Book Description

The first edition of Managing Across Borders was hailed as a landmark book, widely praised for its pioneering insights into the management of companies operating in an international environment. With the introduction of an entirely new organizational form--the transnational--Bartlett and Ghoshal showed how the nature of the competitive game had fundamentally changed, requiring that companies simultaneously capture global-scale efficiency, respond to national markets, and cultivate a worldwide learning capability for driving continuous innovation across borders. In this newly revised edition, the authors revisit their breakthrough concepts, updating the material with fresh, timely examples drawn from today's leading global enterprises. The insightful profiles of global middle managers and the real-world case studies paint a complete picture of the issues, problems, and opportunities encountered on the road to becoming a transnational. Included with this edition is a new application workbook, a highly practical tool for translating the book's ideas into action. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

An appreciative book that looks forward into the future
Now in an updated second edition, Managing Across Borders: The Transnational Solution by Christopher Bartlett (Daewoo Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School) and Sumantra Ghoshal (Professor of Strategic and International Management, The London Business School) is an informative introduction to the "transnational corporation", the new corporate phenomena of the interconnected global and digital age, which stretches its competition worldwide and fundamentally rewrites the nature of doing business. A fascinating, appreciative book that looks forward into the future, Managing Across Borders is highly recommended reading for anyone seeking to understand and capitalize on what the 21st century business community is evolving for purposes of international trade in a truly global and increasingly "borderless" age!

Pathbreaking book
This seminal book has been a part of my professional library for almost a decade, now. I am an Associate Professor in International Business and teach the subjects covered in this book. From this book a number of concepts have grown which continues to dominate the discussion of global management. Let me jus mention a few: administrative heritage, which is the idea, that the organisational structure of multidomestic enterprises reflects the historical period they were established in - especially with respect to the regime of coordination and communication. For instance, whereas the typical american firm entering Europe after 2ww would follow a strategy of tight operational control (given the business circumstances of this firm) Phillips, a multinational from the 19th century would display a strategy of much more delegation and subsidary autonomy.

Another concept is that of transnational companies - firms which simultaneously seek to adjust to local circumstances and enjoy the benefits of global integration. This idea remains a hot issue in global management even today - more than a decade after this book was published. ... Read more

Book Description

Preparing future American businessmen and women to understand and cope with the cultural dimension of their professions, this book demonstrates how the theory and insights of cultural anthropology can positively influence the conduct of international business.It explores (1) general concepts about culture that can be applied to any cross-cultural situation; (2) the nature of communication, both linguistic and nonverbal; (3) contrasting value systems; and (4) a wide variety of sources for locating culture-specific information. A conceptual approach provides readers with the necessary framework for understanding the cultural dimension of the international business arena.For individuals seeking to understand any cross cultural business encounter they have had in the past or might have in the future. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Lots of information - pretty boring approach
I bought this for my MBA program and found this book having good contents but the approach is not good.... I would have done the layout much differently to make it more interesting.....

I had to read this book and so read it..... not greatly impressed.

Cultural Dimensions of Ferraro
Throughout this book Ferraro takes on the idea of being a theoretical observer of different characteristics that the typical North Amercian has in comparison to the rest of the world. He takes these dfferences and applies them usefully to the area of International Buisness. The book goes through many different catagories including language, communication (verbal and non-verbal), precise time reckoning, and even culture shock. As a student, I found this book to be very insubstantial for a textbook, but I believe that it would be a wonderful starting point for buisness people of any age to read before doing any international buisness realtions. I wish I had read this book before I went and lived in Europe for 5 months, I think I would have been able to communicate a little more easily. ... Read more

Book Description

A Choice Magazine Outstanding Academic Title of the Year Drawing on a wide range of documents and interviews with officials in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, as well the author's experience as an aide to Senator Bill Bradley during negotiations, Interpreting NAFTA is a history of the agreement's development, from opening talks to final passage. Frederick W. Mayer combines recent work in international relations, comparative politics, interest groups, and public opinion to develop a broad theoretical framework that crosses between international relations and domestic politics. Mayer demonstrates that to understand NAFTA, one must view it as simultaneously a matter of political interests, institutions, and ideas. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Great Book on a Dry Topic
A great presentation of what I expected to be an unexciting topic. Examines the workings of the political system in a highly readable way. I was not only well-informed after I read the book, but entertained as well!

Excellent Theoretical Framework
This is excellent material if you are conducting any kind of serious research on NAFTA and its negotiations' development and outcome. It provides with a huge theoretical framework, every step of the process. If your line of work is game theory, this book will really help you (or at least it worked wonders for me). This is mandatory reference material for anyone interested in studying NAFTA.

Mayer rivals Grisham. I couldn't put it down!
Mayer rivals Grisham. He enfolds the strategy of NAFTA like a good murder-mystery. More proof that reality is more entertaining than fiction. It's a thriller, a nail-biter. I couldn't put it down! ... Read more

Book Description

How did the rich countries really become rich? In this provocative new study, Ha-Joon Chang examines the great pressure on developing countries from the developed world to adopt certain "good policies" and "good institutions", seen today as necessary for economic development. Adopting an historical approach, Chang finds that the economic evolution of now-developed countries differed dramatically from the procedures that they now recommend to poorer nations. His conclusions are compelling and disturbing: that developed countries are attempting to "kick away the ladder" by which they have climbed to the top, thereby preventing developing counties from adopting policies and institutions that they themselves used. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

An iconoclastic and sophiscated work
According to Michael Lind's book review in Prospect (Jan 2002), this book is "the most important book about the world economy to be published in years." And the author received the 2003 Myrdal Award for this book, which is awarded annually to a great academic achievement in the field of development/institutional economics following the late Swedish economist's name Gunar Myrdal who was a Nobel Prize laureate.

Prof. Ha-Joon Chang of Cambridge argues in this book that developed countries used some measures for promoting their economy in their earlier days of development, which they are now blaming for making the economies of developing country worse and the world economic order unfree.

