Even casual observers will be familiar with the Cherry Blossom or Sakura trees of Japan. When in full bloom the sight is spectacular. This amazing visual is preceded by several weeks of behind the scenes development as the buds grow. Sadly, from the time of full bloom until the blossoms have scattered only takes a week or less. In the longer cycle of nations and business, the authors unfortunately see a similar transitory pattern for Japanese multinational corporations (MNCs). Japanese companies seemed to be in full bloom in the mid-90s but now show serious signs of losing their standing in the landscape of global players. The authors explain how and why this is happening, but perhaps more importantly, examine what can be done to improve the situation in the future.

A major new edition of the classic work that revolutionised the way business is conducted across cultures and around the globe. It provides leaders and managers with practical strategies to embrace differences and successfully work across diverse business cultures. Capturing the rising influence and the seismic changes throughout many regions of the world, cross-cultural expert and international businessman Richard Lewis has significantly broadened the scope of his seminal work on global business and communication. Thoroughly updated to include the latest political events and cultural changes, as well as covering nine new countries to complete Europe, broadening the scope of the book. Building on his LMR model, Lewis gives leaders and managers practical strategies to embrace differences and work successfully across increasingly diverse business cultures.

Contents:
Part I: Where Do We Stand?
1. Multinational Enterprises and the End of the Global Strategy
2. Location Determinants of Multinational Firms: the Effects of Firms' Strategic Choices of the WTO Trade-Investment Regime
3. The International Competitiveness of the UK: is it Eroding or Rather Chaging Form?
Part II: Globalization and Regional Integration
4. Regional Economic Integration between the EU and Central and Eastern Europe: the Impact Upon FDI and Trade
5. The Locations of US Multinational Firms in the European Community: Determinants of US Foreign Direct Investment into the EC, 1951-1990
6. The Impact of European Integration on FDR: The UK Food Industry in the 1990s
7. The Governance Structure of Japanese Subsidiaries in Western Europe and Evidence
Part III: Location Strategies
8. Hierarchical Location Choice and Multinational Firms' Strategy, a Nested Logit Model Applied to Japanese Investment in Europe
9. The Geographic Concentration of FDI in Asia
10. Relocation and Public Aid: a First Report
11. Clusters, Innovation and Growth: a Comparative Study of European Countries

How has cultural diversity affected the business climate of the growing European Union? What are European institutions and enterprises doing to manage it? In 'EuroDiversity, ' Dr. Simons gathers issue-centered perspectives on how Europe's entwined past, present, and future have made it the most strikingly diverse part of the world and what this means for doing business there. 'EuroDiversity' provides:
* Insights into Europe's cultural challenges of globalization, diversity dilemmas, and opportunities
* Case studies, best practices, and resources for finding the common ground and developing the competence needed to succeed

'EuroDiversity' addresses how cultural diversity affects the business climate of the growing European Union and describes what European institutions and successful organizations are doing to manage it. The book's multinational team of authors gives us issue-centered perspectives on how Europe's entwined past, present and future have made it the most strikingly diverse part of the world and what this means for doing business there. They address Europe's cultural challenges of globalization and provide abundant insights into diversity dilemmas and opportunities. They point to the best practices and resources that will assist both European enterprises and those actively present in or trading with Europe to find the cultural common ground and competence they need to succeed.
Contributors: Arjen Bos, Marie-Therese Claes, Ph.D., Elena A. A. Garcea, Ph.D., Nigel Holden, Ph.D., Michael Stuber
Diversity in Europe is not the same as diversity in North America. Here is a book that not only makes clear why imported diversity models often fail in Europe, but alsoidentifies true European diversity issues and what to do about them.This is a book about the world's most culturally diverse area that explores how businesses must manage differences here to be successful in the global marketplace.The book's multinational team of authors show us concrete cases of big corporations handling diversity successfully.

This text gathers together 13 articles that deal with the internationalization strategies of firms, effects of foreign investment on host countries, and host country policies vis-a-vis foreign multinationals. It illustrates how the behaviour of multinational firms and their effects on the host country are likely to differ between countries in a systematic manner, depending on the host country's economic policies and market conditions and provides an approach on how to look at multinational firms.

