Book Description

Who are the Japanese? This question has tantalized and bewildered the West ever since Japan opened its borders to the world in the last century. Are the Japanese really the guileless, polite, and hard-working people that they appear to be? Or do appearances mask a calculating, secretive interior? Can we ever understand their ways of thinking? Robert March--psychologist, management consultant, and long-term professor at a major Tokyo university--spent nearly twenty years living in Japan and, as the ultimate insider, offers fresh insights into these and other questions.

Deploying a wealth of sources, March delves behind the social mask that the Japanese present to the outside world to reveal their "inner culture." He highlights their modes of thinking and communication, the originality of their culture, the central role of social status, their ways of making friends and influencing others, and their addiction to perfection.

March also addresses two topics of prime significance to all students of modern Japan. He reflects on the "goodness" of the Japanese people and the ethical quality of their society and business practices. And in the final chapter, he discusses the social and political significance of Aum Shinrikyo, the bizarre cult responsible for the indiscriminate gas attacks that terrorized Tokyo in 1995.

Topical, up-to-date, and discerning, Reading the Japanese Mind is essential material for anyone seeking an understanding of Japan today. It transcends the stereotypes and outdated cliche that afflict so many outside views of Japan, and is perhaps the most noteworthy depiction of the Japanese people, their culture, and their psyche since The Chrysanthemum and the Sword. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Computing Japan Magazine Book Review (Nov 98)
With a title that will scare away the politically correct, this book attempts to explain the Japanese id. With chapters like "Yes May Mean No," "Paddling Ducks and Tranquil Ducks," and "The Japanese Tao of Status," this book attempts to tie all the pieces of the Japanese psyche together. March previously taught international business at Aoyama Gakuin University, and wrote several other books on his favorite subject, including 'The Japanese Negotiator.'

A good survey of the Japanese sensibility
Popular media, stereotypes, etc. have made great strides in misinforming the West about Japan. Japan is much more complex than sushi, martial arts, and electronics; and the people are more realistic than kamikaze businessmen and geisha girls. The Japanese have a very highly evolved social structure, and anyone who is interested in dealing with or studying Japan should read books like this one. Dr. March explains the Japanese pysche in a way that Westerners can understand. He doesn't dramatize their thinking as a sort of sage wisdom, nor does he go out of his way to discredit the Japanese.

There are a few instances, however, in which March places too much emphasis on his personal experiences when drawing conclusions about the Japanese. It cannot be stressed enough that although Japan is a group-oriented society, the people are still individuals. One or two experiences certainly cannot be taken as a definition of the culture.

One must also understand that Japan is changing rapidly. Even the concept of being Japanese is not the same as it was a few decades ago. Conservative people will always be around, but they do not necessarily represent today's Japan.

All in all though, Reading the Japanese Mind is a good guide to the Japanese mindset. ... Read more

Book Description

Packed with sensible advice and guidance, telling you everything you need to know to make your work life more rewarding. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Comprehensive Guide to Etiquette in the Workplace
Hilka Klinkenberg has written a complete guide for success in the workplace. For all who understand that manners matter in business relationships, this book is a must. Ms. Klinkenberg covers the most important topics that relate to business etiquette from understanding corporate culture to interacting with people with disabilities. This book should be on every business person's desk if they want to be successful in today's corporate environment.

Concise, Valuable, Information for everyone.
This book was easy to read and very interesting. Ms. Klinkenberg shared valuable information for all of us who aspire to grow and increase our worth in the new millennium. ... Read more

Book Description

It may not surprise you to learn that seventy percent of cross-border joint ventures fail within the first three years. But did you know that the reason most commonly cited by transnational executives for this phenomenal failure rate isnt geopolitics, global competition, or economic volatility, but culture clash? As one frustrated transnational manager quipped, "How are you supposed to get all your ducks in a row when half of them think theyre turtles?"

Why, despite the vast sums spent each year on cross-cultural executive training, do so many well-laid business plans continue to fall apart under the strain of cultural differences? Author Sheida Hodge finds the answer in the training itself, which typically focuses on "the ten percent of the iceberg above the surface—how to bow or shake hands, whether to cross your legs, what gestures to use." Much more dangerous is "the ninety percent of the iceberg that is under water"—the deep-seated cultural values on which unsuspecting executives routinely founder.