The author reverses this logic. According to his arguments, policy-suggestions from such arguments of developed countries are in fact making the economy in developing countries lag behind and its development impossible, and such a rule of game in the world economy now can be rather unfair to them because developing countries even are often punished due to their using of the very same methods which developed ones used in the past.

As a critique of neo-liberal market fundamentalism, this book is very iconoclastic because it gives readers a sophisticated understanding of the real history of industrial development as well as pleasure of reading an academically original and creative work. This book is above all analytical in terms of using the method of historical comparisons. Some comparisons may be too bold. But its creativity and integrity in organizing the research overcome the limits of bold comparison. ... Read more

Book Description

“The Handbook of Intercultural Training, Third Edition provides a thorough grounding in the history, concepts and methods underlying intercultural training.  The many analyses of tools, methods and approaches for specific contexts offer guidance in designing and conducting effective training interventions. The collected theoretical and practical information presented in this book is critical for professional interculturalists.” 

       —Lee Gardenswartz, Ph.D. and Anita Rowe, Ph.D., Partners, Gardenswartz & Rowe  

“This book is just in time and just for me. It's as if someone assembled all the interculturalists I admire and respect and bribed them to share their latest and best thoughts in a well-crafted chapter. You'll probably feel the same way.”

                                    —Sivasailam "Thiagi" Thiagarajan, Ph. D., Workshops by Thiagi, Inc.

Completely revised with all new chapters, the Third Edition of the Handbook of Intercultural Training provides a state-of-the-art review of the field of intercultural training. Written by the leading authorities in intercultural studies, this definitively updated volume offers not only a convenient summary of research but also information on specific training techniques. It analyzes with depth and clarity regions of the world where intercultural issues have heightened--including Central and South America, Europe, and China, as well as Eastern Europe, Russia, and Israel. Other parts of the book examine theoretical and methodological issues inherent in understanding intercultural interactions and training and the contexts in which training takes place.

An essential reference of intercultural interactions across disciplines, the Handbook of Intercultural Training synthesizes information of special note for professionals, researchers, and students in management, educational psychology, ethnic studies, sociology, and gender studies, as well as a broad array of human services such as counseling and nursing.

Contributors:

Aysen Bakir, Illinois State University
Janet M. Bennett, Intercultural Communication Institute
Milton J. Bennett, Intercultural Communication Institute
Laurette Bennhold-Samaan, The World Bank
John W. Berry, Queen's University
Judith Blohm Ida Castiglioni, University of Milano Bicocca
Carlos E. Cortes, University of California, Riverside
Kenneth Cushner, Kent State University
Ina Ehnert, University of Bremen
Teresa Harrell, University of Minnesota
Stefan Kammhuber, University of Regensburg
Ata Karim, Kansas State University
Young Yun Kim, University of Oklahoma
Torsten Kuhlmann, University of Bayreuth
Daniel Landis, University of Hawaii, Hilo
Judith N. Martin, Arizona State University
Mark Mendenhall, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
Sandra Mumford-Fowler
Kenji Noguchi
Gary Oddou, California State University, San Marcos
Joyce S. Osland, San Jose State University
R. Michael Paige, University of Minnesota
Margaret Pusch, Intercultural Communication Institute
George Renwick, Renwick and Associates
Joseph L. Soeters, Royal Netherlands' Military Academy
Gunter K. Stahl, Asian Business Area INSEAD
Stella Ting-Toomey, California State University, Fullerton
Harry C. Triandis, Emeritus, University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign
Colleen Ward, University of Wellington
Donna Winslow, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam ... Read more

Book Description

In the past decade of rapid change in the world economy, Randy Charles Epping's Beginner’s Guide to the World Economy has been the most reliable tool for keeping track of what's happening. The third edition updates the information in previous editions and explains many new concepts.

What is the new economy? What is globalization? Is the euro the final seal on European Union? How is e-commerce transforming our world beyond economics? What is virtual money, and does it have real value? How do social concerns and societal ills (drugs, poverty, AIDS, endangered natural resources) play a part in the rapidly changing world economy. What are multinationals, and do they signal the end of nationalism? These and many other pertinent issues are concisely addressed in the most accessible primer for those who want to be economically literate (and who doesn't?). ... Read more

Reviews (9)

A book for beginners that beginners can understand!
As I am taking my first class ever on Economics, which is focused on Microeconomics, this book comes in handy as a reference book where I can find a down-to-earth discussion of basic concepts that relate to Macroeconomics. It pretty much did for me in Economics what "The Wall Street Journal Guide to Understanding Money & Investing" did for investing. It is broken down in a chapter-like fashion, much in the style of the dummies guides and written in layman's tems by Mr. Epping, an American who holds a degree in International Finance from Yale, who has held management positions all over Europe and who is fluent in six languages.

Easy to understand economics
I used this book with my children preparing for a debate on foreign trade. Easy to understand. Broken down nicely to find just the information you are looking for. Highly recommended!

Great for liberal Arts folks to learn about econ/finance!
A Beginners's Guide to the World Economy is a good introduction into financial and economic terms. The book is segmented into 81 basic economic concepts, which the authors state, "will change the way you see the world." I believe their phrase is definitely hyperbole because I didn't find any "earth shattering" commentary.

The book is a compilation of information/tidbits you would learn in economics, finance and international finance/business classes. The concepts, in many cases, are common sense and the average person, who has no formal education in the subject, probably would know 10-15 of them minimum.

If you don't know anything about finance or economics it might be worth a good read over 7-8 nights, covering 10-15 subjects a night. The book is easy reading but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone with a business or finance degree wanting to see if this is a "refresher" book because it is very light but a great introduction to economics/finance for those with liberal arts backgrounds. If any liberal arts folks seek a bible of finance it is called "Valuation" and is a mckinsey book. It is used in just about every top MBA program. Tough stuff but if you want to learn about financial analysis and crunching #'s that is the book to get.

A Great Starting Point
I have been reading "The Economist" for over a year and really felt like I needed to gain a deeper understanding about Economics. This was the first book I read and I was not disappointed at all. My only real nitpick is that he does not explain the concept of the "core" of an ecnonomy for example "core inflation" which is something mentioned regularly when I read Economic news.

