Book Description

This leading book in international marketing features comprehensive cases that cover consumer, industrial, low tech and high tech, product and services marketing.Specific chapter topics examine the global economic environment; the social and cultural environment; the political, legal, and regulatory environments; global customers; global marketing information systems and research; global targeting, segmenting and positioning; entry and expansion strategies: marketing and sourcing; cooperation and global strategic partnerships; competitive analysis and strategy; product decisions; pricing decisions; channels and physical distribution; global advertising; promotion: personal selling, public relations, sales promotion, direct marketing, trade shows, sponsorship; global e-marketing; planning, leading, organizing, and monitoring the global marketing effort; and the future of global marketing.For individuals interested in a career in marketing. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The up to date Case
This book has easy to understand & have up to date case. The Harley Davidson case is one of the cases that showing us how's struggling US to face Japanese company offensive. This is the good case to picturing the dawn to earth marketing strategy compare to arrogant & not efficient strategy willing by US Company.

good service
the service is very good and efficient

clear, understandable jargon
Marketing concepts are explained within global marketing frame in an understandable manner using the jargon everybody can understand. The principles that each company must take into account both at home and abroad are revealed. Especially, I liked "18 Guiding Principles of the Marketing Company". Articles from the scholars at prestigious business schools are related to global marketing concepts in most understandable way. This makes the book richer. Another thing making the book richer is Global Income and Population estimates, that is both put inside the text and at the end of the book as appendix. These estimates give clear grasp to the reader about world demographics and economic structure, and helps reader understand the subject at hand and, in general, world dynamics better. Interesting and information & expertise-loaded cases differentiates the book from other boring textbooks. The future of global marketing section of the book gives the reader an invaluable horizon. I suggest that you read it carefully, you will get too many things from it.

Students found this to be informative but not presented well
Valuable, current information presented in a rather dull, uninteresting format according to MBA students. Very comprehensive. ... Read more

Book Description

International Financial Management, 7e combines a strong foundation in international finance theory with current, practical applications.It provides thorough, up-to-date treatment of cutting-edge international finance issues along with traditional treatment of international financial management. This book is known for its readability and clear explanation as well as its extensive use of hands-on, real world applications and student-oriented pedagogy. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent for International Business!
The book was one of the best books I used throughtout my career, it's good for economist, finance people, and anybody who is in the international field in general.

A good study guide
This is a good study guide accompanied to the hardcopy of thetextbook Each chapter begins with specific objectives and an chapteroutline. Then all the definitiional, true and false and MC questions with easy access answers are presented. Readers can therefore quickly identify topics that are unfamilar to them and refer to the textbook for going into details.

Good for both students and busy professionals. END ... Read more

Book Description

Learn how to set up and run profitable businesses in the most alluring market, China.

• Stays away from theories and focuses on practical advice from real professionals with proven results in China, which is easy to understand and follow.
• Learn from the best practices of effective China business executives.

This book is written for professionals by professionals who have worked in China for decades. The book does not stress theory about how business should be done but rather how business is done by some of the most successful business executives in China. The objective of the book is to pass on practical advice on how to be effective and more importantly, profitable in China.

Almost every foreign company has made mistakes in China and it is the objective of the book to not only show new investors how past mistakes can be prevented but also to help those already in the market learn how other executives handle similar challenges. Real life case studies are also explored in-depth to give investors a better understanding of the challenges one can expect to face and more importantly a way to resolve them.

China Streetsmart also examines China's outlook to give the investor a balanced view that the attractive opportunities WTO offers must be juxtaposed with the critical challenges such as how to tackle growing unemployment and pervasive corruption. Streetsmart investors are cautious optimists and within every risk there are also great opportunities to be capitalized on. The benefits of investing in China are real. The critical question is not whether one should invest in China but rather how. This book will show you the way.

Reviews (9)

Great Practical Information
My company division has just started doing business in China. I didn't know where to start and found this book to be a common sense guide to business.

What I got out of your book was that -- treating people with respect (no matter the difference) is important to being successful and common business sense is common business sense no matter where you do business.

An excellent primer for Governor Arnold Schwartzneggar
As a resident of the fifth largest economy in the world--California, I found Mr. John Chan's book, China Streetsmart to be truly enlightening. The People's Republic of China (PRC) will soon pass California and will join the ranks of the Global Five.

Mr. Chan writes in a way, even an actor like Arnold Schwartzneggar could get a handle on the main strategies of doing business in the PRC.

One truly hopes that Mr. Schwartzneggar will take Mr. Chan's advice and encourage California's businesses to increase trade and invest in the PRC. Mr. Chan's "Deciding the Best Plan of Action" could assist the new governor's tenure in the State of California.

Should one zig or zag in doing business in China? Mr. Chan has clearly outlined the art of the possible from planning your negotiation, determining your partner, calculating risk and reaping the rewards in today's China.

This guide is a must for well seasoned business executives and to those who are just getting started in beginning a venture into
the Chinese marketplace. As Mr. Chan points out in his book, the Chinese saying "where there is danger, there is opportunity" still holds true today. Hopefully, Mr. Schwartzneggar will seize the investment opportunities in China and join Mr. Chan in the real world with this well written Chinese business guide.

A practical approach to developing a global mindset
A 2001 Jossey-Bass book by Vijay Govindarajan and Anil Gupta titled The Quest for Global Dominance introduced a new MNC lingo, global mindset.Although appearing novel compared with the framework developed around another more widely used term, transnational corporation, brought up a decade earlier by Sumantra and Goshal in Managing Across Borders, global mindset in Govindarajan and Gupta's book is merely differentiated conceptually from the diffused and parochial mindsets. There is little practical guide as to how an MNC or its managers may develop a global mindset.

