Are We There Yet?
The fundamental question that the book addresses is: Are our innovation efforts aligned to the challenges of our times? We face high costs, global competition, low productivity, and technology disruptions. Our education system is geared towards solving known problems through an inductive thinking mindset. We have relied on massive technology investments as our source of competitive advantage, but our growth is declining. If we want to maintain our standard of living, we need firms to grow. Firms therefore need a new approach to innovation, one that focuses on customer engagement in its business model. The concept of design thinking is often described as the mindset for fi ms to make this transition. But with so much being written on design thinking, why do so many firms struggle to adopt this mindset and make this transition?
Import/Export Kit for Dummies
Your easy-to-follow primer on the exciting world of import/export With an increased focus on global trade, this new edition of Import/Export Kit For Dummies provides entrepreneurs and small- to mid-sized businesses with the critical, entry-point information they need to begin exporting their products around the world--as well as importing goods to sell. Inside, you'll find the most up-to-date information on trade regulations, where to turn for additional guidance on seamlessly navigating the dreaded red tape, and much more. With significant changes in technology, expanding economics, and international trade agreements, the global marketplace continues to grow and change rapidly. In fact, companies that do business internationally are proven to grow faster and fail less often than companies that don't. This authoritative reference is packed with everything you need to get started, so why not get in on the game while the going is good? Gets you up to speed on the lingo of international business Shows you how to follow guidelines for developing a successful business and marketing plan Helps you understand distributor and agent agreement outlines Offers unprecedented insight on pinpointing the right markets for your import/export business Importing and exporting goods is a valuable way to expand your business and take part in the global economy, and this hands-on, friendly guide shows you how.
Business Politics in the Middle East
Although most Arab countries remain authoritarian, many have undergone a restructuring of state-society relations. Lower- and middle-class interest groups have lost ground, while big business has benefited in terms of its integration into policy-making and the opening-up of economic sectors that used to be state-dominated. Arab businesses have also started taking on aspects of public service provision in health, media and education that used to be the domain of the state, while also becoming increasingly active in philanthropy. Among the topics addressed by the contributing authors are: the role of business in recent regime change; the political outlook of businessmen; the consequences of economic liberalization on the composition of business elites in the Middle East; the role of the private sector in orienting government policies; lobbying of government by business interests; and the mechanisms by which governments seek to keep businesses dependent upon them. The Arab Spring is likely to lead to a more pluralistic political order in the Middle East and this makes it all the more important to understand business interests in the region. They are a segment of society that have often been close to the ancien regime, but will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in a future social contract.
Saving Europe
"In this gripping narrative, Carlo Bastasin reconstructs the main political decisions of the euro crisis, unveiling the hidden interests and the secret diplomacy behind the scene. The European dream was both the rejection of war and the creation of a new spirit of peaceful cooperation. Yet confrontation has been the hallmark of the euro crisis, and national opportunistic gimmicks have driven the awkward attempts to solve the crisis itself. Today, Europe is in a crisis of democracy, which Bastasin has dubbed, ""the first War of Interdependence of the global age."" Praise for the first edition of Saving EuropeBastasin does an admirable job in analysing the euro-zone's economic challenges and is a sure-footed guide through the seemingly endless European Union summit meetings that were supposed to resolve them. He also has an eye for the human detail that makes his sad account of institutional muddle surprisingly compelling. -- Financial TimesBastasin's book is worth reading for its detailed political narrative of the eurozone crisis to date, focusing on the interaction among decision-makers in Europe's capitals. -- Foreign AffairsA reconstruction that may be considered definitive. Revelations on the European negotiations are written with talent and go hand in hand with no-esoteric economic analysis and with the right amount of realism to reach the political substance. --Corriere della SeraAnyone looking for general knowledge and deeper understanding of the crisis, I can recommend a formidable analysis by Carlo Bastasin: Saving Europe. The author is a very unusual combination of a qualified economist and driven journalism. --Svenska Dagbladet"
The Service Innovation Handbook
This is an action-oriented book for managers and entrepreneurs who want new ways to tackle the issues they face in terms of developing and delivering services. The book focuses on service organizations, but has a broad interpretation of what services are. This is because these days, even jet engines and cars are bundled into services that create value by bringing people and resources together in different ways. The central argument is that managers and entrepreneurs designing service offerings will benefit from using approaches and methods from design and the arts.A very strong, more practical follow-up title to BIS Publishers's successful This is Service Design Thinking.