This book helps you think for yourself
This book helps you understand the basics of economics so you can develop your own views on the national and international economic issues of the day. There's no set view he wants you to endorse, he just wants readers to understand economics so that they can more intelligently form their own opinions. He explains economic concepts in an interesting, easy to understand way that makes for good reading. ... Read more

Book Description

In the tradition of his contemporary classic Parliament of Whores, the man who The Wall Street Journal calls "the funniest writer in America" is back with Eat the Rich, in which he takes on the global economy. P. J. O'Rourke leads you on an hysterical whirlwind world tour from the "good capitalism" of Wall Street to the "bad socialism" of Cuba in search of the answer to an age-old question: "Why do some places prosper and thrive, while others just suck?" With stops in Albania, Sweden, Hong Kong, Moscow, and Tanzania, P.J. brings along his incomparable wit and finds hilarity wherever he goes. ... Read more

Reviews (89)

Where was this when I was taking all that econ?
P.J. O'Rourke is without a doubt my favorite essayist and writer (I got hooked on P.J. when he was writing for "Car and Driver" and have never regretted my addiction), and this book didn't fail to live up to my expectations. P.J. takes a basic look at economics, and then flavors that look with real-world examples as gleaned from his globe-trotting excursions in the pursuit of truth.

He starts with a simple examination of the basic, mind-numbing econ a large number of us slept through in college, and arguably this is the weakest part of the book. While his presentation is brief, understandable, and to the point, it's also filled with just a bit too much diatribe against the pointlessness of much of economic theory. However, these sections are as short as they are acidic.

It's after that however that P.J. is at his finest; writing about what he sees and experiences as he makes a round-the-world compare and contrast paper out of the economies of a variety of countries (and if you like this, go read "Holidays in Hell"). Comparing the economies of Tanzania, Hong Kong, and Shanghai through his witty observations and anecdotal references is worth the price of admission. When he visits a country, he really visits the country, getting to see its seamy underside as well as the glitzy parts photographed in the travel brochures. And no one is better at producing the telling anecdote that completely sums up his point than P.J.

His conclusions? Well, they're a bit pointed (and, yes, he probably did have most of them in mind before he started all this), they support a lot of the status quo (which I prefer to think of as his gaining perspective rather than losing his edge), and they'll most likely offend a wide spectrum of people (and if you're easily offended, why are you reading P.J. O'Rourke?). But the bottom line is that he pretty much cuts to the chase on both his analysis and his conclusions, and he does it while making you laugh out loud (more than I can say for my copy of Mansfield).

Definitely worth a place on your bookshelf.

I would eat this book if I could...
I decided to read this book to enlighten my mind about the different economic systems of our world. P.J. O'Rourke's unique, frank writing style and humorous use of a few curse words helped to keep this book interesting.

He explains our stock market fabulously well by describing what really happens on Wall Street. He follows brokers around during their day and witnesses the stressful lives these men (and few women) live daily. The capitalism we partake in the US is good becuase we are all free to participate in it and the government does not strictly censor the market. He contrasted our capitalism with albania's in an enlightening chapter. The lifestyle in Albania is full of violence and poverty- as their system is uncontrollable. Their attempt at "pyramid investing" crumbled in their faces, resulting in intense debt and starvation. Not only does P.J. O'Rourke identify the good systems, he compares them with bad ones so that the reader can better understand the themes. He uses economics and countries to help the reader visualise what their government is really like.

My favorite chapter of the book was the one concerning Sweden- an example of good socialism. The chapter almost convinced me to move to Sweden. The country has a lot of trust between its citizens. The system is balanced and works beautiful becuase everyone in Sweden wants it too. Equality is active in this country- all education is free up to Ph.D level. The citizens are happy and live lives full of moderation, where people are pretty equal and happy about it. He describe Sweden as paradise and it almost is- cheap medical care, intense welfare, unlimited sick leave with compensation, and free day-care. This system is impeccable and PJ explains it in a way in which the readers wish they could move there.

This book really opened my eyes on the societies and economies of other countries. I learned about Cuba and why there is so much poverty. It was extremely educational and interesting and I wish I had read it sooner, so that I could have been this informed about the world earlier.

Excellent read!
Great book, laughed all the way through. Really a fabulous and clarifying eye-opener on a lot of the world's economic systems that i really didn't have a clue about. What a fun way to bone up on a little history and current economic issues.

An Econ major's delight!
This book should be required reading instead of the majority of snore-inducing comparative econ books. The huge laugh-generating factor of this intelligent take on comparative econ easily compensates for its initial too basic explanation of econ 101 & occasional unnecessary crassness. The chapter on Cuba is illuminating -- & especially interesting in light of Fidel's current crackdown.

Creatig prosperity not promoting poverty
I have read---and found myself going back to---"Eat the Rich" by P.J. O'Rourke. It is insightful, much tongue-in-cheek, honest and disconcerting in his observations, metaphors and conclusions.

Like other reviewers above, I have traveled and found his remarks on the mark. My work involves doing strategic planning, conflict resolution and project design around the world and somehow O'Rourke, captures much of what I saw and observed better than I ever could!!

He does present in a clear, witty writing style some very important learning's about economics, politics and more. He may be known as a conservative, but his economic insights are those of the greatest economist ever: Adam Smith, Mises, Hayek and the school of Austrian Economics.

Even O'Rourke acknowledges his own greater understanding in an interview held:

"'Well, probably the most important of those is the--is
the Friedrich Hay--von Hayek's "The Road to Serfdom." It is -- it was
Written in the '40s, during World War II, as a antidote to what Hayek
Saw as the increasing collectivism of politics in the world. He was
protesting against communism and Nazism, but also against the
in--increasing organization and size of the--of the democratic welfare
states. Hayek is one of the great champions of the individual. I
mean, he basically says that individuals are smarter than groups.
Anybody who's ever had to deal with a mob or with Congress
could -- could probably tell you this. One on one, individuals will
make, on average, reasonable decisions, whereas if we put people in a
group -- it's like the difference between Harvard and the Harvard
football team."