In this book, as in her world-renowned training courses and seminars, Hodge departs from the common practice of drilling readers in the dos and donts of doing business in various cultures. She concentrates instead on helping you build cross-cultural competence by acquainting you with the basic values, beliefs, and biases that inform the business styles in most Asian, Latin American, and European cultures. Rather than simply offering tips on how to eat and what colors to wear—which do appear, in abundance, throughout the book—she coaches you in a proven set of strategies and skills that will enable you to successfully navigate the people dimension of doing business virtually anywhere in the world.

For Hodge, learning to see past ones own cultural hobbyhorses—while avoiding getting trampled by everyone elses—is the first big step toward succeeding in global business. Thus, most of her discussions of specific cultural differences start by exploring values and business practices that seem "natural" to North Americans, and go on to show how they differ from values and practices in other cultures. To better illustrate her points, she has included anecdotes throughout told by managers from North America and around the world that provide vivid, sometimes hilarious, object lessons in how minor cultural frictions and misunderstandings can mushroom into major business disasters.

A complete guide to building solid cross-border business relationships, Global Smarts is must reading for all managers and entrepreneurs in todays global business world.

Proven strategies for breaking down cultural barriers and building prosperous business relationships anywhere in the world

American executives need to know how to communicate effectively with their associates around the world to remain competitive. In Global Smarts, Sheida Hodge, a successful international entrepreneur and one of the most sought-after cross-cultural business trainers, shares her proven strategies for successfully dealing with such issues as language barriers, culture shock, international negotiation tactics, and how to establish trust on a cross-cultural basis.

Unlike other authors who merely list the various dos and donts of doing business in specific regions, Hodge helps you to develop a high degree of cross-cultural competency that translates into an unbeatable competitive edge, virtually anywhere in the world. Packed with practical insider tips and eye-opening anecdotes from cross-cultural managers from the United States and other countries, this thoroughly engaging guide is an indispensable resource for anyone doing business in todays global business world. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

excellent book.
My prof, probably A Reader from Rockford, assigned this book as our cross cultural text book. Definitely a good read. It completely changed my point of view on many aspects of international business, and made me more passionate about my major.

An Alternative Textbook
I teach a college course on cross-cultural business, and I have used this book as one of my textbooks for the past 2 years. It is an engaging, practical, non-theoretical, hands-on description of the effect of culture on business practices, with plenty of stories from real-life people and pragmatic advice. I assign a chapter a week, and there is more than enough in 1 chapter to spend an entire week of class on, even though the chapters are not very long. My students love it!

Dense and Delightful
Dense and delightful are paradoxical words that come to mind on reading Sheida Hodge's compendium of Global Smarts, a new book aimed at US Managers going abroad or working across cultures. Its 246 pages are a granola bar packed with nutritious examples that help the ethnocentric business professional taste the reality and consequences of cultural difference. The breadth of the book is surprising, given its size. It touches on just about everything, and does so in a hands-on, practical way.

Hodge briefly sets up the case for why we should busy ourselves about culture by surveying its critical role in business success and failure in the age of globalization. She offers no extensive intercultural theory. It lurks in the background, but is almost transparent to the end user. While there is the obligatory chapter on "What is Culture?" it is a scant 7 pages long.

The rest of the book is how to: how to manage everything from entertaining to expatriation and culture shock, how to communicate and negotiate, and even how not to take a bribe. She explodes myths about women abroad. Hodge may venture into the university from time to time in real life, and her tools as a trainer often show up in the illustrations, but it is clear that she has both feet solidly planted in the world of making it work.

Often a touch of humor, always a carefully chosen short anecdote to bring a point home-these in themselves are Global Smarts, as modeled in the book. It is definitely written for US Americans, at least if one defines them as people coming from or framed by the dominant values of the US business world. It talks their language, even at times their slang. Of course, US Americans are very, very diverse, but if we assume that those who are part of a culture, though they may not be always hold or act out its values, at least recognize them, then the target audience is right for the book.

Global Smarts is too rich to absorb in a sitting--even on the non-stop from Chicago to Seoul--though a worthy companion for the flight. Rather than breaking new ground per se, the book applies mature intercultural knowledge to common and critical situations, and that will break new ground for many US businesspeople.

No doubt more books on succeeding globally will be written, but, in a sense, this one sums up both the possibilities and the limitations of the print medium. As a book, it is a personal, engaging, and satisfying individual experience. On the other hand, despite a good index, it is just begging to be an online resource, with the anecdotes turned into vignettes, with interactive ways of testing comprehension and reactions and comparing ones experiences and feelings with others, and hypertext to take you where you need to learn, instantly.

