Customer Reviews

International Business: Strategy, Management, and the New Realities

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I've been teaching Global Business for almost thirty years and have used a variety of texts. In a crowded field of competitive textbooks, the Cavusgil, Knight, Riesenberger distinguishes itself for a variety of reasons.
First and foremost, the authors are able to present even the most complex of global issues in a very readable, easily comprehensible manner; and they certainly don't sacrifice depth where needed. Importantly theirs is a balanced approach, where theory and practice mesh together almost seamlessly and students will clearly realize the importance and value of the theoretical underpinnings of business practices. The authors seem to have made a very conscious decision to cut out any unnecessary jargon that could obfuscate students' understanding at both the undergraduate and graduate level.

The book captures contemporary trends substantively. For example, it's the first text that I know of, that does not limit the discussion to the challenges and potential of global business for large multinationals. The growing trend is towards more and more small and medium sized enterprises and entrepreneurial "born global" (authors term) firms engaged in international business. These enterprises demand strategic attention that this book beneficially underscores.

Another extremely worthwhile feature are the very practical exercises, including internet exercises and the "management skills builder" activities; most certainly exposure to these pragmatic exercises will help competitively prepare the students to "hit the ground running" for the companies that they work for.

For the instructor, besides good support materials including access to an "educator's forum", there is a very pragmatic benefit. Many schools and instructors have been struggling with how to meet the AACSB accreditation imperative (rightly so) of internationalizing courses and curriculum. This text is again, a pioneer in squarely addressing how various learning components contribute towards building skills such as the communication and analytical skills that AACSB emphasizes.

The authors have to be commended for the obvious hard work, careful thought and dedication that have gone into the preparation of this book.

The International Business text by CKR was written to meet the needs of students studying the globalization process. The textbook illustrates current events that have shaped the international business environment. In each chapter the learning objectives are clearly identified and the opening cases reflect global companies and the challenges faced from a country, economic, cultural, or managerial or market opportunity perspective.The opening cases reflect the content that will follow in the respective chapter by providing a global theme that students can understand prior to reading the chapter learning content.
Closing cases are detailed as are the questions. Instructors adopting the textbook will have ample resource materials to assign the closing case to a team or individually since case questions reguire students to make recommendations using both case information and chapter learing materials. The textbook is coded with AACSB standards in the Comprehension and Apply your understanding questions. As an instructor, the coding facilitates the grading and learning outcomes process.The end of the chapter "Apply your Understanding Qquestions are comphrehensive and encourage students to use their written communication skills by assuming the roles of CEO, Government Intermediary, retailer, and or consultant in responding to the questions. The responses to these questions require more than the typical textbook answer and provide a forum for interactive discussions in the classroom. The Globaledge Internet Exercises introduce students to international business websites that future global leaders must understand in developing market strategies, export business and future trade leads. The book is integrated with current business trends,surveys and includes an Eductor's Knownledge Portal where "best practices" can be shared with the adopters of the textbook. A good choice textbook for students who are being introduced to International Business or for anintermediate courses. The selection of exercises allows flexibilty and tailoring the learning exercises class's skill levels. A. Langlois

As a former IB executive and current professor of IB, I am very glad to see a text such as Cavusgil, Knight, & Riesenberger that takes such an innovative and refreshing approach to IB instruction while effectively addressing the needs of both students and instructors. The new education system that the authors have developed goes beyond any other text I have used and is well worth the wait.

The text has insightfully portrayed IB in a modern and dynamic light which allows today's students to grasp the importance and complexities of IB. The information is presented in a manner that is interesting to the 21st century college student, using practical and up-to-date examples and cases. This text conveys added value to students via the "Recent Grad in IB," which illustrates modern career paths, and the "Management Skill Builder," which provides added insight into challenges faced my international managers. Plus, "Vango Notes" are a must for any IB student with an MP3 player. Such innovations help the student to apply IB outside of the classroom.

For the educator the text presents a multi-faceted tool that is well-grounded in theory without sacrificing current and practical application for the classroom. In a break from the traditional textbook "extras," CKR provides real added value to instructors and Business Schools through its Educator's Consortium and the direct application of AACSB Learning Standards at the end of every chapter. In short, I'd describe this textbook as "efficient, effective, engaging, and enjoyable."

This book is an excellent resource. I used it to teach an undergraduate international business international overview course for two semesters and found it to be the best text of its kind. The authors have written a comprehensive yet intuitive presentation of international business that works well for all academic disciplines.

It's hard to present the basic concepts essential for understanding such a broad topic while incorporating meaningful detail but this book does an excellent job of just that. I think this is one thing the students really liked about this text.

I also found it easy to like. Good coverage of the core concepts permitted the opportunity to digress with "real world" examples. There's also a lot of good stuff provided by the authors available at www.prenhall.com/cavusgil/behindthebook.