The Six China Streetsmart Action Steps provide ready-to-use recipe for developing a winning China mindset. Moreover, they should appeal to managers of any globalizing business as a universal approach to developing a global mindset. Personally I resonnate the most with the chapters on the six action steps. They are full of practical insights, and stimulate my reflection upon my own understanding of the Chinese and Western cultures and their possible interactions. I also like the case study, can't stop fantasizing making a box-office hit similar to the movie Gun Ho. In addition, I am impressed by author's ability to summarize a whole gammit of most relevant and pressing issues on investing in China in a nutshell of the last 50 or so pages, a real practical primer for managers in a hurry.

I do suspect the views and conclusions in the book biased towards expats,because I feel like guessing a couple alternative views on behalf of some of the Chinese JV managers as well as MNC headquarters staff whom I have encountered. It is also because I don't resist the temptation to put the research methods cap on myself and start to think about focus groups.

Of the six actions steps I prefer steps 2, 3 and 4 to the other steps for the unique insights and a more elevated discussion on the rationales beyond annecdotes. For example, geographic difference and difference in stage of development are why flexibility and adaptability are in need but not over-standardization. There are areas where the argument could have been made stronger. For example, the management consistency argument could have been strengthened by linking it to guanxi development, being thorough, and the essence of tacit learning process in an ambiguous business environment. Building respect, trust the Chinese way could have been elaborated further for the benefits of the expats. Relatively I got least out of the earlier chapters on guanxi, language and listening, except for the practical guide on local dialects and use of professional translators. While the author makes it quite clear what guanxi is not, the Confucian-based definition of what guanxi is keeps it distant from the reality of institutional arrangement in China, i.e. guanxi cannot be discussed fruitfully outside the nexus of multiple stakeholders whose interests need to be balanced when a bilateral guanxi is engaged or utilized. I find Mr. Lu a fascinating node of the guanxi nexus that hangs over the Portola Packaging case.

Practical and Relevant Guide for Business in China
Working in a joint venture between a Chinese company and a Canadian company, I can relate to much of the advice John provides in China Streetsmart. I only wish my Canadian company had this resource before establishing our JV 3 years ago. It would have made for a much smoother process on both sides.

John clearly knows his stuff and combines a great blend of concepts, stories, examples, practical advice and insight into Chinese culture. John's approach is pragmatic and invaluable to anyone considering establishing a business in China or any foreign market.

An Indispensable Resource
After reading China Streetsmart I now have a stronger sense of how to take my North American business to China. It's important to me that the author not give me theory rather something that I can really use. John's unique combination of western background coupled with years of experience on the "front lines" of doing business in China make him an unparalleled authority on how to truly be effective and profitable for anyone that is looking to do business in China. John has taken his personal experiences and to that added stories, both successful and unsuccessful, from other high-level executives to truly give the reader a realistic view of what works and what doesn't work in China and more importantly, why. I really liked the color charts and statistics throughout. I believe this is a must-have resource for anyone looking to start a business in China or enhance an existing China-based business! ... Read more

Book Description

"Essential reading for anyone concerned with importing and exporting."
—International Small Business Journal

Build your import /export business faster, stronger, and more profitably

Give your budding import/export business a big boost and keep it going strong with expert advice and proven solutions from one of the foremost authorities in the field. In Building an Import/Export Business, Third Edition, renowned entrepreneur, international trade consultant, and lecturer Kenneth Weiss brings you completely up-to-date guidance on every aspect of conceiving, launching, and operating a successful import/export business.

This easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide is packed with the very latest information on government regulations, tax laws, customs requirements, and shipping procedures. What’s more, it features proven strategies for using the Internet to reduce costs, gain a marketing edge, establish sales and information resources, and develop a targeted customer base. You’ll also learn how to:

• Choose a winning product line
• Target a profitable market
• Prepare a powerful business plan
• Cope with rising security concerns
• Make foreign currency transactions with confidence
• Take advantage of GATT, WTO, NAFTA, and other trade pacts

Reviews (6)

yup, I agree, this is good!
some of the books I bought from here were so out there!! They didnt say things that I can relate in a real life!! I found them so boring!! but this one is good coz, if ur thinking about starting importing/exporting job, u can definately use this book as a guide!!

No Better Book for Starter, I Promise
I bought a whole library of Ex/Im titles to learn the trade, and I must tell you that starters in this business will not find a better book.

It is very well written, holds your hands, yet very entertaining and indeed you learn the whole business of Export-Import. A decent high-school student can read through this book and right away open his own Ex/Im startup. And by the way, there is absolutely no riches overnight. If you hussle, and stick with it, you'll triumph.

Isaac

Excellent source for the beginner
This book was excellent. I wanted to start an import/export business and this book was the most comprehensive I have read so far. The author tells readers what periodicals to read, how to find business opportunities and what to look out for. It's a must read for anyone entering the business.

Good book, but cursory understanding of Asia
I liked this book. I was disappointed that it did not recommend specific strategies for specific markets. As some one engaged in export/import, for an understanding of the Asian market I was really helped by "New Asian Emperors: the Overseas Chinese, their Strategies and Competitive Advantages" by George T. Haley, CT Tan and Usha C. V. Haley. When supplemented by richer, more-area specific material like this, this book provides real insight.

Thorough, yet practical hard to find info.
Great for the new exporter/importer. This is the age of international business. This book quickly adapted us to the lucrative import/export world's vernacular. I recommend it to larger businesses too for the examples it gives. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In Conquer the Crash, Robert Prechter explains why he thinks the boom times are behind us. Based on his interpretation of the Elliott Wave principle (an idea premised on the notion that mass investor psychology is what really drives markets), Prechter believes that the U.S. economy is about to enter into a deflationary depression that few investors are prepared to deal with. In making his case, Prechter assembles an impressive array of data that in essence suggests that the bill for the last 10 years of market excess is about to come due. The second half of the book shows how to avoid becoming "a zombie-eyed victim of the depression" and offers advice on protecting one's assets in a deflationary environment (cash is king). If there's any good news in the future that Prechter sees coming (other than how to avoid it), it's that all-out depressions don't last very long. Conquer the Crash should appeal to gloom-and-doom investors and to those desperately looking for a safe haven from the uncertainties of today's markets. --Harry C. Edwards ... Read more

Reviews (89)

Who are you going to believe?
Subscribers to Prechter's newsletters will have already read most of what is in this book. But for the other 99.99% of investors in the world who are not his subscribers, he has distilled down his reasoning and recommended course of actions into one convenient place.