And his closing chapter, by the same name as the book, presents the fundamentals of sound economics, and shows the importance of focusing on building prosperity and wealth rather than trying to address poverty.

If ever he were asked to present at any international conference, he would have done as a "the friend' did in this quote (though the source I find unusual)
:
"I had a friend once and he was asked to chair a commission, an
international committee, and the title of it was What Causes Poverty. He declined. He said I will do it but on one condition. The condition is that we change the title and I'll chair a committee on What Causes Prosperity. The reason he said that was, the title What Causes Poverty leaves the impression that the natural state of the world is for people to be prosperous and that for whatever reason there are prosperous people running
around making people poor... He looked at the world the other way. He said the natural state of people is to be relatively poor and that there are certain ways and things that can be done that can cause prosperity."
-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Nov.

No, O'Rourke is a shrew observer of life and economics and offers a fine study of how many countries are operating and it is not a pretty picture.

I highly recommend it for an insight and understanding of economics today, how the collectivist and government interventions stand in the way of the prosperity of people today.

Quoting him again, "Western Civilization not only provides a bit of life, a pinch of liberty and the occasional pursuance of happiness, it's also the only thing that's ever tried to."

Yes, Western civilization is one of the known groups that have tried, and, it is as if "the discovery' of individual Freedom and liberty is something new, deserves consideration. (For further understanding the history of Freedom and liberty, do read "The Discovery of Freedom: Man's Struggle Against Authority" by Rose Wilder Lane. Lear about the 800 years of prosperity under Islam that culminated in Spain as it stretched from China to Europe; the role of Christianity in recognizing self responsibility and, not covered, the 1,000 year stretch in Irelant, brought to an end by the same underlying forces in Curope that used the Crusades as an outlet for the war mongering energies killing Europe!)

Liberals and statist miss this and what O'Rourke saw so clearly. As shown in the following independent review, the writer lacks any insight and, with the typical false academic-type and very smug remark---and, I doubt if she has traveled and studied people, life and economics the way O'Rourke or myself for that matter have!) misses his point completely, but with classic "other view" understanding:

"If you agree that capitalism is the best economic system, and that laissez-faire policies are the best method of running an economy, then this book is in effect a self-indulgent look at a world-wide train wreck, with O'Rourke patting you on the shoulder by way of congratulations. You managed to miss that train. However, if you understand the complexities of cultures and history, then you might find O'Rourke's little excursion appallingly naive....

This book is an introduction into the economics that works, honors freedom and liberty, reflecting the down side of government intervention and regulation as it distorts the true value of working people and prosperity.

There are other books that capture economics for those that have not studied it, Economics in One Easy Lesson by Hazlitt, "What Ever Happened to Penny Candy" by Richard J. Marbury or "How an Economy Grows and Why It Doesn't" by Irwin A Schiff.

These books address money and banking and other topics that are key to the world's current situation with ease and understanding.

But, for a world tour presentation on economics for the every day Jane or Joe, for all those liberals that went to college and took Economic History or, at most "An Introduction to Economics" that favored Keynesian economics and big government management of economies that has prevailed for most of the 20th Century and may be the linchpin for the situation we find ourselves today as it crumples and falls, may the clear writings of O'Rourke serve as your treatise on economics and

Turn the dismal science into one that makes you laugh as you learn!!

He does an excellent job here. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Book Description

This book offers a penetrating review of the morals and values that shape the Korean business personality; cultural "keys" thatturn Koreans on and off, and how best to communicate with them. Korean Business Etiquette will show what really makes Koreanworkers tick-and how to do business the Korean way. With its authoritative scholarship, practical insights, and guidelines for foreign workers,this book is truly a "must read" for anyone doing business in Korea now or in the future. ... Read more

Book Description

Written by internationally recognized crisis management expert Steven Fink, Sticky Fingers is the first practical guide that shows companies large and small, publicly traded or privately held, how to avoid huge financial losses from economic espionage, and what to do if a company believes it has been victimized. The FBI ranks economic espionage among the greatest threats to our national security since the end of the Cold War. It costs U.S. businesses more than $250 billion a year, and no company is immune from the risks.

Readers will be able to intimately follow every step behind the scenes of the landmark Avery Dennison/Four Pillars spy case and learn from the vantage points of the spy, the victimized company, the FBI, and the Justice Department prosecutors – from first suspicions to ultimate jury verdict.

Sticky Fingers also details:
* A list of the top countries that spy on U.S. businesses
* Why the biggest threat comes from within — and what to do about it
* Cybercrimes – from amateur hacking to professional netspionage
* How to formulate a crisis communications plan
* Dealing—or not dealing—with the FBI

Woven throughout the book, the epic lessons from the Avery Dennison/Four Pillars case – the longest and largest economic espionage case in U.S. history, and the first ever to go to trial since the passage of the landmark Economic Espionage Act – are combined with insights of other companies that have been victimized, including Lucent Technologies, Kodak, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, MasterCard, Gillette, Bristol-Myers Squibb, PPG Industries, and many others. Companies can fight back to reduce their risk, using the clear, pragmatic crisis management strategies outlined in this book. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

This Book is a Winner!!!
Steven Fink, author of the bestselling " Crisis Management," has written a truly superb book on economic espionage. Using actual real world examples involving Avery Dennison / Four Pillars, Lucent Technologies, and Eastman Kodak, Fink has crafted a practical and easy-to-read book on how companies should protect their most valuable corporate asset - their trade secrets.

In the case involving Avery Dennison (the label and adhesives maker), Fink provides a detailed look at what caused a highly respected scientist at Avery Dennison to sell his company's trade secrets to a foreign competitor, namely Four Pillars of Taiwan. The ensuing court trial makes for interesting reading.

Using the example of Eastman Kodak and one of its former employees, Fink again discusses the motivation behind selling one's former employers' trade secrets for personal gain. This human element, which Fink writes about with great ease and clarity, is often overlooked in other books on economic and industrial espionage.

