Managing Across Cultures (2nd Edition) [Paperback]

Susan C. Schneider (Author), Jean-Louis Barsoux (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 13, 2002 | ISBN-10: 027364663X | ISBN-13: 978-0273646631 | Edition: 2

MBA and executive International Management; MBA and executive International Business; MBA/postgraduate modules in cross-cultural management, intercultural communication or intercultural management; undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs in international business or management.  This very accessible book draws upon a broad and growing literature on culture and management to discover national differences in management practice. It clearly relates cultural differences to daily business practice by using many and varied examples. Diverse range of topics covered, from structure and strategy to social responsibility and ethics.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Managing Across Cultures

 

Susan C. Schneider and Jean-Louis Barsoux

 

 

As more and more companies have a global reach, managing cultural differences is increasingly a part of every job. This book demonstrates how culture affects management practice, from organizational structure to strategy and human resource management. Drawing upon evidence from the authors¿ research, it encourages managers to reconsider, explore and transfer alternative practices across national boundaries. As well as providing an insight into other cultures, it will also provide readers with an increased awareness of their own culture.

In the second edition of this book, work has been developed on the impact of national culture on effective management and of utilizing differences to create competitive advantage. Using tools of observation, questioning and interpretation, the book challenges assumptions and encourages critical reflection on the influences of culture in business.

 

 

Key features:

• New and updated case studies and examples interspersed throughout

• Strong theoretical foundations are linked to highly practical application

• Expanded coverage of geographical perspectives and 'virtual teams'

• Improved design, layout and 'sign-posting' of content

 

 

Managing Across Cultures

will appeal both to managers and executives working in an international business environment, as well as to students on a growing number of MBA and other undergraduate, postgraduate and post-experience courses.

 

 

Susan C. Schneider is Professor of Human Resource Management at HEC University of Geneva, Switzerland, and Visiting Professor of Organisational Behaviour at INSEAD, France. As well as her research into cross-cultural and strategic management, she has actively assisted in the internationalization of many companies.

Jean-Louis Barsoux is Senior Research Fellow at INSEAD, France. He is the author of several books on culture and diversity in management, and has written for Harvard Business Review and the Financial Times.

About the Author

Susan C. Schneider is Professor of Human Resource Management at HEC University of Geneva, Switzerland, and Visiting Professor of Organizational Behavior at INSEAD, France. As well as her research into cross-cultural management, she has actively worked to internationalize the 'mindsets' of managers and companies.

Jean-Louis Barsoux is Senior Research Fellow at INSEAD, France. He is the author of several books on culture and diversity in management, and has written for Harvard Business Review and the Financial Times.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 2 edition (December 13, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 027364663X
• ISBN-13: 978-0273646631
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #312,437 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Managing Across Cultures, June 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Managing Across Cultures (Paperback)

Susan C. Schneider and Jean-Louis Barsoux do an outstanding job of covering a very complex subject. Their extremely comprehensive chapters will please the researcher and manager alike. They are well written, avoiding academic jargon, while at the same time providing all the references a reader wanting more information on any topic may need.

The three sections of the book are logically laid out. Part one gives necessary background on the meaning of Culture. First, it debunks a dangerous assumption: that business is business and cultures are converging, thus reducing the need for cultural sophistication on the part of a manager. They clearly demonstrate that Cultural differences are alive and well and have a significant impact on business. Then they go on to discuss different cultural dimensions and how countries differ from, or are similar to, each other along them.

In Part 2 of the book the authors demonstrate how Culture affects the organization, its strategy and human resource management practices. This is must reading for strategists and HR managers and anyone who wants to have a big picture understanding of the interaction of culture & business.

The final Part of the book focuses on the actual management of cultural differences. It was my favorite. Particularly, the chapters devoted to the 'international manager' and the 'multicultural team'. I have read extensively on the two topics and was very impressed by the depth and breadth of the discussion and the authors' ability to address all the relevant issues of two complex topics briefly and clearly. I found these chapters an extremely valuable overview of what we know on both topics.

The book ends with an overview of organization strategies for managing cultures differences: ignore, minimize, or utilize. The material in this chapter is equally applicable to global cultural differences and to domestic management of diversity. The authors wrap up the book with a coherent discussion of business ethics and social responsibility in a global-economy.

An excellent book. I recommend it highly to anyone doing international work today. (Which is practically everyone...)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars expand your horizon, March 14, 2006

By 

Manuela Dobrescu - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Managing Across Cultures (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

This book is great for those who are interested in comparative management. I liked it a lot and it was very useful for me because it provides lots of concrete examples of different management styles of various cultures. It made me understand and overcome some of my prejudices regarding different cultures of which I had created a certain image and it made me realize that most of the times what we assume about a different culture is wrong. It was a good read and I will certainly think twice from now on before judging people who think differently than me.

4.0 out of 5 stars Out if date, November 15, 2009

By 

Ales Danko "Ales Danko BBA" (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Managing Across Cultures (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

Current book is a great guide into an ocean of the international business. There is some useful information which is conveyed in quite difficult to read manner and currently is a bit out of date. The book is also loaded with a lot of 'bla-bla' which is quite common for HRM and Marketing books. Overall, not bad but could be more direct and simpler. IMHO