This book is really two books within one set of covers -- the publisher even uses two different kinds of paper stock to differentiate the "books." In "book one," Prechter draws from history and shows charts & graphs (some going back 300 years) of what has happened in situations similar to what we are going through today. Known for his Elliott Wave analysis, Prechter does not stop there. He uses all of the tools of technical and fundamental analysis to methodically build his argument that the current market downturn is very far from over. Like a lawyer presenting a case, he covers everything from esoteric considerations such as rising federal debt as a percentage of GDP, to public psychology, to the ultimate impotence of the Fed. At the end of the section, the reader is left with the choice to either believe that history repeats, or that "this time it's different."

"Book two" presents practical advice of what to do now. He offers suggestions of what to do if you're in the stock market and your account is way down. He covers junk bonds, real estate, treasuries, pension plans, 401Ks, insurance, gold, and the whole spectrum of investments. To help the reader, he lists the safest banks in the country. He has eye-opening advice for people who are relying on government protection such as FDIC bank account insurance. Finally, he shows how to actually profit in the environment we are currently in.

Some disparage Prechter for his past fault of getting out of the market too early. It's a valid criticism; nevertheless, every one of his predictions are currently playing out. How do you argue with someone who is right?

Ultimately, the reader is left with a choice. One is to follow the financial mass media, economists and brokerage analysts who say recovery is just around the corner. The other is to look at history and Prechter's prediction, along with his track record of being only one of a handful of people to predict the magnitude of the market crash. Who are you going to believe?

Shows you how to profit from the coming depression.
In his new book, Robert Prechter makes a convincing case that we are heading for a deflationary depression, similar to the environment the U.S. saw in the early 1930's, and Japan has experienced for the last 12 years. Readers are shown how to prepare, and even prosper as this deflationary scenario unfolds. While most will be crushed by the weight of their own mortgage and credit card debt, readers of this book can take advantage of a once in a lifetime investment opportunity.

Prechter's understanding of technical, contrary, and economic analysis is exceptional. According to conventional wisdom of investors, traders, and the so-called "experts" on Wall Street, external events and fundamentals cause psychology and social mood to change. Flying in the face of this conventional wisdom, Prechter maintains that in reality the opposite is true; psychology and social mood cause underlying economic and market conditions to change. Once you view events from this perspective you can successfully anticipate conditions and properly adjust your investment techniques for maximum wealth appreciation and preservation.

Prechter identifies the many ways for readers to profit off the continuing stock market decline. Whether you trade stocks, bonds, commodities, or options you will find valuable advice in this book. It will have a permanent spot on my own bookshelf next to Prechter's earlier classic "At the Crest Of the Tidal Wave". Prechter's advice will surely be used in my own trading.

Interesting but...
I like Prechter because he's an interesting, unconventional thinker. But... I want to be careful and fair... doesn't his track record leave quite a bit to be desired?

At one time (I think the early 80's), I've read or heard he did well with his market predictions. But, not sure, didn't he get the 87 crash wrong in the sense that the market quickly recovered and that would've been the opportunity of a lifetime to buy? And, hasn't he's been bearish though another great opportunity, the incredible bull market of the latter 90's?

Finally, here we are in mid 2004, with Gold holding _above_ $400, the stock averages within spitting distance of their old highs, and the fed likely to raise interest rates because of the economic recovery (along with job creation) to keep inflation in check.

It just seems like Elliot Wave strings you along... there're always unlikely alternate counts and unlikely alternates to those that make you question why the unlikely of the unlikely seem to happen so often. I'm not trying to bash; would actually prefer to be more positive; but am simply expressing an honest dissapointment.

Highly Recommended!
Prophets of doom have always made entertaining reading. In his latest fire-and-brimstone warning, Robert R. Prechter, Jr., an experienced forecaster of long-term economic and social trends, says financial Armageddon is just around the corner. While his technical analysis ("Wave Theory") may appear to be stock-market astrology, readers may appreciate his examination of the basic functions of money and credit, his argument that worldwide central banking has fundamentally altered these functions, and his perceptive comparisons of the late 1990s with the Roaring Twenties. Prechter might have appealed to a broader audience by toning down his graphs and technical talk, and focusing instead on his investment suggestions: If the market turns down, you'll save your skin, but even in a bull market, keeping your money safe can't hurt. We recommend this book to anyone looking for bear-market investment advice, as well as those interested in technical analysis or an opinionated view of business and market cycles.

A poorly argued case, even for market bears.
Mr. Prechter is best known as a popular advocate for the Elliot Wave principle. He continues this school of thought in this book.

The book is divided into two parts. The first part attempts to persuade the reader that the US economy is headed for a deflationary depression. The second part recommends actions to prepare and prosper during a deflationary depression. This specific edition of the book also includes an update written in 2004. (The original book was written in 2002.)

First of all, with any investment book review, it is important to understand the reviewer's biases. My belief is that the US will enter some type of unwinding, either through an extended securities bear market, or more severe overall imbalance. I maintain a minor belief in technical analysis but do not rely on it.

Elliot Wave analysis is, at its core, a technical analysis methodology. Elliot Wave claims to find a recurring pattern in short term, long term, and ultra-long term market price charts. What is gravely missing, however, is some sort of explanation or justification for its supposed utility. Many schools of technical analysis, for example, give plausible explanations for why "resistance levels" exist based on market or individual investor psychology. This is completely missing from Mr. Prechter's writings and thus he fails to distinguish himself from a long line of failed data miners.

