Export-management Books

This book gives you what it says it offers: insights in international negotiation. It is not a book you read in one greedy gulp, but in
exciting chapters about as diverse subjects as international diplomacy, scientific analyses of processes of negotiation, multicultiural aspects of conflict resolution etc.
This book has recently been updated and that makes it a valuable contribution to that small stack of true, as in rich and multifacetted, handbooks.

Van den Berg and Lewer bring a fresh look at what trends, dynamics, and models are present in today's global business world. One of the greatest strengths is the ease of reading through complex theories. The book is based off of sound statistical evidence which present a thorough yet unbiased perspective. The book can be read for enjoyment (insight) and/or as a textbook for class. I would also recommend reading the book as a supplement to any international business class and/or any economics class. The book is relevant to both undergraduates and postgraduates. Personally one the best books on my bookcase. FIVE STARS!

The book is a comprehensive analysis of Japanese foreign investments and Characteristics of the Japanese multinational companies, their behaviours, investment styles, performances, strategic managements and human resources management styles. The first chapter narrates the story of the Japanese foreign investments in recent years. The second chapter describes and analysed the global environments for Japanese multinational companies. and business regulations affecting multinational companies in a number of countries. The third chapter describes and analysed the domestic environments for Japanese multinational companies, product development strategies, financial system, manufacturing process and cross-cultural managements. The fourth chapter analysed the expansions of Japanese multinational companies across the world and their performances. The fifth chapter analysed the impacts of Japanese multinational companies on their host nations and on Japan itself regarding employments, investments, production and technology. The sixth chapter analysed the strategic management styles of Japanese multinational companies and in particular the behaviours of Nissan, Toyota and Honda motor corporations. The final chapter analysed the human resources managements and in particular Japanese management philosophy in three major Japanese multinational companies and how these companies are transmitting Japanese management styles in their foreign locations. Overall all materials used in this book are derived from several years of research and analysis. Most of the materials are not readily available as these are from Jaopanese sources. This will be an important source book for students and researchers on international business.

This book describes both the historical and present incarnations of the Keiretsu, and offers clear explanations as to their influence on the way Japan, Inc. works. What distinguishes this book, however, are brutally candid insider portraits about life within the manufacturing heirarchies of Japan, Inc. The result is a comprehensive picture of Japan's business climate, presented as vividly as anything you will find on the subject

This book is one of the best books that is available for Korean Ethics and Business. The author explains the different categories of Korean Business, gives a history and explains the Korean Character. The author explains that Korea is one of the newest markets that is growing rapidly.The Korean products are very competitive just like the Japanese products. This book is very valuable for anyone doing business in South Korea or doing business with Koreans in their own country.

Managers & Mantras is a superb account of a company's struggle with the outside influences of consultants, B-school management theory, and stock market analysts.

Butler and Keary trace the progression of Inchcape plc from its beginnings as a shipping/trading company, to its establishment as an "international marketing, services and distribution group", to its current form as an automotive services group. The transformation of the company from a diversified conglomerate to a de-mergered, focused business comprises the majority of the book, and with good intent. During this time the management of Inchcape looked to the top consulting firms and business schools for advice and assistance in order to both become successful and maintain a good standing with the stock market analysts.

An amazing amount of personal insight and detail is provided in the descriptions of the company's efforts to define itself, its mission, and its future direction.

Managers & Mantras does not read like any other business book on the shelves. I was swept into it from the first chapter because it tells a compelling story while at the same time provides many first-hand lessons of the pitfalls of a firm's adherance to the fashionable management theory of the day (the 'mantras' of the title).

I thoroughly enjoyed Managers & Mantras and I highly recommend it to anyone wishing to gain insight into the practical application of management theory.

I accidentally became an exporter two weeks ago. And this book REALLY brought me up to speed quickly and saved my rear end in a big way.

Up until two weeks ago, my products had all been sold domestically. I naively decided to accept an order from Japan, and before I knew it, I was an exporter. At first you might think...."Easy, I'll just box it up and give it to the FedEx guy" Ha! If you are shipping a high technology item, double Ha!! As my delivery date loomed, I bought this book, hoping that it could save me and prevent this sale from de-railing. Miracle of miracles, this book really worked.

I started reading the sections that I thought were most relevant, and then oddly found myself becoming fascinated with the entire subject. I started digging deeper into each chapter and learning more and more. Do you know that great feeling when you have added a new skill set to your repertoire? That's how I feel now.

I highly recommend this book. Not only does it contain great information for exports, but it actually helped me discover that this subject is actually quite fascinating and nuanced!