This book provides an in-depth analysis of the management and investment strategies of Japanese multinational companies, examining foreign investment from a Japanese perspective by studying international business practices and the behaviour of multinational companies in the global environment. Beginning with an overview of recent trends in international capital flows and the role of international mergers and acquisitions, it describes the global environment for Japanese multinational companies as it affects Japanese foreign direct investment, as well as the impact of Japanese foreign investment in the host countries. The domestic cultural environment of Japanese companies is investigated, providing a background to the understanding of the expansion of Japanese business activities throughout the world. Foreign investments in various parts of the world are examined in detail, as are their impact on the domestic economy of Japan. A comprehensive analysis of the strategic planning process in Japanese multinational companies follows, and the book concludes with an assessment of the management and leadership styles of Japanese multinational companies and how they differ from Western leadership styles. This book is a valuable source of information about recent developments in the international economy in which Japan is playing a prominent role.

Multinational enterprises have played a crucial role in post-war international economic integration. They have promoted intra-firm trade, technology transfer and internal movements of capital and human resources. This book provides wide-ranging evidence on their role in globalizing the service sector - especially financial services - in establishing international networks of research and development and in developing trade and investment linkages in Asia. Particular attention is given to the participation of multinationals in management contracts and joint ventures and the significance of this for host country industrial policy. This book is designed to be of interest to students of business, management and finance, and economics.

Staying at the pinnacle of the advancing business development of transition economies and the impact of changing business conditions is a challenging task for all firms wanting to do business in them. This book provides insight into the way in which businesses function with a comprehensive overview of the major aspects involved.

Foreign-owned firms (FoFs) can have significant implications in terms of employment, income and technology for the national economies involved. This book compares the efficiency of domestic and FoFs, and also looks at the performance of FoFs in several different countries. Contributors take a broad variety of research approaches with a focus on the use of firm-specific data from France, Germany, Austria, and Sweden. They conclude that foreign ownership matters but the real difference is not between FoFs and national firms but between multinational and domestic firms.

This volume is a product of the Interstratos project which brought together research teams from across Europe to study the strategic behaviour of small and medium-sized industrial firms, the determinants of their behaviour, and the impact on performance. The book uses information from annual surveys of companies in Europe during the period spanning the formation of a single European market. It addresses issues affecting small businesses such as marketing, entrepreneurship, export strategies and the single market, on an international basis. The book also contains detailed case studies of individual countries including The Netherlands, Finland, Switzerland and the UK.

This book uses both political and democratic studies perspectives as well as economic, philosophical and managerial to provide a practical insight into the issues like the extensive economic power of large enterprises and changing balance of power between public and private sector, regulation and the governance of large private entities.

This collection of essays addresses questions of the theory of the firm and international business. The first section deals with theoretical issues underpinning multinational enterprise. These are the issues of information, re-engineering and change management and international trade. The second section concentrates on the inter-firm relationships of multinationals, assessing the interplay of co-operation and adversarial behaviour. The third section deals with applications of the principles presented in the first two sections. The applications concern the defence equipment industry the world automobile industry and corporate governance under European Union Regulations.

This book provides a new source of data and analysis on the role of multinational companies in U.S. international trade over the past two decades. Developed from benchmark surveys of foreign direct investment conducted by the U.S. Government, it contains 96 tables and companion analyses covering affiliate trade, intrafirm trade, bilateral trade, ultimate beneficial owners, commodity (SITC) trade, and affiliate industry groups. The book is intended for researchers and analysts in international business, international trade, and international finance.

This book provides a new source of data and analysis on the role of multinational companies in U.S. international trade over the past two decades. Developed from benchmark surveys of foreign direct investment conducted by the U.S. Government, it contains 96 tables showing MNC-related trade for 1975, 1982, and 1989. Tables and analysis cover affiliate related trade, intrafirm related trade, bilateral trade with major trading partners, the role of ultimate beneficial owners, commodity (SITC) trade, and trade by affiliate industry groups. The data and analyses in the book will be equally useful to academic researchers and policy analysts in the fields of international business, international trade, and international finance.