This missing and crucial "why" is the most glaring hole in this book. While other writers attempt to prove a thesis through a chain of reasoning and supporting data, Mr. Prechter skips steps in his thesis. The holes are not glaring to a casual reader, but a person with some breadth in economic knowledge will easily spot large omissions.

For example, even if you accept the disjointed framework of technical and fundamental analysis, the fundamental arguments for deflation are seriously flawed. Note, also, that Elliot Wave principles claim only to predict the performance of securities. Thus, Elliot Wave is agnostic with respect to the inflation vs. deflation debate. Therefore, Mr. Prechter's arguments for deflation are purely fundamental in basis. This is where his loose foundation really comes apart. His understanding of the Federal Reserve functions are contrary to those written by many other writers and scholars, including many who share similar contempt for the Federal Reserve. This is rather crucial, because the specific authorities and obligations of the Federal Reserve can determine whether a presumed economic failure results in deflation or hyper-inflation. Convincing cases for deflation have been made, but Mr. Prechter does not offer one.

Where many market bears thoroughly argue and carefully build their conclusions, Mr. Prechter glosses over far too many details to arrive at this deflation conclusion and blatantly ignores examples that contradict his thesis. He uses the US depression of 1929 as his sole argument that monetary policy is powerless to prevent deflation, forgetting that Federal Reserve authority was much lesser back then. Meanwhile, he ignores the numerous historical hyper-inflation examples caused by monetarism, such as 1970's US "stagflation", the recent collapses of Argentinean and Mexican currency, or even popular historical cases such as the South Sea Company bubble and post World War One Germany. Mr. Prechter is either grossly ignorant or deliberately avoiding such cases. Neither speaks well for him.

Most importantly, he sets up his own case of why he is wrong. He admits that there is a small probability that he could be wrong and that hyper-inflation will set in. Mr. Prechter says that this would be indicated by a declining US dollar and a price of gold reaching above $400 per ounce. Both are now clearly true, yet in his 50-page 2004 appendix, he conveniently ignores this fact and chooses to emphasize only his market index prognostication.

The rest of his fundamental case rests on material already beaten to death by other bearish scholars. He writes about historical price to earnings ratios, the contrarian indications given by popular finance magazines and long-to-short ratios, for example. His fundamental arguments are not thoroughly presented and escape ridicule only because others have argued the case before him. He adds nothing new here.

Since the first part of the book is so poorly supported, the second part regarding how to survive a depression is irrelevant. His recommendations generally apply only to deflation and would not work in a hyper-inflation or zero-inflation economy.

When one supports an already argued case, the burden of proof is small. However, if one dares to present a different case as Mr. Prechter has done, one needs to cover all well known and reasonably applicable cases at a minimum. Mr. Prechter has failed in this regard and by his own criteria. ... Read more

Book Description

Market-defining since it was first introduced, International Business, 4e by Charles W. L. Hill, continues to set the standard for international business textbooks. Charles Hill’s reputation as a leading thinker and actor in the international arena precede him, and he is regularly asked to explain world economic events on National Public Radio. His expertise lends itself to a book that is thorough and up-to-date. Because many issues in international business are complex, they necessitate exploration of pros and cons of economic theories, government policies, business strategies, organizational structures, etc. The author challenges the often shallow explanations that other books offer, while maintaining a tight integrated flow between the chapters. Hill’s book is practical in nature, focusing on managerial implications of each topic on the actual practice of international business. The author’s passion and enthusiasm for the international business arena is apparent on every page as he strives to make important theories interesting, informative, and accessible to all students. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Excellent Textbook on Globalization of Business
Dr. Charles Hill has the rare combination of excellent subject matter expertise and writing skill. I purchased this textbook for an MBA course on Global Business and have been extremely impressed with Dr. Hill's work. It is organized, easy to read, the introduction and sidebars augment the text exceptionally, and the case studies are thorough and applicable. Unlike another reviewer, I found the depth of coverage to be appropriate for an MBA program and especially enjoyed the treatment of monetary systems and the weaving of economic theory throughout most chapters. This book is a keeper.

this book did NOT include the CD nor the map as stated
I ordered this book for a 6 weeks class I am taking and only ordered this one because it included the CD and the MAP that I needed. I could have ordered just the book for around $40, but I choose to pay the extra (almost to $90) because it this one SAID that it included the CD and the MAP - well guess what it didn't I was RIPPED off - the class is over a very short time period thus I have no time to return the book and get another
BUYER BEWARE!!!!!

WARNING
This is a third edition Book. Most classes that are now in session are looking for the fourth edition - I found this out the hard way. So watch out.

Excellent in-depth introduction
I found this book to be a well organized and stimulating. I have taken a course in Int Business as part of my undergraduate business degree. I discovered this book offered as part of an Int Business degree program at another institution and decided to purchase it. I found it to be so much better than the first go around that It was like I never learned Int business to begin with. Well written; I am very skeptical of typos and could only find one which was very minor. This book is a real eye opener and you will never want to stop reading it. It is one of my favorite text books! Thanks Charles Hill.

Most useful handbook
As a prescribed book for our MBA course (University of South Africa) I found this publication most enlightening. It is current and up to date, and addresses diverse topics which exert influences on business. Themes include national and cultural differences, global trade, politics and investment, the global monetary system, foreign exchange and capital market, strategic issues, and business operations.

I could find nothing wrong with the writer's style. References are copious and the text is fairly easy to understand. Although it could be argued that postgraduate students will grasp the contents easier, even an undergraduate friend of mine found the book fascinating and well written.

Whether for formal studies or personal interest I can highly recommend this volume. ... Read more

Book Description

Global Marketing 3e utilizes a three-pronged framework to organize the discussion of how to conduct global business: Foreign Entry, Local Marketing, and Global Management. Johansson seeks to develop the varied skills a marketing manager needs to be successful in each of these tasks. The discussion progresses from how to market an existing product outside of the domestic market to how to develop a new product for specific local markets and then broadens the scope to discuss marketing and management topics from a global managerial perspective. Legal, regulatory, political, and cultural, issues are discussed as appropriate throughout the text. Excellent examples and cases, many of which are drawn from the author’s rich international experience help students move from concept to application. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Global Marketing
Have not received the book and was charged for it.