The chapter on the Economic Espionage Act of 1996 and the types of information worth protecting should be 'must reads' for every business manager. I would like to have seen another chapter on methods that companies can use to protect their trade secrets.

All in all, a solid book that provides useful information in an easy to read format.

Mark Robinson, author of "Beyond Competitive Intelligence: The Practice of CounterIntelligence and Trade Secrets Protection."

Packed with Knowledge!
Have you ever had to decide whether to pick up that juicy Tom Clancy book or that stale, but important business one? Steven Fink splits the difference and solves your problem with this book that is half spy story, half business advice. Sticky Fingers works best as a thriller. As business advice, the book highlights the basic issues for U.S. companies fighting economic espionage, but falls short of serving up a complete playbook. The devil, as always, is in the details, and the specifics of the book's real-life cases sketch a more accurate picture of this particular devil than the generalized advice. If economic espionage is the elephant in the corner that your company has been pretending does not exist, we from getAbstract recommend Sticky Fingers as a starting point to finally taking action to protect yourself.

The Global Cookie Jar
Occasionally, an author's concluding remarks shed a great deal of light on what that author's purposes are. That is certainly true of this book. Consider this brief excerpt from the Afterword in which Fink observes: "Acts of terror [e.g. such as those which occurred on September 11th] notwithstanding, economic espionage remains one of the most serious threats to our national security since the Cold War. Therefore, we ought to have seasoned generals leading, and weathered soldiers fighting, the good battles that need to be fought." However, with all due respect to the F.B.I. and to legislation such as the Economic Espionage Act [EEA], "...you still need to be your own best defense against espionage with proper internal education, training, and procedures" and under no circumstances "delegate the crisis management work for your company to the government. It is too important." This brief excerpt helps to explain why this book can be so valuable to decision-makers in global organizations.

Recent research studies have dentified issues of greatest concern to senior-level executives, following September 11th. The top five are mail processing (86%), travel (85%), protection of employees (79%), protection of infrastructure (75%), and risk assessment (71%). Obviously, there is widespread and quite legitimate concern about protecting human beings and physical property. However, as Fink eloquently explains, we must also be concerned about -- and take appropriate measures to protect -- information which is as important to the global economy as oxygen is to the human body.

As events on September 11th clearly indicate, even a country with resources such as those possessed by the United States cannot totally defend itself and its people against terrorists acts. However, because the U.S.A. remains the world leader in research, development, new technology, products, and trade secrets, organizations within the U.S.A. are high-profile targets and "economic espionage spies are still going to come after [them] and that only increases [the] global risk of economic espionage." As previously indicated, Fink's book examines the nature and extent of that potential risk, suggesting all manner of strategies and tactics to anticipate and then prepare for, as well as respond to, economic espionage because it is "a business crisis and should be treated as such."

Fink asserts that "Companies are under attack and at enormous risk every day. from the global threat of economic espionage, but the risk can and should be lowered and managed. Here's how." He organizes his material within two Sections and presents it in 29 interrelated chapters, followed by an Afterword in which he addresses the question, "EEA: Bear Trap or Mouse Trap?" To explain "here's how", he uses the largest economic espionage case ever tried in the United States -- Avery Dennison/Four Pillars -- from his vantage point as the lead crisis management expert for Avery Dennison. Fink guides his reader step-by-step through that seminal case, also also citing along the way relevant situations in other companies such as Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gillette, Kodak, Lucent Technologies, and MasterCard.

Who will derive the greatest benefit from this book? Obviously decision-makers in global organizations. Also service providers to those organizations (e.g. attorneys, accountants, insurance underwriters, management consultants) as well as officials in governmental agencies who are directly or indirectly involved in economic espionage threats as well as acts. I also highly recommend Fink's previous book, Crisis Management, first published in 1986 but more relevant today than ever before. America is at greatest risk because it has the most worth stealing. Those with "sticky fingers" know that and so must those whose task it is to deny them.

Wish We Had Read This Book Sooner!
"Sticky Fingers" is a highly valuable contribution to the ranks of important, must-read business books that sheds much-needed light on the theft of company trade secrets. At a cost to U.S. businesses of more than $250 billion a year, it is no wonder the author calls economic espionage the single biggest business crisis in America today. Every executive and manager should read this book pronto and follow the author's sound advice on protecting their company's trade secrets. My company was a victim of economic espionage and believe me, it hurt! I wish our management had read this book and followed Fink's pragmatic advice on how companies can protect their trade secrets and reduce their risk of economic espionage.

Here's the Reality: This book tells it like it is!
It is obvious from reading "Sticky Fingers" that the author knows his subject, inside and out. The book has been thoroughly researched and well documented with a couple of hundred source notes to back it up, including interviews with former and current Justice Department prosecutors and FBI agents, as well as many corporate executives. In addition, the author cites no less than three Avery Dennison attorneys who reviewed the manuscript for accuracy. People who plunk down good money for good books appreciate this kind of substantive research. Curiously, in the face of this rock-solid reporting there emerges a childishly cranky "reviewer" from Avery Dennison's Pasadena hometown. (Hmmm?) His - or her - bias seems simplistic and obvious. Having followed this particular case and the Avery Dennison company closely for many years, I have come across quite a few embarrassing incidents that the author might have included had he wanted - perhaps some discomfiting snafus involving the company's lawyers missing scheduled court dates, or company lawyers being publicly rebuked by the trial judge for having loose lips, or gaffes by self-doubting senior management and hyper-nervous internal PR flaks. Even though those incidents may have little to do with the important topic of Economic Espionage, it still might be interesting, if not amusing, if they became public one day. This could be a slippery slope for transparent individuals with personal agendas.

Like the author's previous book on crisis management, "Sticky Fingers" is a book that belongs on every business bookshelf. Company executives and managers would be wise to read it and learn how to prevent the theft of their valuable trade secrets...before they wind up as victimized as the hapless Avery Dennison. ... Read more

Book Description

The foreign exchange (FOREX) market used to be the exclusive arena for professional currency traders and major financial institutions. With the barriers to this market now removed, you too can participate and profit from currency trading–but first you must learn how.

