CITATION

Solomon, Charlene and Schell, Michael S.. Managing Across Cultures: The 7 Keys to Doing Business with a Global Mindset. US: McGraw-Hill, 2009.

Managing Across Cultures: The 7 Keys to Doing Business with a Global Mindset

Published:  April 2009

eISBN: 9780071605861 007160586X | ISBN: 9780071605854

Book description:

hether you run a giant corporation or work in a small business, it’s more than likely that you regularly deal with people of different cultures—from customers and suppliers to salespeople and colleagues.

It simply can’t be overstated: You will have trouble succeeding in business today if you don’t appreciate and know how to actively manage global cultural diversity. Managing Across Cultures examines why people around the world behave as they do and provides actionable tactics for succeeding in today’s global business environment.

Experts in the field of cross-cultural training, Michael Schell and Charlene Solomon describe seven readily recognizable behaviors and explain what they mean, how to interpret them, and most importantly, how to respond to them.

Managing Across Cultures is filled with case studies illustrating the importance of understanding and dealing with cultural differences in all aspects of business. You’ll learn how:

  • Intel’s powerful global corporate culture is a critical element of its historic success

  • Colgate-Palmolive integrates cultural understanding into its global marketing programs

  • GE adapts its effective management style to local business cultures

You’ll also find out how underestimating cultural influence caused serious problems for organizations like DaimlerChrysler and Wal-Mart.

Managing Across Cultures takes you far beyond other books that simply catalog the customs, gestures, and language vagaries of other cultures. This in-depth, strategic guide will help in every facet of business—from hiring and motivating employees to developing winning sales pitches and marketing campaigns.

Effective management techniques that cross all cultural boundaries

Managing Across Cultures examines seven behaviors common to all cultures and explains how to pinpoint and interpret actions that might initially seem out of step with your way of thinking and operating.

Business guides that take a situational approach just don’t cut it anymore. You need to do more than learn the specific gestures of other cultures. You need a global mindset. You need to strategize. You need Managing Across Cultures.

“This book provides a practical framework to help you understand and negotiate the challenges of culture—I have used it with managers and MBA students alike!” —Hans Brechbühl, Executive Director, Center for Digital Strategies and Adjunct Associate Professor of Business, Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth College

“Cultural skill is a core competency for today’s business leaders, and as pointed out in Managing Across Cultures it’s a learnable one. As a business learning professional, I strongly recommend reading this practical and valuable book.” —Nancy L. Brennock, Director of Textron University, Textron Inc.

Managing Across Cultures is a must-read for anyone going to or thinking about going to work in another country.” —Andrew Walker, Head of Global Mobility, Thomson Reuters

Managing Across Cultures is an engaging and comprehensive resource for anyone who works—or will be working—across cultures. It is an excellent guide to help navigate the complexities of working in the global marketplace.” —Paula Caligiuri, Ph.D., Professor, Human Resource Management and Director, Center for Human Resource Strategy at Rutgers University

Charlene Marmer Solomon is executive vice president of RW3, an organization that designs and creates online cultural learning tools. Through its CultureWizard Web sites and blended learning programs, RW3 provides online cultural training facilities for dozens of the world’s leading global organizations. Michael S. Schell is CEO and president of RW3. He has founded and successfully managed several global businesses, including Windham International, the first integrated global mobility and intercultural training organization, and has been a pioneer in developing intercultural training models.Solomon and Schell are also the authors of Capitalizing on the Global Workforce (McGraw-Hill).