Great Framework, nicely written
I've used this text since the 1st ed., in MBA and Exec.MBA courses in both Europe and the US. The framework (captured by the title)offers a nice progression for both the instructor and students. Johansson's text is nicely written, and reflects his broad world view (A European, a solid academic, and a hands-on consultant to a number of global firms).
My students continually give this book high ratings in their course evaluations, which is one important reason for continuing to use this text. The cases are varied in length and complexity, and match up nicely with the different sections of the book. The Instructors Manual with case notes is strong.
One knock of the text (and one that applies to all International Marketing texts) is that the global market place is evolving so quickly that some of the materials are outdated within a year or two or the text's publication. An easy solution here is to download current developments from the global press for class discussions. Johansson's textbook has such well written theoretical frameworks, that while the book eventually lags current market practices (as they all do), the explanatory value found in the text still does a strong job in thinking through the issues. This is a solid textbook. One that students keep, and one that is structured for a variety of teaching approaches.

Excellent Text. I Enjoy Teaching It!
I have been teaching this book for many years at the University of Maryland, ... I am both practitioner and academic. I had other text choices but I did select this book. What attracts me the most - clear foundation: foreign entry, local marketing, and global management. It makes the challenge reachable. Each edition makes book stronger and more interesting. It is work in progress. I watch the reaction of the diverse population of my undergraduate students. They accept the book, and enjoy the travel around the world with marketing in mind. ...

Horrible ! not for beginners.
This is an example where some academics should not be writers, a good marketer does not make a good writer or teacher.
The author writes in a very hard-to-understand language, Im not saying this just because my native language is not english - my english speaking friends have expressed the same experience with this book.
You get the feeling the author is purposely trying to use as many uneccesarily elaborate words and expressions to show off his academic status, and he takes little time to explain things clearly and rushes by at high speed.
This book is not for beginners of marketing! It would be more useful as refresher material for those with prior knowledge, or as a refference source.

For beginners I would recommend either books by;
Masaaki Kotabe 'Global Marketing Management' or
Warren J. Keegan 'Global Marketing Management'. ... Read more

Book Description

Following the tradition of Keegan's acclaimed Global Marketing Management, this groundbreaking full-color book offers a concise introduction to the field that is presented in a lively reader-friendly style. The authors integrate relevant real-world cases, vignettes, and boxed features with a clear, engaging narrative to effectively communicate the excitement, challenge and discipline of global marketing.Coverage features an enhanced presentation of global trade; expanded and improved social/cultural coverage; the most recent research; the impact of Information Technology; an expanded section on global retailing; finance coverage in a valuable chapter appendix; a consolidated treatment of market entry strategies; specialized discussions of global communication decisions; quotes from today's professionals; enhanced Internet integration throughout the book; concise, issue-oriented and timely cases; and a vivid, full-color design.For those interested in international marketing and the global business environment. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Global enrichment for marketing education
In the age of globalization it could be a great advantage to get some global skills. For this purpose this book combines the three main elements of the global business: an environmental approach (economic env. with aspects of national economics, geographical orientation, polit. and legal env.), management (strategies, competitive advantage, organization, etc.) and marketing (research, segmentation, mix, etc.)

"Global Marketing" may be useful for students or graduates, especially with some background of the above mentioned subjects, to get basic skills in global business (foreign exchange, WTO, European Union, American communication styles, music in India, Bud versus Bud, Benneton's global advertising...).

This is topical, definitely highly readable and competently written with interesting cases. ... Read more

Book Description

The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy takes the reader on a fascinating, around-the-world journey to reveal the economic and political lessons from the life story of a simple t-shirt. Over five years, business professor Pietra Rivoli traveled from a Texas cotton field to a Chinese factory to a used clothing market in Africa, to investigate compelling questions about the politics, economics, ethics, and history of modern business and globalization. Using the story of the t-shirt to illustrate the major issues of the globalization debate, this uniquely entertaining business book offers a surprising, enlightening, and balanced look at one of the major topics of our time. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Thoroughly enjoyable and unique
A unique and well-written book of international economics for anyone. No hard edges or hard opinions cloud this book's ingenious premise. From someone who has read many books on business and econ, this one is not only feel good but brilliant. Enjoy!

great book on globalization
An entertaining and insightful read on how the global economy really works for people. the author tackles the serious issues about globalization by exploring the life of her t-shirt, but she also is a great writer who can take the complex and make it both understanding and entertaining. bravo!

A Historical Tour of Industry Issues
I'm from the apparel industry - not fiber, yarn, textile or retail which in the US are separate industries - but apparel, the cutting and sewing and shipping of clothing. Ironically, a week before reading this book, I was given a passionate and amazing talk by an executive from one of the non-apparel companies profiled in this book. When he was done, I told him his business plan, which he detailed, could not have been written by an academic or a consultant, but only by a warrior in the supply chain. Well, this book could not have been written by a warrior, but only by an academic. In its description of the travels of a shirt, it bears close resemblance to a similar story written several years back in the NYTimes magazine. Having said that, this book rocks. Its great. Its a tutorial of how the apparel industry chases the low cost needle from country to country. And it is extremely current. I learned a lot about cotton, yarn, textiles, trade, lobbying, England - but nothing new about apparel, per se. So to me, everyone will learn something new from this book. It is unfortunate the author did not interview Kevin Burke of the American Apparel and Footwear Association. She seems to imply that the AAMA just disappeared. It did not. Kevin is a key player in the "Alphabet Army" the author describes as centered in Washington. Still, as I read the book, I learned the history of one of the members of our organization (www.aapnetwork.net), a highly successful cotton organization called PCCA. And I saw many names of people I knew first hand. There is so much history to the apparel supply chain I simply did not know - and now I understand it much better. As for my own bias of the divergent sides one takes on trade, I found myself leaning side to side like an old hill billy watching wrestling on TV as I squirmed in response to one sides rhetoric and the others B.S. Its well written. I like to think I'm a good industry writer, but I could not have done what Dr. Rivoli has achieved. Its a great yarn, maybe a little too heavy on the sweatshop, dogma and labor aspects of the issue, but then again, its written by an academic. I'm still waiting after 15 years of touring apparel factories all around the world to find an actual sweatshop. The only one I've ever seen was on a PBS documentary shot in New York of a horrifying factory there. Apparel chases the low cost needle. As Wal-Mart told me personally last decade, "when a US apparel contractor can make a dozen golf shirts at the same quality and price as we're getting from Cambodia, we'll buy them". Apparel chases the low cost needle. China is the world's apparel plant floor. Wal-Mart is the world's retail floor. Reality rules, and it is so inevitable it hurts. Are there any questions?