The Power to Compete
"If you're as interested in Japan as I am, I think you'll find that The Power to Compete is a smart and thought-provoking look at the future of a fascinating country." - Bill Gates, "5 Books to Read This Summer" Father and son - entrepreneur and economist - search for Japan's economic cure The Power to Compete tackles the issues central to the prosperity of Japan - and the world - in search of a cure for the "Japan Disease." As founder and CEO of Rakuten, one of the world's largest Internet companies, author Hiroshi Mikitani brings an entrepreneur's perspective to bear on the country's economic stagnation. Through a freewheeling and candid conversation with his economist father, Ryoichi Mikitani, the two examine the issues facing Japan, and explore possible roadmaps to revitalization. How can Japan overhaul its economy, education system, immigration, public infrastructure, and hold its own with China? Their ideas include applying business techniques like Key Performance Indicators to fix the economy, using information technology to cut government bureaucracy, and increasing the number of foreign firms with a head office in Japan. Readers gain rare insight into Japan's future, from both academic and practical perspectives on the inside. Mikitani argues that Japan's tendency to shun international frameworks and hide from global realities is the root of the problem, while Mikitani Sr.'s background as an international economist puts the issue in perspective for a well-rounded look at today's Japan. Examine the causes of Japan's endless economic stagnation Discover the current efforts underway to enhance Japan's competitiveness Learn how free market "Abenomics" affected Japan's economy long-term See Japan's issues from the perspective of an entrepreneur and an economist Japan's malaise is seated in a number of economic, business, political, and cultural issues, and this book doesn't shy away from hot topics. More than a discussion of economics, this book is a conversation between father and son as they work through opposing perspectives to help their country find The Power to Compete.
Africa’s World Trade
Are Africa's world markets really contributing to development across the continent for individuals, nations and regions? This is the key question posed by Margaret Lee in this provocative book, in which she argues that all too often the voices of African traders are obscured amid a blizzard of statistical analysis. However, it is these very voices - from those operating on the ground as formal or informal traders - that must be listened to in order to form a true understanding of the impact trade regimes have on these individuals and their communities. Featuring a wealth of oral histories from across sub-Saharan Africa and beyond, including Africans in China, Africa's World Trade offers a unique insight into how the complexity of international trade agreements can shape the everyday lives of ordinary Africans.