Global Smarts, A Great Read!
Great insights and guidelines for those with international business responsibilities. Interesting and often humorous anecdotes. The ultimate guide for doing business abroad. I really enjoyed this book! ... Read more

Book Description

If you dream of starting a business, but fear that without an MBA you'll get lost in the maze of government red tape, here's the handbook you need.Step-by-step, The Small Business Start-Up Kit for California outlines how to set up a small business in the Golden State quickly and easily, pointing out the hurdles, fees and forms along the way.In language that is clear, readable and straight to the point, the book explains how to:• choose the best business structure. • write an effective business plan. • file the right forms in the right place. • be prepared for, and file, the required taxes. • acquire good bookkeeping and accounting habits.The Small Business Start-Up Kit for California comes with all the forms you need as tear-outs and on CD-ROM. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

excellent for starters
This book is easy to read and follow. It has a complete list of things you need to do to set up your own business and some good advices. Highly recommended!

Excellent tutorial and reference
Everything you need to know about starting a small business in California is in here. What legal structure to choose, which agencies you need to deal with, what forms you need and where to get them, web addresses, phone numbers, and all the details.

It also has a wealth of information on running a business, including information on accounting, taxation, and employees. It's well organized and easy to read.

The only gaps are in some of the details on forming LLCs and corporations. The reader is referred to other Nolo books for the gritty details. If you're forming a partnership or sole proprietorship -- probably the most common types for "cottage industry" -- the book is reasonably complete.

Excellent Book
This is my first book review, because this is the first book I've purchased where I've truly felt moved to tell people how excellent it is. If you are starting up a small business in California, this book is invaluable. It tells you where to find all of the information you'll need to start up your business, in easy to understand terms. Also includes a CD-ROM with lots of forms. All of her advice is really helpful and I find myself going back to the book all the time. Just knowing it's there makes me feel better!

She includes URLs to web sites with information - and even tells you what other books to get on a subject she doesn't cover too in-depth. And all the information you need is easy to find.

5 stars!

FINALLY, A BUSINESS START UP BOOK FOR THE REST OF US
Well worth the price! It answered every question I had -- and answered a lot of questions I hadn't even thought about. Really easy to understand and set up in a smart way - going through the steps you would when creating a business. The section on "hobby or business" is the best explanation I ever read about that stuff. Much better than going to a lawyer and has lots of first person battle stories. Even if you've got a Cal business going -- this book is still cool!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! ... Read more

Book Description

The Wilson Learning wonderworks series of culture guides provides travelers with practical and accessible information about important social protocols and business practices for some of the most popular travel destinations. Topics covered include Greetings; Eating, Drinking and Entertaining; Tipping; Gift Giving; Dress; and Conversation Topics. There are tips for e-mail, telephone, and written communications, and meeting etiquette. A brief list of useful phrases and national holidays is also provided.

These handy booklets are recommended for those who are planning a business or personal trip; supporting global business via telephone, fax, electronic mail, or videoconferencing; or preparing to work extensively with customers, colleagues, or providers in a country or region. ... Read more

Book Description

"By far, the best book for entrepreneurs … the bible for those taking their show on the road. May be the best investment a small firm with international aspirations can make." —Entrepreneur Magazine "Any company, small or large, wishing to cash in on international trade could benefit from this well-written, informative book." —The Kansas City Times GATT, NAFTA, EEC—this alphabet soup of the nineties spells a bright future for companies bold enough to plunge into international waters. And this fully revised and updated edition of the ultimate practical export guide shows how businesses of any size can cash in on these great new opportunities. Internationally recognized trade expert Roger E. Axtell provides all the information you need to start, develop, and sustain a thriving export business, including the ins and outs of international distribution, pricing, language barriers, customs, and protocols. Under Axtell’s guidance, you will learn how to:

• Take advantage of government and private support services for exporters
• Avoid the most common mistakes in exporting
• Motivate overseas distributors and agents
• Price, ship, and protect your products
• Communicate effectively and avoid misunderstandings

Reviews (2)

Virtually essential
Virtually essential when travelling to Japan for business (or visiting relatives) and extremely helpful for the casual tourist. In spite of its brevity, it covers nearly all of the essentials and provides a weath of historical and cultural background for many of the customs. Even though this is the only one I have read so far, I would imagine that other books by De Mente are well worth reading.

the authors time tested phonetic system is great
the authors time tested phonetic system is great and I think he should write a complete English-Japanese and Japanese-English dictionary using romaji and true Japanese characters. a complete dictionary with all four systems: english, romaji, japanese, and the authers phonetic system. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Well written and solid intro to the field of Org Behavior
"Essentials in Organizational Behavior" is a solid text for a course surveying the field of Organizational Behavior. Its sixteen chapters are grouped into four parts. Part I introduces the field of organizational behavior, its goals and functions within an organization along with some challenges and opportunities.

