Working GlobeSmart: 12 People Skills for Doing Business Across Borders [Hardcover]

Ernest Gundling (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0891061770 | ISBN-13: 978-0891061779 | Publication Date: April 28, 2003 | Edition: 1

Whether working on a virtual team that spans the globe or in a multicultural workplace in your own community, this field guide to global citizenship details what it takes to add value to the business of global enterprise.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

While the idea of a global village where people and markets seamlessly commingle is attractive, actually doing business across borders can be tricky. Gundling, an Asia specialist at the management consulting firm Meridian Resources Associates, sets out to light the way for those venturing into international waters. Gundling knows his stuff: the book is dense and detailed, with anecdotes on handling all manner of situations, from dealing with a Turkish subordinate to evaluating a Russian executive. It lacks literary flair, proceeding in an exceedingly workmanlike fashion instead of pulling readers in with rich narratives. It's an invaluable primer, though, in reminding executives that doing business abroad is more about people skills than anything else. Nuanced issues of culture and tradition are often what's behind communication breakdowns, so knowing how to behave and interact in foreign climes is what will launch readers beyond what the author derides as "cruise ship globalism" and help them arrive at a truly global understanding.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Engaging, thought-provoking. A good read even if you don't work globally. Many of the concepts apply right here at home. -- Training, December 2003

Managers who understand why these skills are important find partners more likely to respond and work together for beneficial results. -- Soundview Executive Book Summaries, Sept. 2003

Offers practical, skills-based advice. Provides a road map for developing competence at the organizational, group and interpersonal levels. -- Fort Worth Star-Telegram, July 28, 2003

This book aims to equip business executives with maps for navigating the often choppy waters of international business. -- Triangle Business Journal

What you may not know about conducting yourself in international business would fill a book--this one. -- getAbstract, December 2003

Zeroes in on one part of international business often overlooked until it's too late--people skills. -- Half Moon Bay Review, July 2, 2003

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Nicholas Brealey Publishing; 1 edition (April 28, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0891061770
• ISBN-13: 978-0891061779
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #889,005 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars STERN'S MANAGEMENT REVIEW FINDS THIS BOOK TOP-NOTCH!, July 8, 2003

By 

Gerry Stern "Stern's Management Review Online" (Culver City, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Working GlobeSmart: 12 People Skills for Doing Business Across Borders (Hardcover)

This book clarifies common pitfalls in interacting with foreign counterparts and offers solutions structured around twelve people skills: establishing credibility; giving and receiving feedback; obtaining information; evaluating people; building global teamwork; training and development; selling; negotiating; strategic planning; transferring knowledge; innovating; and managing change. The book is based on inputs from experienced country and regional experts. It includes numerous examples, charts, tables and appendixes, as well as chapter summaries and review questions. A top-notch book, bountiful in substance, it will help you build bridges over cultural divides.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Packed with Knowledge!, March 1, 2004

By 

Rolf Dobelli "getAbstract" (Switzerland) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Working GlobeSmart: 12 People Skills for Doing Business Across Borders (Hardcover)

This basic, solid book on global business takes nothing for granted. Author Ernest Gundling teaches by example and illustration, and has something approaching a horror of direct statement. At the end of each chapter, where a bolder writer might insert points to remember, he provides, instead, lists of questions to consider. This book will tell you the skills you need and will make you very aware of your deficits, but it will not tell you precisely how to develop those skills. Gundling does provide a wealth of little, fictitious anecdotes about people who have done the right or wrong thing in global business. In a refreshingly humble approach, he sometimes uses his own blunders as examples of what not to do. We recommend his book, which brings to mind that Socrates was judged the wisest of men because he knew he knew nothing. Readers will come a few steps closer to such Socratic enlightenment. What you may not know about conducting yourself in international business would fill a book - this one.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Take Notice: Global organizational development practitioners, May 23, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Working GlobeSmart: 12 People Skills for Doing Business Across Borders (Hardcover)

Working Globe Smart is the first book I have read where cross cultural principles are pragmatically integrated into organizational and leadership development frameworks. The context is accessible, well organized and engaging. I highly recommend this book to the global OD practitioner.