E-Book of the Week: Management Across Cultures

Steers, Richard M., Sanchez-Runde, Carlos J., Nardon, Luciara. Management Across Cultures: Challenges and Strategies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010.

According to the authors, in a survey among US college students, only 7 percent could identify the national origins of many of their favorite brands, including Adidas, Samsung, Nokia, Lego, and Ericsson. In particular, quality ratings of Nokia cell phones soared when students believed (incorrectly) that they were made in Japan. This book addresses how management works in different parts of the world and, equally important, why these differences occur. With chapters such as "Communication Across Cultures," "Culture, Work and Motivation," "Inside the Managerial Mind," "Developing Global Management Skills," and "Leadership and Global Teams," this work digs deeper into the underlying reasons for global differences, and this information can help managers be more effective in their work or students become more familiar with global issues in the field of management. Two appendices, the first on models of national cultures and the second on OECD guidelines for global managers, offer more insight into expanding communication literacy amongst cultures.

Previewed by Joanne Helouvry, Head of Research and Instruction. Click here to read this book.