How Asia Works
"A good read for anyone who wants to understand what actually determines whether a developing economy will succeed."--Bill Gates, "Top 5 Books of the Year""The best story of the East Asian economic miracle."--Dan Wang, author of BreakneckAn Economist Best Book of the Year from a reporter who has spent two decades in the region, and who the Financial Times said "should be named chief myth-buster for Asian business."In How Asia Works, Joe Studwell distills his extensive research into the economies of nine countries--Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, and China--into an accessible, readable narrative that debunks Western misconceptions, shows what really happened in Asia and why, and for once makes clear why some countries have boomed while others have languished.Studwell's in-depth analysis focuses on three main areas: land policy, manufacturing, and finance. Land reform has been essential to the success of Asian economies, giving a kick-start to development by utilizing a large workforce and providing capital for growth. With manufacturing, industrial development alone is not sufficient, Studwell argues. Instead, countries need "export discipline," a government that forces companies to compete on the global scale. And in finance, effective regulation is essential for fostering, and sustaining growth. To explore all of these subjects, Studwell journeys far and wide, drawing on fascinating examples from a Philippine sugar baron's stifling of reform to the explosive growth at a Korean steel mill."Provocative . . . How Asia Works is a striking and enlightening book . . . A lively mix of scholarship, reporting and polemic."--The Economist"Believe it or not, this is actually my favorite pop economics book of all time."--Noah Smith, author of Noahpinion
China Goes West
China's corporate champions have arrived. Consumers around the world are typing on Lenovo computers, storing food in Haier refrigerators and speaking on Huawei mobile phones. But how did products from these Chinese companies enter our daily lives? China Goes West presents an unrivalled overview of Chinese companies' expansion into developed economies and the opportunities and challenges it brings. Through detailed research, engaging case studies and exclusive interviews with senior executives, Backaler tells the story of why and how Chinese companies invest internationally - providing much-needed insight into these firms and their rise. The author concludes with practical advice for governments, companies and societies in China and the West to minimize the concerns and maximise the benefits of Chinese investment. China is going West. Its firms will irrevocably reshape the global business landscape. This book is an essential introduction to the new future landscape of the world economy.
Reconstructing China
AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT CHINA'S NEW AND RAPIDLY CHANGING ROLE IN THE WORLDChina's rapid economic advancement has resulted in vast and unprecedented changes, among which opportunities and challenges coexist. As power is redistributed globally, China is finding itself at a crossroads. And as a socialist nation, China's economic rise presents unique challenges.Where does China fit among powerful capitalist nations?How can China leverage economic opportunities that comewith globalization--without disrupting international order?How can China build the international trust necessary to continue on its path of peaceful development?By comparing possible modes of the rise of great powers, Reconstructing China explains why it is absolutely essential that China take a path of peaceful development and growth, and how the nation can achieve it in the most effective way possible.Written by international relations expert Li Jingzhi--a professor at Renmin University of China--Reconstructing China gives policymakers, global investors, business leaders, and anyone else interested in the rise of Chinaa perspective of China's growth they will find nowhere else.
Entrepreneur Magazine
From the source you trust most-everything you need to start up, grow, and prosper in international trade... If you're excited by the opportunities you see in internationaltrade but nervous about facing a world of problems you don'tunderstand, you've come to the right place. In Starting anImport/Export Business, the experts at Entrepreneur Magazine helpyou break into this fast-growing field and thrive. You'll find thewhole story on the import/export business in this easy-to-useguide--clear concise information that demystifies the foreign tradeprocess and explains precisely what clients expect fromimport/export services. In addition to all the basics you need to start your own business, this book is loaded with helpful statistics on international tradewith 17 countries, sample documents, and resource listings. You'lllearn about trade regulations, how to deal with customs services, and the best ways to protect trademarks and copyrights. You'lldiscover the best places to go for working capital, how to attractclients, and when to hire consultants. You'll also learn how to: * Price goods and services and calculate exchange rates. * Choose the best payment method for each transaction. * Cope with international legal issues. * Manage your company's finances. * Market your services both at home and abroad. * Hook up with import and export distribution systems. There's never been a better time to launch yourself into theexciting world of international trade, and Starting anImport/Expert business is the ideal book to get you going. ENTREPRENEUR Magazine is the banner publication of the EntrepreneurMagazine Group. It has the largest newsstand circulation of anybusiness monthly and has a total ABC audited circulation of385,000. The Entrepreneur Magazine Group also publishes BusinessStart-Ups and Entrepreneur in Mexico, as well as videos, audiocassettes, and software that deal with business start-upmanagement. Also available from the Entrepreneur Magazine library: Making MoneyWith Your Personal Computer, The Entrepreneur Magazine SmallBusiness Advisor.