So, two big thumbs (one from me, one from my students) for this book.

The book is a required text for an International Business and Law course in my MBA program. It is well written and laid out. If nothing else I am gaining a better understanding of international trade which is helping me to be a more informed consumer and voter. I will more than likely keep the book for a few years beyond the end of my class. My only complaint is I don't understand why it is so dog-gone expensive. Text books are such a racket.

An excellent resource for the business manager who is interested in touching on the realities of doing business in the global arena. Great for my International Business class. Anecdotally fun as well.

International Business: Strategy, Management and the New Realities by Cavusgil, Knight and Riesenberger succeeds on a surprising number of levels, reflecting the combined expertise of three talented scholars and business people and their determination to present a truly global view of business.

The text is highly readable by audiences of all ages, especially undergraduates. Chapters are of very reasonable length, and are vividly illustrated by photographs that capture candid moments in a wide variety of market and commercial situations. One wonders how the authors had the presence of mind to capture these candid shots during their travels.

The authors cater fully to a new generation of university students who instinctively turn to their computers for information. Thus the text is fully supported by its own learning portal, the C/K/R Knowledge Portal. For students who like to multi-task or prepare for class "on the go," VangoNotes.com offers almost six hours of narrated text. In addition, end-of-chapter exercises are linked to online resource materials housed at globalEDGE. This is a leading international business website hosted by Michigan State University where the first author is a distinguished faculty member.

A special feature bound to appeal to undergraduate readers is the inclusion of personal interviews with recent graduates. Their personal stories will encourage students to think about how their own careers in international business might develop after graduation. One interview with a young woman broaches the issue of how to balance a career in international business and family life.

From the instructor's point of view, the authors have addressed head-on new pedagogical challenges posed by AACSB (the international business school accrediting body). These challenges call for going beyond communication of business content to development of business skills. End-of-chapter exercises are fully tailored to develop a range of valuable analytical and communication skills, as well as promoting managerial problem-solving.

Instructors in international business will quickly recognize that each author has contributed much of his own individual scholarship, without making the text in any way cumbersome to read. Other contributions to the scholarly literature are also fully exploited in ways that students will find highly readable and memorable. The solid research base provided by the text will prepare readers not only to function as competent managers but may also encourage some to undertake graduate research.

Remarkably the three authors have not shied away from addressing issues of controversy where readers' opinions might divide. They address difficult topics by presenting a balanced analysis and encouraging readers to reach their own conclusions.

Particularly worthy of note is the extensive attention given to emerging markets, such as those in the Middle East and Asia, where growing consumer affluence and increasing investment opportunities demand the attention of global companies. The cosmopolitan tone of each chapter sets a new standard for international business texts. Finally, the extensive integration of online resources and teaching tools must be considered as defining characteristics of this text.

"nice". it is very worth to buy it!!!! great thanks for my friends. it is much cheaper than the price on the maket

This book is really easy to read. It provides really good information about issues concerning business in todays globalized environment.

"Are you ready for the new realities?" Sounds like a gameshow, but in fact, it's a wonderful new book on international business by Cavusgil, Knight & Riesenberger. Having taught IB at one of the largest community colleges in the U.S. for years, I was thrilled when I read their new book. As good as previous IB books were, they just didn't capture the dynamic, changing landscape of IB. The previous books focused on the "old realities".......a field dominated by the big players (MNE's), the minor role of emerging markets and the relative unimportance of global entrepreneurs in today's global economy. Additionally, rather than having to buy one book on strategy, one on management and another on international business, this book combines all three into one.

"International Business: Strategy, Management, and the New Realities" is a very comprehensive textbook. Some highlights include: a fascinating coverage of the phases of globalization which surprises students who think it is a new phenomena. A chapter on "Emerging Markets" and the key role family conglomerates play. The authors also fairly present the societal consequences of globalization; good and bad. Myriad examples of companies from all around the world illuminate and illustrate key concepts. The authors themselves have international backgrounds/ties and "get it". Their enthusiasm of IB permeates the text! There is even an "Educator's Consortium" which is the first online, global community for IB instructors.

In addition to all these positive attributes, the icing on the cake is the GlobalEDGE Internet and Management Skill Builder (MSB) Exercises at the end of each chapter. My students feel that these tools are very practical with a "hands-on" approach helping them to apply what they've learned in IB. For example, one MSB on "Evaluating Freightforwarders" was invaluable to many of my students who will eventually find careers in global logistics. CORE and EMPI diagnostic tools are priceless to SME's wishing to step out into the global economy. At our Export Academy, we are planning to offer a session covering these tools for our participants.

"International Business: Strategy, Management, and the New Realities" is truly a new reality!