective of the impact of WTO and globalization on China's health care system.

The Internet is lowering barriers to information exchange and export to an unprecedented degree. This book is the first systematic investigation of how e-commerce impacts export marketing and performance in terms of product design, global promotion, and distribution. Not only does the work advance marketing theory, it also provides a rich dataset of results from a comprehensive survey of exporters. Marketing professors and exporters will find this book to be a valuable addition to their library. "This study presents a first attempt to examine the link between the business environment, export marketing strategy, e-commerce activities and export performance in an export venture market . it is highly recommended for marketing scholars and practitioners." - Dr. Gary Gregory, Associate Director of Centre for Applied Marketing and Senior Lecturer of Marketing, University of New South Wales

International Retail Marketing combines a broad thematic overview of the key issues concerning international retail marketing with a series of incisive cases and examples of industry practice from markedly different sectors as fashion, food and healthcare. The authors provide an accessible and wide-ranging outline of the fundamentals of the subject, such as trends in retail marketing, strategy and logistics, and buying and merchandise management within an international perspective. Contributions from Europe, North America and Asia show the dynamics affecting international retailing through a variety of case. Key discussion points are highlighted throughout the text, giving a hands-on focus.

Contents:
1. Introduction to International Marketing 2. Framework for International Marketing 3. European Marketing 4. International Marketing Information Systems Development 5. International Product Development 6. Pricing in the International Environment 7. International Promotion 8. International Channels of Distribution 9. International Marketing Planning and Implementation 10. Conclusion

New co-author (Giles Chance) has extensive practical experience of doing business in China Updated to take account of China's status as a global economic power and changes in consumer behaviour New chapter on e-commerce in China Updated to include information on new government policy on trade partnerships, commercial law and anti-corruption drives New and updated case studies highlight both similaririties and differences between Chinese and western business culture Simple and direct writing styles appeals to both students and managers going to China for the first time

Tourism Marketing for Developing Countries examines media strategies used by destinations in Asia, the Middle East and Africa to battle stereotypes, negative images and crises in order to attract tourists .

This book draws together three overlapping relationships and knowledge domains. These are the cultural entrepreneurship/creative industries, the public and/or private philanthropic contributions that have funded artistic production and the preservation and presentation of place brands as a mechanism to revitalize local economies and communities.

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is one avenue for offering assistance to developing countries in their efforts to grow. Small countries typically have limited resources to direct toward investment attraction programs, so the ability to segment the market (of Multinational Corporations looking to invest) is a crucial skill. This book develops and employs an investment preference analysis model to give evidence that homogenous groups of investors can be identified. Once these groups are identified, their needs - specific preference requirements for laws, regulations, incentives, and general conditions - can be more efficiently addressed.

Daniel Cahoy and Lynda Oswald have brought together some of the country's most prominent patent scholars outside the legal discipline. From the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act to recent court cases from the Supreme Court and the Federal Circuit, this timely, informative and well-edited volume examines the latest changes in US patent law and their impact on business strategy. The book is a must-read for anybody who wants to learn more deeply about the ever-increasing role of patents in the business environment.'> - Peter K. Yu, Drake University Law School, USWithin the complex global economy, patents function as indispensable tools for fostering and protecting innovation. This fascinating volume offers a comprehensive perspective on the US patent system, detailing its many uses and outlining several critical legislative, administrative and judicial reforms that impact business strategy. The expert contributors to this book provide an overview of how the US patent system functions today and describe how recent changes affect firms and individual inventors. Topics discussed include the drivers of intellectual property policy; recent revisions to the patent application process in terms of the new first-to-file regime, inequitable conduct, and allowable subject matter; and changes to patent enforcement and infringement related to the Federal Circuit's special role and post-grant review. Contributors address recent legislation such as the 2011 America Invents Act, which enacted some of the most significant patent reforms in decades. This examination of the US patent system highlights some of the most important issues for business. It will serve as an important tool for both policymakers and business leaders, and will also interest students and professors of business and management studies, innovation studies and business law. Contributors: C. Aceves, T.L. Anenson, D.L. Baumer, R.C. Bird, D.R. Cahoy, W.M. Chumney, J. Gehman, D.M. Gitter, Z. Lei, G. Mark, S.J. Marsnik, D. Orozco, L.J. Oswald, R.B. Sawyers, R.E. Thomas

Learn more about the transitional economies of Central and Eastern Europe! This book examines the economic dynamics of Central and Eastern European post-Communist countries. It illuminates the paths these countries are taking toward restructuring their markets, increasing international trade, and bettering their connections with the European Union and other countries. Beginning with a comparative analysis of the three P-governmentsPigouvian, Partizan, and Paternalisticand continuing with a discussion of the interrelated political and economic difficulties of transition, author Bruno Sergi proposes a surprising solution. Inspired by the Bruxelles consensus, he proposes that the European Commission should become a fourth P-government, replacing the role formerly played by the Washington consensus in the restructuring of post-Communist economies. Economic Dynamics in Transitional Economies also explores: regional comparative macroeconomics the aftereffects of the Washington Consensus integration of Eastern and Western European economies interrelations between national and regional monetary activity political and economic policy reform involvement of European Union member countries We are living in historic times, and Economic Dynamics in Transitional Economies will be a welcome guide to the rough roads ahead. This thorough assessment of current political and economic realities will stimulate debate about new European paradigms, the role of the European Union, and the difficulties of post-Communist transition. These issues promise to be vital to the region's success in the new century.