strategic-management

Issues for Review and Discussion
1. Explain why consumption patterns are becoming similar worldwide. What are the strategic
implications of this trend?
2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of beginning export operations in a foreign
country?
3. What are the major differences between U.S. and multinational operations that affect
strategic management?
4. Why is globalization of industries a common factor today?
5. Compare and contrast U.S. versus foreign cultures in terms of doing business.
6. List six reasons that strategic management is more complex in a multinational firm.
7. Do you feel that protectionism is good or bad for the world economy? Why?
8. Why are some industries more “global” than others? Discuss.
9. Wa, guanxi, and inhwa are important management terms in Japan, China, and South Korea,
respectively. What would be analogous terms to describe American management practices?
10. Why do many Europeans find the notion of “team spirit” in a work environment difficult
to grasp?
11. In China, feng shui is important in business, whereas in Japan, nemaswashio is important.
What are analogous American terms and practices?
12. Describe the business culture in Mexico.
13. Describe the business culture in Japan.
14. Compare tax rates in the United States versus other countries. What impact could these
differences have on “keeping jobs at home”?
15. Discuss requirements for doing business in India.
Notes
1. John Miller, “WTO Predicts Global Trade Will Slide
9% This Year,” Wall Street Journal (March 24,
2009): A8.
2. Frederick Gluck, “Global Competition in the 1990s,”
Journal of Business Strategy (Spring 1983): 22–24.
3. David Lynch, “U.S. Complains to WTO on China,” USA
Today (April 10, 2007): B1.
4. Jon Alston, “Wa, Guanxi, and Inhwa: Managerial
Principles in Japan, China and Korea,” Business Horizons
32, no. 2 (March–April 1989): 26.
5. Rose Knotts, “Cross-Cultural Management:
Transformations and Adaptations,” Business Horizons
(January–February 1989): 29–33.
6. Lalita Khosla, “You Say Tomato,” Forbes (May 21,
2001): 36.
7. Stratford Sherman, “How to Beat the Japanese,” Fortune
(April 10, 1989): 145.
Current Readings
Brouthers, Keith D., Lance Eliot Brouthers, and Steve Werner.
“Resource-Based Advantages in an International Context.”
Journal of Management 34, no. 2 (April 2008): 189.
Brown, John Seely, Lang Davison, and John Hagel III. “Shaping
Strategy in a World of Constant Disruption.” Harvard
Business Review (October 2008): 80.
Butter, Den, A. G. Frank, and Kees A. Linse. “How Procurement
Informs Strategy in the Era of Globalization.” MIT Sloan
Management Review 50, no. 1 (Fall 2008): 76.
CHAPTER 11 • GLOBAL/INTERNATIONAL ISSUES 341
8. Marcus Walker, “Europe Competes for Investment with
Lower Corporate Tax Rates,” Wall Street Journal (April 17,
2007): A12.
9. Eric Bellman and P. R. Venkat, “India’s Growth Raises
Fears Rates May Rise,” Wall Street Journal (February 8,
2007): A6; Dionne Searcey, “Verizon Targets Business in
India,” Wall Street Journal (February 6, 2007): A7; Peter
Wonacott, “India Faces Dark Side of Its Boom,” Wall
Street Journal (February 27, 2007): A10; Amy Chozick,
“Nissan Enters Venture to Build Indian Plant,” Wall Street
Journal (February 27, 2007): A4; Cassell Bryan and Eric
Bellman, “Vodafone, Reliance Gear Up for Battle in
India,” Wall Street Journal (December 22, 2006): B4; Peter
Wonacott and Eric Bellman, “Foreign Firms Find Rough
Passage to India,” Wall Street Journal (February 1, 2007):
A6; Binny Sabharwal, “Hilton Expands in India as Market
Demand Soars,” Wall Street Journal (May 10, 2007): D6.
Desia, Mihir, A. “The Finance Function in a Global Corporation.”
Harvard Business Review (July–August 2008): 108.
Feinberg, Susan, and Anil Gupta. “MNC Subsidiaries and
County Risk: Internalization as a Safeguard Against Weak
External Institutions.” Academy of Management Journal
(April 2009): 381–399.
Hitt, Michael A., and Xiaoming He. “Firm Strategies in a
Changing Global Competitive Landscape.” Business
Horizons 51, no. 5 (September–October 2008): 363.