In Currency Trading: How to Access and Trade the World’s Biggest Market, expert trading veteran Philip Gotthelf provides a cutting-edge and comprehensive overview of the largest market in the world–where currency trading volume exceeds $1 trillion daily–and shows you how to take advantage of the fluctuations within currency markets to reap enormous rewards.

Currency Trading is filled with in-depth insights and valuable advice that any level of currency trader can appreciate. Numerous real-world examples and case studies help drive each point home in a straightforward, no-nonsense manner. Topics discussed include:

• The principle of "parity" and how to master it
• How currency markets such as futures, options, Interbank, and forwards work
• Events that affect currency value–from interest rates to a country’s economic position
• Forecasting using fundamental and technical analysis
• Basic to advanced trading strategies for currency markets
• How to avoid scams and take advantage of legal manipulations within currency markets

The dynamics and rules of currency trading are constantly changing. There is no point in following the outdated advice of "experts." Currency Trading offers practical information which will allow you to cultivate your own views of currency trading, sharpen your skills, and ultimately, draw your own conclusions on where, when, and how to trade almost any currency–from U.S. Dollars to Euros. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Thanks Disappointed and Disgusted from Northern California
The author spends way too much time explaining basic economic indicators that should be basic knowledge for any investor. After I read another review that outlined the blundering editorial mistakes, I had to see for myself. All true! I cannot continue reading this text... How can anyone who makes this many conspicuous mistakes get a book deal much less be right about anything? Not worth the $70 price tag!

Great book to start with!
As the author of the book "Futures For Small Speculators" I tend to be very critical of books that discuss my industry. Although this book had a few editorial mistakes, Mr.Gotthelf still did a solid job of getting his point across. For a beginner this is a great start. For more indepth analysis I would go to Mr. Cornelius Luca's books.

Hastily slapped together, poorly written, sloppily edited
It appears that Gotthelf dictated much of this book into a tape recorder, some far-away typist created the manuscript, and nobody bothered to read or edit the final result. How else to explain that "Jim Ellis is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Oracle" on p.43 (I thought it was Larry Ellison)? These sorts of editorial lapses are rife throughout the book.

To name but a few examples, Fig 6.5 caption says "Cash Currency trading screen" but it's actually a bar chart of Yen futures (p.124)

The data for Figure 8.11 (a perpetual contracts bar chart of Yen) is presented with the caption of Figure 8.10 ("Soybeans futures monthly chart"). No soybeans chart is presented at all; instead, a Nikkei futures chart mysteriously appears (p. 212)

Figure 8.41 is printed upside down! (p.236). Honestly. This is perhaps the ultimate insult to the reader and ought to be a source of acute embarrassment to the editor and author.

Academy Award nominee James Caan, with two a's, will be amused to read p. 89 which states "... has been depicted in fiction such as the movie Rollerball starring James Cann" with two n's.

Those who buy the book believing it may deliver on the dustjacket's promise "How to trade the world's biggest market" will receive a disappointment. The only trading strategy Gotthelf reveals is "Go Long when price crosses above a moving average, Go Short when price crosses below a moving average." Then he regurgitates standard methods of creating a synthetic position using options. There is absolutely nothing new here.

No review would be complete without mentioning Gotthelf's mysterious concept of Parity. First he tells you it's "a ratio that always equals one" (page 24). Next he tells you "there are no exact relationships" in FOREX (page 32), leaving you to wonder how Parity could always equal one if there are no exact relationships. Then he muddles through two hundred more pages and eventually you, the reader, decode the fact (which Gotthelf never bothers to state exactly) that his "Parity" actually means "Equilibrium". Great. But where's the insight?

I own several other Wiley Finance books and all of them have wonderful quotes from important figures in the trading world, in the form of testimonials and gushing recommendations on the rear dustjacket. Kaufman's "Trading Systems and Methods" has five, Hill and Pruitt's "The Ultimate Trading Guide" has four, Ryan Jones's "The Trading Game" has five, Sweeney's "Maximum Adverse Excursion" has three, et cetera ad nauseum. But this currency book by Gotthelf has exactly zero quotes on the dustjacket. No recommendations, no congratulations, no endorsements. I suggest you follow the advice of everyone who DIDN'T write a recommendation for Gotthelf's book: stay away.

Soros's Resource
OK, I don't know if Soros used this resource, but he probably would have enjoyed it. This is a classic for anyone who wants to engage in serious trading or speculation in the foreign exchange markets. This book entertains as it illustrates. One caveat is convertibility risk detailed in Tavakoli's book on "Credit Derivatives". We saw this happen in several Latin American countries, Iran, and more, and that effects settlement on foreign exchange and foreign exchange options. Another product Tavakoli writes about is credit default contingent foreign exchange. One can speculate and earn big premiums, but the risk is difficult to evaluate. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Making True Revolution with Success
This is a complex and multidimensional book on many levels. This book is not really about what governments can do to help their countries develop. In fact, the word "development" hardly appears. It is about the unproductive relationship between government and the private sector that wastes time and other valuable resources in emerging economies. The authors hold both parties responsible for moving on.

As stated on the first page, Simon Bolivar's epitaph reads, "Whomsoever has worked for a revolution has plowed the sea." Meant by Bolivar to convey despair and the heartbreak of failure, these words are transformed by the authors who have maintained a sense of optimism and good humor throughout their own experiences in the rugged world of transformation consulting. The Introduction, the book's first substantive chapter, is a cautionary tale of the Colombian flower industry, that prospered globally for decades, but later declined and has not yet recovered. Through this "case", seven patterns of firm behavior that inhibits economic agility are identified. The first seven chapters of the book elaborate on these patterns, wonderfully illustrated with other cases (Peru's fishmeal and Bolivia's soy industry, for example). The authors describe a sort of bratty adolescence that traps companies and industries in emerging economies. Chapters 8 and 9 are a fine application of micro principles around the theme of strategy, again focused on the firm. The authors advocate the old-fashion but culture shattering step of focusing on customers, costs and competitors in order to guide and inform decisions about strategy, positioning and productivity. They offer information and learning as a way for firms to experience a "coming of age" in the competitive sense. The role of government in promoting economic transformation is not touched until Chapter 10, two-thirds of the way through the book. Chapter 10-12 are probably where readers will find the book a bit frustrating and repetitive. Not enough time is spent defining what the authors mean by "steering mechanisms". This is undoubtedly because the book assumes the reader already knows alot. Chapter 10 mostly illustrates shifts in steering mechanisms using the case of a wall-bouncing Bolivian government. Chapter 11 is almost singular for business books - there is an actual discussion of research and the presentation of data. It is a practitioners discussion, however, not an academic one, so potential readers can relax.