From something as simple as finding a distributor to as complex as founding an overseas operation. Here's a 'meat and potatoes' guide to entering and excelling in the international business arena. Combining theory, practice, and insider savvy, 'Business Abroad' shows you how to successfully take your company global and expand and improve your current global activities.
You'll find a straightforward plan of action for starting and conducting overseas business. This clear, succinct road map helps you effectively conduct key international business transactions. Mistakes in any of these areas could cost you tens of thousands of dollars, so there's specific help with:
* Exporting/importing * Distribution * Joint ventures * Licensing * Franchising * Technology transfer * and more...
Going international is not an easy decision, but this valuable guidebook makes it a simpler and more profitable one.

This research volume includes a synthesis of recent advances in the theory of the multinational enterprise, with a focus on internalization and international diversification issues. It proposes important extensions of multinational enterprise theory, especially as regards the importance of geography to multinational strategy, and the linkages between internalization and international diversification. The book also introduces the study of various new topics in international business research, namely regional (as opposed to global) strategy analysis, global alliances that lead to alliance specific advantages, and environmental aspects of international strategy.

The ten chapters that provide this state of the art overview of international business theory and strategy were written by some of the world's best known international business scholars, including John Cantwell, John Dunning, Lorraine Eden, Jean Francois-Hennart, Ans Kolk, Alan M. Rugman, Alain Verbeke and Bernard Wolf.

The research volume focuses especially on the important contributions of Alan M. Rugman, President of the Academy of International Business, and one of the founders of the international business field.

The volume's editor is Professor Alain Verbeke, McCaig Chair in Management at the Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary (Canada) and also associated with Templeton College, University of Oxford (UK), and the Solvay Business School, Free University of Brussels (Belgium).

This book shifts the debate on knowledge transfers within multinational corporations (MNCs) back to its core: How can we increase the effectiveness of cross-border transfers of knowledge? Several perspectives on international knowledge flows, from control issues to cultural barriers, are integrated into a comprehensive framework. Based on a sample of leading MNCs, empirical results show which managerial mechanisms have to be implemented to increase the benefit from knowledge transfers in headquarters and subsidiaries.

This study chronicles the unique relationship between the Federal government and the American multinational corporation, integrating it into the mainstream of American political history. It is a record of continuous adjustment on the part of both parties as each side navigated the unchartered waters of this unconventional partnership. What makes it so relevant historically is that while the Federal government was adjusting to its postwar global responsibilities, corporate America in its multinational dimension was taking on new roles which redefined the international political economy. It involved international oil companies impacting our relations with the volatile Middle East, an economic Watergate of global dimensions, and an unresolved debate on public versus private responsibilities toward the Third World and its multiple economic and social problems. Objectively presented, " America and the Multinational Corporation" provides the historical context for tracking the various presidential perspectives from Truman to Bush as well as the various congressional initiatives to redefine business-government relations in terms of corporate America's most aggressive offspring--the multinational.

Professor Reardon moves beyond the initial assessments of the multinational corporation vis-a-vis the Federal government, refusing to view it as a threat to the continued survival of the nation-state or as a force that the Federal government must tame at all cost. Rather, the partnership is a complex and continuously evolving relationship that may well be acquiring a new configuration as the world's economy becomes global rather than international. His study will be of interest to all students of contemporary American history as well as scholars in international political economy.

Two recent developments from globalization have fundamentally altered the nature of work organizations: (1) the workforce has become increasingly diverse in national and cultural origins, and (2) work assignments are increasingly performed by teams consisting of members located in different countries. Together, these changes have resulted in employees increasingly finding themselves working in culturally diverse, geographical dispersed, multinational teams. Yet, relatively little scholarship has been done to study the dynamics of such teams and how they can be better managed. The current volume presents cutting-edge theorizing and research from a multidisciplinary (e.g., psychology-,
communications/technology-, organizational behavior-, and strategy-oriented) group of scholars who have been active in studying multinational teams in a global context.

This book is divided into three parts. The first includes four chapters focusing on culture and other intra-group factors that affect the effective functioning of multinational teams. The second includes five chapters that examine the effect of technology and other external influences on team processes and outcomes. The third part includes four chapters dealing with leadership and management issues. The two final chapters were written by authors who have been actively involved as organizers of multi-country academic research teams whose life spans many years and continues today. Cumulatively, this book??'s chapters provide management scholars a diversity of theoretical and methodological perspectives, at many levels of analysis, and include insights borne from the authors??? observation-based and/or living-based experience withthe culturally-challenging issues they discuss. Additionally, these chapters also provide practicing managers useful ideas on both intra- and external-group dynamics that help increase their understanding about the effective functioning of multinational teams. As a result, this book offers both breadth and depth on the topic of managing multinational teams in a global context that promise to make its contents of interest to many audiences.