Conquering the Chaos
India is back! With the country's general elections in 2014 resulting in a government formed by a new political party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, led by a business-friendly prime minister, Narendra Kumar Modi, the world's largest democracy is once again on the minds of business leaders the world over. The renewal of interest in India is all the greater because of what's happening in neighboring China. For over thirty years, China was the growth engine for many Western multinational companies, but the combination of a slowing economy, rising wages, and increasing political risk has most companies looking for the next China. No other country is better positioned to play that role than India. In the short term, though, India will remain a challenging market, with a well-deserved reputation for corruption, uncertainty, and stultifying bureaucracy. Those hurdles are unlikely to go away soon. Yet India may be on the verge of unprecedented growth. Can you afford to wait or should you plunge into this complex market today? What does it really take to win there? How do executives deal with India's volatility, uncertainty, and intense competition--and even prosper from it? Ravi Venkatesan, the former Chairman of Microsoft India and Cummins India, offers expert advice on how your company can overcome the unique challenges of the Indian market. He argues that India is in fact an archetype for most developing nations, many of which present similar challenges. Succeeding in India is important not just because it is a big market but also because it is a litmus test for your corporation's ability to succeed in other emerging markets. If you can win in India, you should be able to win anywhere. Hard as these frontier markets are, Venkatesan argues, the bigger hurdle may well be the internal culture and mind-set at a multinational's headquarters. The unwillingness to make a long-term commitment or to adequately trust local leadership, combined with the propensity to rigidly replicate the products, business models, and operating systems that have worked at home, drives many companies into a "midway trap." That often results in India remaining an irrelevantly small contributor to the company's global growth and profits. Combining personal experience and in-depth interviews with CEOs and senior leaders at dozens of companies--including Microsoft, GE, JCB, Dell, Honeywell, Volvo, Bosch, Deere, Unilever, and Nestl矇--Venkatesan shows you how to tackle political changes, policy uncertainty, and corruption and thrive in India. He proves that you can break through, but it takes a very different type of leadership, both locally and at corporate headquarters. If you want to succeed in the twenty-first century, you must succeed in emerging markets. This practical book, written by one of India's most respected CEOs, gives you the keys to win in India, other emerging markets, and, indeed, globally.
Multinationals and Asia
Adopting an international business perspective, this book surveys recent business developments in Asia, and the activities of multinational firms in the region, focusing in particular on the changing nature of organizational and institutional relationships, including intra- and inter- organizational relationships, business relationships with institutions, and relationships with stakeholders. The international team of contributors discuss the current and future trends in a wide range of business sectors across the region, as well as assessing how the nature of multinationals' activities in the region is changing as the business environment evolves and becomes more globalized.
Emerging Markets Rule: Growth Strategies of the New Global Giants
SEIZE THE ADVANTAGE IN THE GLOBAL WAR FOR MARKET SHAREWinner of the 2013 Small Business Book Award - Top 10 Overall The newest economic behemoth, China, is snatching market share from the U.S., Japan, and Europe at an alarming rate. But China isn't alone. The world'slargest producers of biofuel, meat, consumer electronics, regional jets, baked goods, candy, and many other products are all emerging market multinationals (EMMs). And industries poised to be taken over by EMMs include personal computers, IT services, mining, wind turbines, and cement.The balance of power in the global economy is shifting.Are you in a position to compete with the most energetic, imaginative companies on the planet?In Emerging Markets Rule, two experts on the global shift in economic hegemony explain what is happening, why it is happening--and how you can prevent it from happening to you. The authors provide an actionplan based on leaner, more operationally proficient ways for maintaining the competitive advantage based on seven new axioms of global competitiveness: Execute, strategize, and execute againCater to the nichesScale to winEmbrace chaosAcquire smartExpand with abandonNo sacred cows!Emerging market multinationals are here to stay; they're not going to go away, even when the global economy rights itself. "What began as a necessity--a kind of guerilla-business warfare against the corporate superpowers--has now evolved into best practices and is on its way to becoming what everyone needs to know," the authors write. "Simply put, down is