Part II contains chapters two through six and focuses on how individuals function within an organization and the considerations managers need to have with values, personality, motivation, emotions, and how individuals make decisions.

Part III contains chapters seven through twelve and discusses groups in the organization. It begins discussion foundations of group behavior, some basics on work teams, communication, leadership & creating trust, power & politics, conflict & negotiation.

Part IV discusses the Organization System in chapters thirteen through sixteen. It begins with the foundations of organizational structure, culture, and then gets into the role of human resource policies and practices. The book concludes with Organizational Change and Development.

There is an epilogue to wrap things up, endnotes, and index and a glossary.

The book is clearly written. I like the way the author presents a variety of views and theories and never becomes dogmatic about a certain approach. Because it is concise it actually has a chance of being read (the usual 750 page textbook is largely left unread in most courses). However, to really become proficient in any of the many topics presented here the student will have to do much more study and practical work. I am confident that any teacher adopting the text for coursework would make the necessity for further study clear to the student. The endnotes do provide many fine sources for such study, but I would like to have seen some sources organized into a list of readings for study organized by topic. It would have added a few pages, but would not have overburdened this text.

In any case, this is a good introductory read for anyone who wants to a quick tour of the universe of Organizational Behavior.

Great broad overview of concepts and research
If you're interested in organizational behavior either professionally or as a student, this is a great book to pick up. It gives a great, concise survey of the topic as it relates to each of the major components of individual, team, and organizational factors. Not laden with research details and theoretical jargon, this book is a must read for managers and students alike because of its fast pace and great coverage.

One of the best intro to OB
I find Robbins's OB one of the best introductionary books for OB. Though it does not contain lots of case studies, to get started with concepts, the easy to read layout and the interesting activities that he presents makes it a very good book to get started. I personally started my OB with a much more detailed book, but after I found this one, I used this as the starting point, to get the ideas, and then used more high level books to explore further.
Why not 5 stars, well, coz as I said, I did need to look at other books to explore in detail!

For the budding manager
This is a great book to understand the fundamentals of organizational behaviour. It is simple to understand, and the excellent layout and graphics make it enjoyable and ignite your curiosity. I read it from cover to cover in a matter of days. However, I do agree that more relevant case studies and applications should have been included.

Decent overall review of OB theories.
Robbins discusses current OB theory in a brief, concise manner. He does not provide many examples of real-teime applications, however. This is a hinderance to the book's usefulness as it is sometimes difficult to conceptualize how many of the theories might be practically implemented. Overall, a decent reference book. ... Read more

Book Description

Our business environment is one of record pace and quick productivity.Technology has enabled us to communicate and produce in a way we never thought possible.However, as we move through our careers, it's still important to slow down and remember that it always pays to have good manners.Business Etiquette and Protocol is designed for today's high-speed professionals who value the human element in achieving business success.Business Etiquette and Protocol is one title in the Professional Development Series by South-Western.This series is the perfect resource for learning the non-technical strategies and tactics needed to compete in today's business world. ... Read more

Book Description

Face, Harmony, and Social Structure continues author P. Christopher Earley's investigations of the differences among people within organizations in different cultures. In this study, Earley develops a mid-range theory of individual behavior, self-concept, and interpersonal process in predicting cultural differences in organizational settings. This work represents a new theory of self-presentation and face within a cross-cultural context, integrating a cross-level approach ranging from the individual to the organization and to the societal levels of discussion. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

This is not worth the money
I wouldn't buy this panflet that is what it is. I would buy a real book. It was so generic that I am suprized any one would publish it.

A thin book with not much to say
Wilson Learning Corp.'s book about Swedish customs and culture is a start in the right direction, but unfortunately it is only a start. There are several good points brought up which may help the non-Swede avoid making a serious fool of himself or herself at a business luncheon, but that's about all there is. It's not really a book -- just a very thin pamphlet -- and it brings up only about a dozen points total, most of which anyone going to Sweden will already know. All of its points are related to business and business people, with nothing of interest for average people, tourists, motorists, hikers, or job-seekers, and nothing for people who simply want to meet and understand Swedes as people and friends. Sorry, it's not worth buying.

Practical Protocol, Advice, and a Reasonable Price
Of all the "cross-cultural" business books I've seen, none of them distill the information I really need to know about a culture into about 10 readable pages, as this "Wonderworks" booklet does. You can easily read it while waiting for your flight and review it before you land.