B-school vets and other warriors will recognize alot here as an application of Michael Porter's "diamond model" from his Competitive Advantage of Nations (1990) and indeed, Porter writes the Foreword. The authors have extended the "diamond's" scope and reach, but their own model is not apparent until the end, Chapter 13. Their model for bringing about industry level change appears in the book's final four pages.

This book's protagonists are leaders in firms, industries and government, as well as their mindsets and actions. The word "leader" might be interpreted by some readers as "government" but this is not accurate. This book does do something extraordinary, however. On one hand, it is a blood and guts how-to on diagnosing and fixing the self-defeating decision making of firms in the emerging world. On the other hand, the conceptual framework within which political economics is practiced, debated, planned and evaluated is updated to reflect the fact that competitive advantage, not absolute or comparative advantage will increasingly referee the win/loss columns in the global economy. The context of political economics is addressed entirely without reference to ideology. This might strike some as soulless or arrogant. It might strike others as about time.

The writing in this book reflects a highly integrated understanding of business and economics, as well as intimate and affectionate knowledge of Latin American business and classical culture. Also apparent are the authors very fine liberal arts backgrounds, years on the road and a sense of mirth. Finally, these authors clearly know their work and thinking is culture altering and socially revolutionary. Their obvious goal is to realize the dream of Bolivar by capturing the minds of today's business, industry and government trend setters. While I would say their hearts are definitely not bleeding nor on their sleeves, their drive and focus are more uplifting than anything I have read or seen in a long time.

Insightful but too wordy
A very insightful book about how countries as a whole compete in the world economy. It presents several interesting ideas about relative competitive strengths & weaknesses of nations and the source of these competitive positions.

The book falls short on readability. The authors could have conveyed the same message in half the pages. Often, I found myself skipping entire paragraphs and sections to find the ideas burried in all the verbiage.

I still rate it a 4 because of the importance of the topic covered and the insights contained in the book.

A refreshing guide to strategy in third world economies
This book is a surprise. Very fun to read, very insightful and plenty of new ideas for doing business from emerging economies.

terrific read
I found the book a terrific read. I think it is huge task for an developing country to grow out of the habits of being follower. It is not impossible, but the probablity is low, especially since most of these countries are not technologically savvy.

The book gives anyone from an emerging country some hope that they too can compete in this quickly advancing world.

Cheers

Victor

Insightful, Refreshing and a Great Read
It isn't everyday that one gets to read a book about business and have it read as pleasurably as a good novel. Fairbanks and Lindsay have a gift for business analysis and a gift for writing. When will their next book be coming out? ... Read more

Book Description

Did Patrizia Reggiani murder her ex-husband, Maurizio Gucci, in 1995 because his spending was wildly out of control? Did she do it because her glamorous ex was preparing to marry his mistress, Paola Franchi? Or is there a possibility she didn't do it at all?

In this gripping account of the ascent, eventual collapse, and resurrection of the Gucci dynasty, Sara Gay Forden takes us behind the scenes of the trial and exposes the passions, the power, and the vulnerabilities of the greatest fashion family of our times.

Reviews (25)

Dishy, Yet Intelligent
This is an amazingly detailed, perceptive, and engrossing read! I read it on a cross-country plane trip, and the hours literally flew by. Forden traces the history of the Gucci empire from its earliest beginnings to the present day. This history provides a context for the drama, upheaval, and legal battles that plagued the family in the 70s, 80s and 90s. Forden weaves the personal, public, and legal aspects of these battles in a seamless, cogent, and intelligent discussion. While it is a sensational story, Forden does a great job of getting to the facts that underly the disputes and presents them without fanfare - they speak for themselves.

The photographs and family tree are great additions to this book. You'll need the family tree to keep track, and the photos make the story that much more real.

Watching the characters' lives unfold was better than any soap opera, precisely because they are/were real people whose choices led them on a path of destruction. Even so, Forden's prose avoids the talk-show and tabloid cliches that have ruined many a biography.

Finally, as an attorney, this book provided me with interesting insights into family legal battles and corporate organization.

"Dynasty", "Dallas"...."Gucci"?
Having worked in the fashion industry for the likes of Gianni Versace and Georgio Armani, I was naturally inclined to read this intriguing book based on the rise, fall and rise again of the house of "Gucci". I found the first half of the book to be the most facinating. The author does an excellent job in vividly decribing the humble beginnings of Guccio Gucci's small leather goods business to its eventual capitulation into a Billion dollar company...

The book reads right out of a script of "Dallas" or "Dynasty"...with the squablings, betrayals, greed and glamour associated with those t.v. shows....only this book's storyline is real. I was particularly impressed with the great amount of effort put into decribing each of the important characters associated with the Gucci saga. One really walks away with a true sense of the mindset behind people like Marizio Gucci and his power-hungry wife...

I am confident anyone reading this book will find that it is hard to put down (and will encourage the reader to run to the latest "Gucci" boutique and pick up a crocodile handbag!)

reads like a history book
The story of Gucci was interesting. In fact, reality surpassses fiction in this case.
However, I was expecting more of a narrative feel; this reads like a collection of well researched facts. Some of the other reviews say it is like a novel - I think it is more like an interesting history book. Especially at the beginning -hard to get into the first few chapters it is written in such a factual, boring way.

Love it! Must-reading for those of you that own GUCCI
It's a great story that gives you amazing insight into the house of Gucci...loved it! Now I have countless anecdotes to go along with my handbags.