The rise of multinational corporations (MNCs) from emerging markets has been a major development during the last decade. An important feature of emerging market MNCs is their close relationship with home states. The book investigates this special kind of relationship and explores how it affects the cross-border activities of these corporations.

This study provides a timely and useful benchmark for analysis of the effects of the recently negotiated North American Free Trade Agreement on investment flows. It also presents a unified history of foreign investment in Canada, Mexico, and the United States over the twentieth century, stressing interactions among these countries and their changing policies towards inward and outward investment. Twomey analyzes economic theories of foreign investment from the perspectives of neoclassical economics and political science and places them in the context of the ongoing debate over neo-protectionist policies and the role of the United States in the global economy.

This book is a timely study in light of the resurgence of resource nationalism that is currently occurring in several resource-rich, developing countries. It moves away from the traditional explanations for the disappointing economic performance of resource-rich, developing countries, notably those advanced by key researchers.

In their foreign markets, MNCs interact not only with customers and suppliers but also with governments and bureaucrats. The book is an outcome of several years of research on MNCs market activities in developing and industrialized countries. Different from the earlier studies this book addresses how interactions not only with business partners, but also with the vast variety of governmental and legislative organizations, affect local firms and MNCs??? businesses. Based on the business network theory, the book develops a new model for the exchange relationship between local customers and MNCs and investigates the effect of different political organizations and other business firms. It examines relationship using several dimensions, business, social and political, through multiple cases from a developing country (DC) and industrialized countries. The comparison provides deepened knowledge on strength and longevity of business relationship in these two different business worlds. The outcomes reveal new insights with the claim for general appliance for DCs. The book supports the management of MNCs in their understanding of local firms??? behavior in such markets and to retain appropriate measure in their globalization efforts. The book also enables governments in DCs to realize consequences of their political actions for both local firms and MNCs and thereby industrialization of the country.

Despite a shared interest in the analysis of complex organizations operating in complex environments, macro-organization theory and research on the multinational corporation have developed quite independently of each other. This book, the product of a collaborative endeavour by scholars from both fields, represents the first systematic effort to build a broad bridge between these two areas of research. 'An excellent collection of essays which provides both the general and specialist reader with a fascinating insight into the latest advances in organisational theory.' John H. Dunning, Universities at Reading and Rutgers.

Innovation Spaces in Asia provides insight into how and why Asia is poised to impact global innovation. Asia is undergoing rapid developments in markets, sources of technology and user preferences. This book provides an empirical understanding and initial conceptualization of these dynamic processes, including the role of multinational enterprises, entrepreneurship and public policy.The accomplished contributors explore case studies of entrepreneurs and large companies in Asia in order to discuss the ways in which customers, institutions and firms, both domestic and foreign, are interacting to affect global processes of innovation and production. Innovation spaces are analyzed within Asian countries and firms, from Asia to the world, and from the world to Asian countries. Students and researchers pursuing innovation, international business and entrepreneurship will find this to be a useful read. This book will also be of interest to innovation managers and public policy practitioners looking for a thorough guide on the topic. Contributors: S. Bagchi-Sen, E. Bourelos, X. Chen, G. Cheng, E. Deiaco, P. Fan, E. Gifford, S.J. Haakonsson, M. Holgersson, C. Jeding, J. Jin, P. Kedron, K. Lagerstroem, A.H. Lassen, R. Lema, X. Liu, M. McKelvey, T.A. Meraxa, T. Schunder, R. Schweizer, D. Slepniov, Y. Wang, O. Zaring, Z. Zhang

This volume is concerned with financial reporting issues resulting from the growth and spread of multinational corporations.The book consists of up-to-date readings from a broad range of international journals which look at, and evaluate, the financial accounting techniques adopted in different parts of the world for dealing with issues such as segment reporting, disclosure standards, financial reporting and stock markets. The final part deals with the reporting practices of individual companies over time. This insightful volume will be of value to researchers and practitioners alike.