The information stays fresh because 1) it's concise and 2) it's relevant. You will actually USE this information in a business meeting, or in any social gathering. And it's obvious that the information is grounded in up-to-date research.

Particularly useful is a graph that shows which cultures are more "task-directed," like mine, and more "people-directed," like Sweden's. This knowledge has saved me from getting down to business too abruptly and jeopardizing crucial relationships. Then the booklet covers the specific protocols you will need to know in most any given situation.

One last thing. I've been frustrated with other books on cross-culture relationships that seem to add a lot of filler, so they can be sold as expensive books. This "Wonderworks" booklet gives you exactly what you need for a successful meeting and offers an appropriate price. ... Read more

Book Description

In what way are we called to live amidst our busy world? It is so easy, especially in the work place, to get caught up in the busyness of the day and miss the meaning, lessons and joy in it.The majority of adults spend more waking hours at work than we do in their own homes.The quality of the work place is forming the quality of our homes and our lives.If the work place is not healthy, what are we saying about the health of this society?The purpose of the Place Within Series is to invite brief reflections that connect us to the heart, the soul, the place within.It is the place of peace, silence, wisdom, love, compassion and the source of energy and nourishment.It is a place of hope, always with us, regardless of the external chaos or the extremes that surround us each day at work.When we go within, we are able to reach out and return to the world our strengths and hopes that reflect the unseen capacity of ourselves and an evolving humanity.A unique CD is now available to enhance the reflections that connect one to "The Place Within."It features the beautiful and inspirational voice of Diane Penning.

The Way of Respect in the Work Place (Wesorick, 1998) is the first in the Place Within Series.It will deepen your insights and ignite your passion to co-create healthy relationships at your work.It will provide a stimulating perspective on the need for, the process, and the outcomes of, holding each person in the work place in respect. ... Read more

Book Description

With traditional dress codes thrown to the wind every Friday, this book gives you the tools to dress for casual success. Just keep your Casual Friday Paperdoll on your desk and plan your wardrobe in advance. You can even match colors with confidence using our Scientific Color Wheel. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good Reference
This is a good reference book if you go to South Korea for business or do business with Koreans in your own country.If you would like a book with more information and references, than I would recommend the book Korean Etiquette & Ethics in Business by Boye Lafayette De Mente. This book goes indepth with the Korean national character, its tradition and the personal coonnections that are essential to Koreans. ... Read more

Book Description

Presented in this guidebook for managers are lessons for getting the job done successfully and keeping everyone on task without making enemies. Included are tips for effective communication, time management, delegation of work, setting a good example, displaying empathy, and getting to know others and using that information to create teams that work based on the strengths and weaknesses of the group.

Se presentan en este libro para directivos lecciones y consejos para manejarse exitosamente sin hacer enemigos en el campo de trabajo. Incluye pautas de cómo interesarse por los otros para crear buenos equipos, comunicarse efectivamente, la delegación justa del trabajo, control del tiempo, la conducta apropiada y profesional, yla expresión de la empatía. ... Read more

Book Description

An indispensable primer on how to build a successful company in Asia-Pacific and be invited back, Asia360 is the perfect business companion that uncovers hidden cultural practices and provides insights into Asian business acumen; where the concept of giving face and not crossing your legs could make or break a multi-million dollar deal. As much as the book is based on common sense and cultural sensitivity, Asia360 is also about a humble and exciting journey full of wonderful discoveries about people and places. A page-turner and an uplifting read, Asia360 brings to life real answers and solutions to conducting business successfully in one of the most challenging and complicated regions in the world. Asia360 is a must read for all business leaders and entrepreneurs about to embark on an Asian business venture! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Asia360
as you can see the writer of this book is phil kelly. If you didn't see that i have the same last name as him because he is my father. I have read parts of the book and for it a book about businesses it's realy good!! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Basic, but good
I personally would not suggest actually purchasing this book (. . .)For starters, it's a book about professional etiquette, but, at least in my copy, there are countless spelling/grammatical errors. Kind of counter-productive to the purpose of this book, I would say. Although, if you're willing to overlook such things, it does give lots of concise, useful information that will save you a trip to a one of those career counselors. Some of this might not be new to you if you're a "veteran" of the workforce, but for newcomers, or relative newcomers to the process, it is useful.

Save your money.
This book has precious little to do with etiquette. It focuses rather on career advice--and nothing terribly worthwhile there either. ... Read more