A Must-Have for Fashionistas
This book provides an insightful look into the history and development of the House of Gucci. I have learned everything about how the business started, the Gucci family turmoil, and the recent comeback and dominance of Gucci. This is a great read. ... Read more

Book Description

Depending on one's point of view, multinational enterprises are either the heroes or the villains of the globalized economy. Governments compete fiercely for foreign direct investment by such companies, but complain when firms go global and move their activities elsewhere. Multinationals are seen by some as threats to national identities and wealth and are accused of riding roughshod over national laws and of exploiting cheap labor. However, the debate on these companies and foreign direct investment is rarely grounded on sound economic arguments.

This book brings clarity to the debate. With the contribution of other leading experts, Giorgio Barba Navaretti and Anthony Venables assess the determinants of multinationals' actions, investigating why their activity has expanded so rapidly, and why some countries have seen more such activity than others. They analyze their effects on countries that are recipients of inward investments, and on those countries that see multinational firms moving jobs abroad. The arguments are made using modern advances in economic analysis, a case study, and by drawing on the extensive empirical literature that assesses the determinants and consequences of activity by multinationals. The treatment is rigorous, yet accessible to all readers with a background in economics, whether students or professionals. Drawing out policy implications, the authors conclude that multinational enterprises are generally a force for the promotion of prosperity in the world economy.

... Read more

Book Description

In this book Ralph Gomory and William Baumol adapt classical trade models to the modern world economy. Trade today is dominated by manufactured goods, rapidly moving technology, and huge firms that benefit from economies of scale. This is very different from the largely agricultural world in which the classical theories originated. Gomory and Baumol show that the new and significant conflicts resulting from international trade are inherent in modern economies.

Today improvement in one country's productive capabilities is often attainable only at the expense of another country's general welfare. The authors describe why and when this is so and why, in a modern free-trade environment, a country might have a vital stake in the competitive strength of its industries. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Interesting Discussion but poor Presentation
The first thing that struck me was the large number of typo's.
Starting with page 4: "when we does development abroad help"
and on through the rest of the book. Also, the graphics appear
crude.
In part 1, I could not find any reference to the fact that
"free" trade does not exist in the real world. Countries use
tariffs, taxes, subsidies, etc. to further their own interests.

Understanding International Trade
A must read book for anyone with an interest in International Trade. Gomory and Baumol take an insightful look into trade in this era of multinational companies, expanded trade and developing countries. They develop a technique to determine whether a trade decision is mutually beneficial (or detrimental) to the parties. While no "magic" formula to precisely determine the benefits of an individual trade decision, at least there is a cogent framework to start from.

As a lay reader it was apparent that to assure our continued growth and successes that we must continually innovate to create the next big retainable industry as well as continue productivity gains to compete with low wage developing countries in easy to enter industries where we have a major interest.

An exceptionally thorough analysis of today's world of trade.

Trade For Dummies
Don't be put off by the title. This book should be called "Trade for Dummies." The authors kindly start where most of us left off in Econ 101 - with comparative advantage. We all remember that nature endowed England with a comparative advantage in wool, and Portugal in wine, so that this trade was an obviously good thing.

But what about today's vastly more complex economy where considerations go far beyond the mere geography of natural resource distribution? What about the role of industrialization? Or technology? Or information? Who has what advantage? And how to measure it? The authors have solved this seemingly daunting task, and present their conclusions in a few simple graphs that could fit easily onto Mr. Laffer's napkin.

How do I know that they solved the problem of reducing all the complexities of international trade to a few simple graphs? Well, I really don't know because I am not enough of an economist or mathematician to follow the technical stuff, but the authors very kindly put all that in the second half of this slim volume as kind of an appendix for the professionals. That the two authors are a leading economist and a leading mathematician is obvious from the brief biographies. And that the work passes professional muster is obvious from the blurbs. So while I can't personally check the authors' assumptions and methodology, I can accept and fully understand their conclusions as set forth in the first half of the book - the only part I read.

Not surprisingly, the graphs show that most international trade is indeed mutually beneficial. But not all. The graphs also reveal what the authors call a zone of conflict. It is to this area that attention needs to be paid. What attention do the authors suggest? Well, they are a little coy. I suspect that at this stage they are just trying to get acceptance for their framework of analysis. Anyone questioning any aspect of unrestricted free trade today is subject to being labeled a protectionist, which is only one step above racist, so the authors understandably tread very carefully.

A splendid and provocative little book dealing with a very big subject.

Gripping Eye Opener
These 73 pages kept this layman engrossed and enlightened. You learn why World Peace through World Trade ain't necessarily so, but can be a win-win situation for nations who understand the theory of the Global Trade game.

In cogent and concise language,the two gifted authors upset the notion that a dollar of National Trading Income is indifferent to what is being traded. National Trading Income from a "retainable" industry like computer chips produce strategic strengths for a nation compared to the same amount of National Trading Income from potato chips.

This new vector on Global Trade alerts business leaders to rearrange intellectually their risk-reward equation to secure a more favorable outcome.

Great stuff!
Gomory and Baumol are two heavy-weights from the world of Economics, Industry and Mathematics who have made use of a lifetime's worth of observations to create a new theory of international trade. Their work is truely original, theoretically rigorous, and highly applicable to real-world problems: A powerful combination. As a graduate student in economics, I have found few books so compelling. ... Read more

Book Description

This book allows readers unfamiliar with the international political economy to go from 0 to 60 mph: it is a comprehensive yet reader-friendly exploration of the theoretical perspectives of IPE, an investigation of security, trade, finance, and knowledge, and a discussion of current global issues. Sound organization and a wealth of current and historical examples and case studies allow readers to develop an understanding and an appreciation of the relevance of IPE in their daily lives. With much broader coverage than any other book of its kind on the market, Introduction to International Political Economy discusses the historical aspects of the subject; international finance; the global security structure; knowledge and technology; state-market tensions; North and South; the human connection; transnational corporations; and global problems. An excellent read and reference resource for anyone interested or involved in politics, international relations, and economics.