Understanding Global Cultures: Metaphorical Journeys through 23 Nations [Paperback]

Martin J. Gannon (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0761913297 | ISBN-13: 978-0761913290 | Publication Date: November 29, 2000 | Edition: 2nd

This book, a best-seller in its first edition, uses cultural metaphors to help students and managers understand, describe, and compare national cultures. In adding countries covered, the author introduces new conceptual frameworks for classifying cultures based on the works of Triandis, Fiske, and Huntington. These frameworks support students as they develop an increased awareness of various cultures and begin the challenging process of integrating cultural and economic perspectives.

New nations in the edition include:

• Thailand
• Saudi Arabia
• Brazil
• Poland
• Korea
• Malaysia
• Mexico
• Portugal

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Immensely engaging and interesting." 

(Academy of Management Review )

"Thought-provoking and significant." 

(Journal of International Business Studies )

"Innovative and entertaining perspectives on world cultures."

(Personnel Psychology )

About the Author

Martin J. Gannon (Ph.D., Columbia University) is Professor of International Management and Strategy, College of Business Administration, California State University San Marcos. He is also Professor Emeritus, Smith School of Business, University of Maryland at College Park. At Maryland he held several administrative positions, including the Associate Deanship for Academic Affairs and the Founding Directorship of the Center for Global Business, and received the University’s International Landmark Award. Professor Gannon has authored, co-authored, or co-edited 90 articles and 17 books, including Paradoxes of Culture and Globalization (2008), Handbook of Cross Cultural Management (2001), Dynamics of Competitive Strategy (1992), Managing without Traditional Methods: International Innovations in Human Resource Management (1996) and Ethical Dimensions of International Management (1997). Professor Gannon has been the Senior Research Fulbright Professor at the Center for the Study of Work and Higher Education in Germany and the John F. Kennedy/Fulbright Professor at Thammasat University in Bangkok, and has served as a visiting professor at several Asian and European universities. He has also been a consultant to many companies and government agencies. Professor Gannon has lived and worked in over 30 nations for various periods of time as a visiting professor, consultant, and trainer. For additional information on Professor Gannon, please visit his Homepage at California State University San Marcos: www.faculty.csusm.edu/mgannon

 

Product Details

• Paperback: 488 pages
• Publisher: Sage Publications, Inc; 2nd edition (November 29, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761913297
• ISBN-13: 978-0761913290
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #399,879 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Invaluable Academic Resource, October 3, 2001

By 

Carl A. Scheraga "Professor of Business Strat... (Fairfield, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Understanding Global Cultures: Metaphorical Journeys through 23 Nations (Paperback)

I have now used Gannon's book at both the MBA and senior undergraduate level in courses on Cross-Cultural Management. It is the best approach I have found for synthesizing material from the sociological, anthropological and business disciplines in the education of the manager/student with regard to organizational design and its adaptation to the local characteristics of the market, the legislation, the fiscal regime, the socio-political system and the cultural system encountered in the international environment. Coupled with Gannon's other book of readings, research translations and commentary on cultural metaphors and his book of applications and exercises for working across cultures, the instructor has the most thorough framework and set of tools for dealing with the difficult issues encountered in understanding other cultures that I have seen to date. International students in my graduate courses have unanimously acknowledged that Gannon's metaphors for their cultures are perceptively and creatively right on the mark.

3.0 out of 5 stars A somewhat useful book, November 21, 2010

By 

The Rickshaw Driver (St. Paul, Minnesota) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Understanding Global Cultures: Metaphorical Journeys through 23 Nations (Paperback)

I had to read this book for a management class. As a text book I suppose it was alright. Perhaps my view of the book is somewhat tainted by the class in which I read it, but basically, the author makes broad generalizations about cultures which could be somewhat useful. However, as time goes on, I think these kinds of cultural generalizations are becoming less valid because so many other cultures have become obsessed with emulating American culture.

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Bet, August 23, 2001

By 

Joyce Osland (Lake Oswego, OR United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Understanding Global Cultures: Metaphorical Journeys through 23 Nations (Paperback)

Gannon and his associates have written a delightful, must-read book for people who work across cultures. The cultural descriptions are easy to remember and provide much greater depth than most treatments of culture. The book provides many new insights, even for people who know these cultures well, and is very good at explaining why other cultures behave as they do. Gannon's book is so well-written and interesting that my MBA students complain that they have difficulty wrestling the book away from other family members who pick it up and get hooked. If someone asked me to recommend just one book to read on culture, Understanding Global Cultures would get my vote.