up. The weak have become strong."You need to learn these new "best practices" now because tomorrow will be too late. Emerging Markets Rule is your road map for business success in the increasingly competitive, chaotic global markets."Emerging-market multinationals have reshaped global competition. Using well-articulated views duly substantiated with facts, this book explains why and how they have become formidable players in both high-technology and traditional industries. This book is a worthy read for businesses and individuals alike seeking to comprehend the phenomenon of the emerging market multinational." -- S. D. Shibulal, CEO and Managing Director, Infosys"This book shows the strength and potential of companies that stand out in emerging markets, reaffirming entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainability as fundamental factors for the outbreak of global competitors." -- Alessandro Carlucci, CEO, Natura Cosmeticos"The authors have touched on an important idea that emerging market growth can often be tapped by companies located in those markets. This is an essential book leading us to identify the niche markets and strategies for those emerging markets. A must for allinternational companies with growth ambitions." -- Leonard A. Lauder, Chairman Emeritus, The Estee Lauder Companies"A must-read for any company on its way to becoming a global one. You will learn from companies that have developed unique ways of competing in tough markets such as China and India." -- Jorge Zarate, China General Manager, Grupo Bimbo
Red Alert
"I would caution readers to dismiss Stephen Leeb's warnings only at their peril." -- Thomas Kaplan, chairman, Tigris Financial Group The American Dream is close to being replaced by a living nightmare: Key commodities that are essential to our daily lives and that are widely believed to be abundant are running critically short. Even worse, the Chinese are doing what they can to monopolize the world's dwindling resources. The U.S. is now largely dependent on our greatest economic rival for rare earth elements as well as a host of other minerals-all of which are absolutely essential to the development of alternative energies and are critically important for our defense industry, computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices. While America has been fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, China has focused its substantial muscle on securing vital commodities from these and other lands to upgrade its infrastructure and industrial strength to meet the resource challenge head-on. China has wrapped itself in the green flag of combating climate change while systematically discouraging other nations from adopting similar policies in a bid to gain time to achieve its plans.Red Alert is a provocative and frightening look at the growing political, economic, and social power of China and the threat that nation poses to the Western world. It lays out how the Chinese are strategizing to overtake the United States as the world's premier economic power-and details how our failure to respond quickly will result in a permanently lower standard of living for Americans. Peppered with startling statistics, charts, and evidence of how China continues to expand its economic reach, Red Alert is both controversial and powerful in its scope.
Power and Sustainability of the Chinese State
Since the start of the 21st century China has risen to the status of an important world power. This book examines Chinese power, focusing in particular, although not exclusively, on its economic capabilities, and considering how this is likely to develop in the future. It provides a detailed assessment of the key facets of Chinese power today, including GDP, growth, multinationals, and technological and scientific innovation. It identifies the key trends in these areas, compares China's experience with other important global powers such as the US, and considers how this is viewed by the Chinese themselves, including through the lens of their popular culture and mass media. It goes on to identify the foremost problems facing China and the Chinese state today, including fiscal management and public finance, poverty, inequality and rural development, and considers whether China is capable of overcoming these challenges and continuing its remarkable economic development. It addresses crucial questions such as the impact of globalization on Chinese power, and whether Communist Party rule is sustainable for the foreseeable future.
As the World Turns...
We hear a lot about the growth of world trade, globalization, and imbalanced distribution of incomes. Yet, how does one understand all the issues, thoughts, and arguments? How does one develop a time frame and context for these issues? This book helps you to do so. Following on the heels of his successful book on opinions and insights (As I Was Saying...Observations on International Business and Trade Policy, Exports, Education, and the Future, March 2012), Michael Czinkota has invited us into his world again, to get a better perspective of issues, campaigns, and phenomena. Each article and the accompanying cartoon (remember, a picture can be worth a thousand words) represent a delicious thought opportunity to chew on.