Rags become Riches.
An entertaining read on global economics -- instructive economic history that delves into economic theories. The author shares her insights as cotton is cultivated in Texas, woven in China, sold in Florida, and eventually winds up in vendors' stalls in Tanzania, with numerous other stops in between.The T-shirt's journey demonstrates a need for full or better access to markets as the moving force of capitalism, and encourages further discussion on the political methods used (or to be used) to achieve that access. ... Read more

Book Description

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS, 7th Edition presents an up-to-date and complete exploration of international business issues and practice. The author's experience as both practitioners and academics brings a balanced and seasoned voice to the text. The text is built upon a strong foundation of theory and includes current examples, cases and insights showing how global businesses apply these concepts.The text examines the role and impact of culture and also includes numerous current world maps, helping learners develop and refine a global perspective. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Yes, but ...
Very practical book, with full-detailed examples, but lacks in theoretical analysis. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Ugly Americans documents the "Wild East" of the mid-1990s, where young, brilliant, and hypercompetitive traders became "hedge fund cowboys," manipulating loopholes in an outdated and inefficient Asian financial system to rake in millions. Using a concept called arbitrage, they made their fortunes mainly on minute shifts in stocks being sold on the Nikkei, the Japanese stock market, collapsing banks and nearly bankrupting the Japanese economy in the process. Other schemes were also concocted, most of which were technically legal, though certainly unethical. This true story revolves around "John Malcolm," who, in exchange for anonymity, agreed to give Ben Mezrich all the access and information he needed to write this book. As a recent Princeton graduate in the mid-1990s, Malcolm accepted an undefined job offer from an American expatriate in Japan to work in the investments field. Though he had no prior experience, he facilitated 25 million dollars worth of trades on his first day on the job, and it just got more exciting from there. He soon joined a small group of expatriates, all in their twenties and mostly Ivy League graduates, who lived like rock stars, thriving on the stress and excitement of their jobs to create their own steroid versions of the American Dream half a world away. Mezrich tells this riveting story well, incorporating elements of the culture into his narrative, including the infamous and pervasive Japanese "Water Trade," or sex business, romantic intrigue, and even run-ins with the Yakuza, the Japanese mafia. Though there is little real analysis of their financial dealings and how they ultimately changed the rules of finance in Asia, this entertaining page turner does offer a glimpse into a world little explored in print until now. --Shawn Carkonen ... Read more

Reviews (51)

LIved in Japan and this book is a good first step
I agree some of the details are faulty and things of this sort, but for a entertainment read this book is very good. I also think if you had no influence from Asia this book might be a eye opener and help you get interested in the region.

Disappointing
Having lived and worked across Asia within multiple industries (including finance), I eagerly awaited this read.Unfortunately, I found the same old clichés on Japan and Capital markets. It takes years to really understand the region so fault to the author, but for something less glammed up and exoticised, (yet also based on a true story), I might suggest Clissold's, "Mr. China." Better yet, spend some serious time in Asia. It will pay off for you in the next century.

Just Ugly
I was excited to read this book: 1) the same author as the compelling Bringing Down the House, and 2) a plot about hedge funds -- a topic of personal and professional interest to me.The excitement dwindled fast.
Ben Mezrich is a very average writer.He tries too hard at times to describe a different world, only to lose all crediblity in the eyes of those actually familiar with that world.He doesn't trust the imagination (or intelligence) of his reader, whom he constantly talks down -- perhaps a Harvard-learned trait.
Mezrich needs to get over his lovefest for Ivy league schools and their students.People who attend the Ivies are smart, but so too are the students of another 50 or so US institutions.It gets sickening after a while to read his constant, self-congratulatory fawning over the Ivies.(For the record, I have met far fewer people in the hedge fund world from the Ivies than I have from schools like UVA, Michigan, and Chicago.)
The plot of Ugly Americans seems very forced.If someone had told me this story over dinner, I certainly wouldn't have felt compelled to turn it into a book or a movie.The details don't hold together at all, and even if they did, they wouldn't be fascinating either to those versed or unversed with hedge fund strategies.
Overall, this book didn't disappoint me strictly because of Mezrich's superficial understanding or explanation of hedge fund strategies.It disappointed me because it is poorly written and weakly characterized.It disappointed me because it wasted my scarcest resource, free time.It disappointed me because I really did enjoy BDTH, but now my view of that compelling read is tarnished too.

A Good Read
I dont know how accurate some of the minor details of this book are as some have mentioned "full ride to ivy league schools etc.) but regardless I really like this authors writing style and usually read his books all the way through because they are very well done as far as capturing and keeping your attention.

Good read; could have used more technical details
Although Mezrich embellishes the characters enough to make an exciting semi-fiction story, I was very interested when the actual topics of hedge funds and arbitrage were breached. Yet, Mezrich seemed to make little effort to explain these in anything more than basic terms. Considering that the book is based on the exploits of high finance, I wish there was more in-depth analysis. Still, it is an intriguing book and a fast-paced read. ... Read more

Book Description

Emphasis is on the broader international business environment and the context in which accounting is practiced worldwide.
* Explains how the development of equity markets around the world has strongly influenced a convergence of key accounting practices.
* Focused on the business strategies of MNEs and how accounting applies to these strategies. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

This is a decent book...
I agree with the previous reviewer who mentioned the text was very disorganized. Much of the information provided is very redundant, hence the book could have been much shorter (and less expensive).

