Customer Reviews

Managing Across Cultures (2nd Edition)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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...)

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.

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

Though the focus is on management, "Managing" is too limited a title for this excellent read. The book offers insights for those involved in cross cultural or multi cultural work or travel.
Although written to academic standards for MBA and executive level courses with reference level detail, it reads like a popular non-fiction with anecdotes, stories and/or illustrative graphics illustrating every point.
It seems pricey but the 300+ pages of its three sections make it really three books in one.
As a cross cultural trainer I thought I knew this material, but professor Schneider helped move me to the next level. In addition to greater conceptual understanding I now have greater understanding of previously overlooked cross cultural nuance.

Jonathan Kroner
http://jonathankroner.com/

The book was received in good decision and within the time promised of two days.