Although our consulting staff does not deal in international direct response marketing, we receive many inquiries on this subject from around the world. We recommend this publication without hesitation. It clearly presents the many steps necessary to successful direct-market a product or service into North America, Europe and Asia. With interesting case studies, it answers key questions about creating effective sales messages, securing reliable international mailing lists, pricing in foreign currencies, delivering overseas, and receiving prompt payment. John R. Jagoe, Director, Export Institute.

This excellent book summarizes decades of research on the economics of multinational firms. A central puzzle economists pose is why multinational firms choose to establish an overseas presence rather than simply to export goods and services. The two main answers are to gain access to potentially large markets that would otherwise be closed--which the authors call horizontal foreign direct investment (HFDI)-- and to gain access to low-cost local inputs as part of a strategy of global competitiveness--termed vertical foreign direct investment (VFDI).

In the chapter on HFDI , the authors ask why multinational firms sometimes set up "greenfield" operations abroad rather than simply merging with or acquiring a local firm. Mergers and acquisitions "account for the dominant share of FDI flows, especially to high income countries." But greenfield investments are still important; most host countries prefer greenfield investments over mergers and acquisitions.

In the chapter on VFDI the central question is how a firm will divide its production processes across different locations with different factor prices in the presence of "trade costs" and "disintegration costs." VFDI flows between two countries will not occur unless factor endowments are sufficiently different. However, factor price equalization will occur over time, partly as a result of VFDI flows, and so VFDI may eventually be replaced by HFDI. Both, however, are dependent on trade and disintegration costs.

Why are the international operations of firms sometimes "organized internally, in wholly owned subsidiaries" and sometimes "externally, under arms-length contracts with independent local producers"? The main reason given for internalization is market failure connected with arms-length contracts. According to the authors, there are three types of market failures: the hold up problem, the dissipation of intangible assets, and principal-agent relationships between multinationals and local firms. The hold up problem occurs when a local firm has to make investments that are specific to the contracting relationship. The potential losses caused by an altered relationship result in underinvestment. The dissipation of intangible assets occurs when a foreign firm cannot avoid losing control over valued assets because of its contractual relationship with a local firm. The principal-agent problem occurs because of hidden actions or hidden information about local market conditions. The local firm may have an interest in concealing local market information from the foreign firm.

Another chapter summarizes large-n quantitative research on the determinants of FDI flows and other indicators of multinational activity. The main factors examined in this chapter are plant-level economies of scale, firm-level research intensity, home and host country market size, geographical distance (and other possible barrier-related factors), and transportation costs. The so-called "gravity model" explains much of the variance in country to country flows of FDI so most empirical research controls for gravity in measuring the impact of non-gravity factors. At the end of the chapter, the authors provide suggestions about how to improve existing quantitative research by allowing for a variety of motives for foreign investment (HFDI, VFDI, and combinations thereof), by including both firm-level and country-level variables in the analysis, and by separating mergers and acquisitions from greenfield investments empirically.

In summarizing many empirical studies on the impact of multinationals on host countries, the basic conclusion is that "MNEs are indeed very different from local firms." They are larger and more efficient, they pay higher wages and employ more skilled personnel. "This is so because MNEs bring to host countries a bundle of characteristics that are not necessarily available locally: technologies, brands, management procedures, market access, and so on."

A case study of foreign investment in Ireland, which has been successful in attracting increasing inward flows of FDI, mainly from the United States, shows that Irish tax incentives had a lot to do with the decision of multinationals to locate operations there. The authors conclude with a warning of the possible negative consequences of Ireland's having to harmonize its taxes with other member states of the European Union.

A further chapter on the impact of foreign investment on home countries concludes that this is generally positive because "foreign investments are more likely to strengthen than to deplete home activities." The authors are correct in noting, however, that home country effects are less well studied than host country effects.

In the concluding chapters, the authors call for "coordination and supranational regulations...to ensure that international markets work in an efficient and beneficial way." But they also argue that "multinationals are a fundamental and efficient component of a globalized world, not an enemy within." They advise developing countries to emulate Ireland which, in their view, "successfully managed to use its initial cost advantage to create long-lasting linkages with foreign investors."
This is an excellent book about the economics of multinationals and foreign direct investment, though it will not be a popular work among opponents of globalization. Unlike other works, it does not ignore negative effects of multinationals. It does not, however, discuss potentially negative cultural impacts of the branding and marketing strategies of global oligopolies. The authors put the onus on governments to see to it that the positive benefits of globalization can be felt beyond the narrow circle of industrialized and industrializing countries.

I would recommend this book for graduate students and for advanced undergraduates in economics or political economy programs. It is comprehensive in its coverage and clearly written, a worthy successor to earlier summaries of the field.

Excellent book for people new to the United States. Faster read than similar books like Culture Shock and to the point. Offers information on a variety of topics that is very easy to understand and put into practice.