Synopsis: National cultures and laws affect accounting standards used by different countries. The book discusses the major differences of accounting in great detail. There is a push by the International Accounting Standards Board to harmonize accounting standards so that international financial statements will be more comparable. Will they succeed? Read this book and then decide for yourself.

Best in giving full information and food for thought
I have used the book while working on my Final Thesis. I found it very informative and at the same time it is not overwhelmed with extensive discussions not relating to the main topic. It is clear and logical.

Needs extensive editing and reorganization.
This text suffers from its haphazard organization and lack of clarity in presentation. Textual material could be simplified if presented in tabular form. Text also suffers from lack of precision in references to accompanying tables. Material and citations tend to be a hodgepodge of older and, in some cases, obsolete studies done by other academicians. ... Read more

Book Description

This book's dynamic portrayal of international business (cross-functional and integrated in approach) makes its content lively, topical, and enjoyable. It includes examples of companies from around the world in order to provide an unbiased, global perspective on business. Clear, straightforward explanations of challenging material are supported by informative illustrations that give readers easy access to this subject.Chapter topics include culture in business, politics and law in business, business in other economies, international trade, foreign direct investment, international financial markets and monetary system, acquiring business resources, and managing the international business.For anyone who wants to understand international business—and fully appreciate how business is conducted today. ... Read more

Book Description

In the ever-changing world of complex international rules, laws, regulations, and customs, even seasoned export/import professionalsmay find themselves in unfamiliar situations.

Export/Import Procedures and Documentation puts reliable solutions to problems like wrong documents and procedural misunderstandings right atreaders' fingertips. This comprehensive answer book supplies ready-to-use forms and provides a clear view of the entire export/import process. This newedition has been thoroughly revised to include:

* New Shipper's Export Declaration forms and instructions * U.S. Customs Service "Reasonable Care" checklists * New Automated Export System (AES) procedures and documentation * Updated Customs Audit Questionnaires.

Also featured are 37 updated forms as well as 12 all-new forms, a section on e-commerce in international marketing, Websites for 94 export and importagencies and information sources, and listings for export and import software. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

An outstanding practical reference for active exporters.
Our copy of this book is being used constantly by our consulting staff. It covers the complicated process of shipping products to foreign markets. We recommend it to our clients, especially those who handle their own international shipping, insurance and payment processing. John R. Jagoe, Director, Export Institute. ... Read more

Book Description

In 1991, a small group of Russians emerged from the collapse of the Soviet Union claiming ownership some of the most valuable petroleum, natural gas and metal deposits in the world. By 1997, five of those individuals were on Forbes Magazine's list of the world's richest billionaires. These self-styled oligarchs were accused of using guile, intimidation, and occasionally violence to reap these rewards. This revelatory work examines the structure of the Russian economy and considers why it collapsed in 1998 and why it began its recovery in 1999. It also provides a close examination of the Russian oil industry and the oligarchs who control it and who have now decided to go "legitimate". ... Read more

Reviews (3)

How The Russian Mafia Destroyed Russia
I first became acquainted with this work through an NPR interview. The author, Marshall Goldman, was suddenly asked by the reviewer what he thought about top Mafia thug Mikhail Khodorkovsky giving a million dollars to the Library of Congress (as a means of legitimizing himself). Naturally, as I work at the Library of Congress, I perked up, paid attention, and then bought the book. Wow.

Khodorkovsky (currently in jail) started out as a good little communist, belonging to the Komsomol, and going to college. Johnny on the spot, he parlayed a small bank charter for
Menatep to become Russia's richest man. Unfortunately, Menatep was involved in the Bank of New York money laundering scheme, bilking the US out of billions. In 1994, the Federal Reserve ordered the CIA to investigate Russian banks, a study which concluded most Russian banks are Mafia controlled. Although the study is still classified, Menatep was the only bank publicly noted for being Mafia controlled (page148). Knodorkovsky started Yukos Oil, which was a swindle. Using this money, Khodorkovsky, with Henry Kissinger as a member of his board, gave one million dollars to the Library of Congress to start the Open Russia Foundation (page 149).

Another Library of Congress rent-a-thug was Vladimir Gusinsky. Gusinsky predated Khodorkovsky--probably because he's currently on the lam--and had helped fund the Librarian of Congress' Russia documentary film. Gusinsky had actually attended the University of Virginia to study financial management. He named his business empire MOST (a play on the word bridge)after the sign on ATM machines. Goldman also provides us with the "how" of how these two Mafia "oligarchs" could seem presentable given their backgrounds. Somebody got them the services of APCO, which is an offshoot of Arnold and Porter, a top DC law firm full of congressmen and other movers and shakers (page 129). The rest is history, as they say.

I also just have to mention one of the Russian jokes that Goldman repeats. Due to broad government theft this one circulated: A man parked under Yeltsin's office and walked away. A guard rushed up and said "You can't park under Yeltsin's office." "It's okay, the man replied, "I locked the car."

Goldman gives us the backgrounds and histories of all the top "oligarchs" and an explanation any layman can understand regarding just how Russia became so corrupted. This book, then, is not just for Library of Congress employees looking to see who the latest donors to our institution are.

Our Librarian of Congress, James Billington, is a former Sovietologist and "Russian scholar," so I suppose he knows what he is doing. Here is what Goldman thinks, though, "The more involved Russian businessmen become with the West, the more likely it is that they will come to adopt Western business practices, presumably good ones. But there is no guarantee. Given how deeply ingrained some of the less desirable practices are among Russian administrators (past and present) it is only to be expected that some of the more nefarious behaviour we have encountered inside Russia will also surface outside (page 118)."

An Absolute Must Read
I was first drawn to this book after hearing the author interviewed. He was talking about his book when he was interrupted and the interviewer asked Marshall Goldman about Russian Mafia PR campaign on US government officials.(...)In the book there is a brief mention of this fact on page 149, "To show how public-spirited YUKOS [the Mafia-run oil giant] had become, it donated $1 million to the U.S. Library of Congress and set up an Open Russia Foundation with, among others, Henry Kissinger as a member of the board of trustees." It was James Billington, the current Librarian of Congress and former "Sovietologist" professor who brought them all together. Wow.

This book is not just about the Mafia figure, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who ownes YUKOS. What sets Goldman's book apart from others I have read, such as "Comrade Criminal," is the description of what went wrong in Russia when the Soviet Union fell. Dr. Goldman paints a rather bleak picture. Goldman explains the how and why of the vouchers scam and how out of Russia, a certain overnight class of incredibly rich "oligarchs" came on the scene. Goldman shows how these billionaires never developed an economy, at one point contrasting how in Poland the problems that occured in Russia never arose.

If you want to lose sleep you need to read this book as the inroads of Russian Mafia-controlled in America should cause real alarm. As cited on page 118, "The Russian were supposed to adopt out ways, not bring their ways to the United States." Congress is well aware of all this, as on page 128 Goldman relates how the CIA reported that half of Russia's banks were Mafia controlled. The only bank to be so named publicly is MENATEP (page 148). The man the Librarian of Congress brought to the Library of Congress was not just the founder of MENATEP, but also involved in the Bank of New York money laundering.

The two chapters on the oligarchs (pages 98-156)make for heavy reading, especially since two of the oligarchs are (now were) directly involved with the Library of Congress, Vladimir Gussinsky (who fled Russia) and Khodorkovsky (arrested in his jet and currently in jail in Russia). Goldman really gives you the average Russian viewpoint of these oligarchs and the Putin reactions. That the oligarchs are intertwined with the KGB and the fact that the Russian government is predominated by KGB types is described by Goldman. His repeating of jokes really gives the feel, like the one about the subway rider who asks the man standing on his foot if he is from Petersburg (Mafia central) or the KGB. When the man says neither, he is then asked "then why are you standing on my foot?" The other great joke describes the outright theft of the country through the story of the man who parks his car under the window of Yeltsin's office. You can't park under Yeltsin's office the guard says, which the man responds "It's okay, I locked my car."

It is all this together than makes this book a classic.(...)

Best book on the topic
I have read many books on the transfer of the USSR state economy to private hands and this is, by far, the best and clearest on the topic. If one has to read just one account, this is it.

Since this is one of the great economic changes of the 20th century, and robbery on a scale that has few if any precedents, Goldman's book is very valuable and important. He is candid about the monumental errors his colleagues made as advisers (ignoring those who dipped into the honey pot and made, by professorial standards, fortunes). He has interviewed countless people and made the arcane clear. Authoritative, well-written, an excellent piece of work. ... Read more

Reviews (49)

Natural Capitalism is a MUST READ for MBA's, CEO's, Politici
Throughout this extensively researched book, the three authors (Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins and Hunter Lovins) eloquently describe the mind-set required of businesses that wish to evolve their models of business successfully into the next millennium.

By providing a mix of real-world examples, coupled with logical extensions to the philosophies that have dominated main stream economic theories for the majority of the 20th century - the authors allow us to peak through the curtain - to catch a glimpse of what the world will be like in 50 years time.

Natural Capitalism espouses a vision of a world where long term profit is the driving force behind global strategy, where 'whole system thinking' dominates rather than simplistic compartmentalised agendas.

We have only just discovered the technologies that allow us to assess the impact of the techno-industrial systems which we have grown over the past 150 years. With a little imagination, and a lot of logic Natural Capitalism gently points out the way forward. Toward a trajectory where the (re)application of such systems can construct a new environment, together with the economic opportunities and rewards that come from such an evolution...

This a must read book for all entrepreneurs, businessmen, politicians, researchers, economists, environmentalists, educationalists in fact just about anybody who wishes to live both comfortably, profitably and in harmony during the next century. It argues for an extension to the economic theories that pervade organisational thinking, for a more realistic assessment of the life cycle costs involved in business processes, and above all for a more realistic assessment of the value of natural resources.

This book will help you think. This book will help you live. This book will help you work. This book will help add value to your life... READ IT!

Beyond Darwin
As this new century begins, if there is only one book which everyone on the planet should read, it would be Natural Capitalism. Why is it so important? In my opinion, because it provides the most convincing, the most compelling argument in support of Wendell Berry's assertion that "what is good for the world will be good for us." Darwin's concept of natural selection becomes irrelevant if there is no environment in which such selection can occur. The authors introduce us to "The Next Industrial Revolution" with all oif its emerging possibilities. In subsequent chapters, they continue to examine natural capitalism in terms of "four central strategies": radical resource productivity, biomimicry, service and flow economy, and investment in it. According to the authors, natural capitalism "is about choices we can make that can start to tip economic and social outcomes in positive directions. And it is already occurring -- because it is necessary, possible, and practrical." For me, the information provided in Chapter 3 was almost incomprehensible in terms of the nature and extent of waste. Of the $9 trillion spent every year in the United States, at least $2 trillion is wasted annually. How? For example: Highway accidents ($150 billion), highway congestion ($100 billion in lost productivity), total hidden costs of driving (nearly $1 trillion), nonessential/fraudulent healthcare ($65 billion), inflated and unnecessary medical overhead ($250 billion), and crime ($450 billion). All of this waste can and should be reduced, if not eliminated. What the authors present, in effect, is a blueprint for the survival of the planet. All manner of statistical evidence supports their specific recommendations. Unless "The Next Industrial Revolution" succeeds in implementing those recommendations, natural capitalism will eventually be depleted ...and no one left to regret its loss.

Not the environmental economics bible people seem to think