Readings and Cases in International Management

Rapid changes in management worldwide have clearly challenged the ability of academics to make courses in international management relevant. One of the best ways to enrich courses is to supplement textbook material with recent articles and case studies.

Readings and Cases in International Management: A Cross-Cultural Perspective is a compilation of contemporary readings and case studies that focus on managing global organizations. Intended as a companion to editor David C. Thomas’ Essentials of International Management: A Cross-Cultural Perspective (SAGE, 2001), great care has been taken to select readings that do not duplicate, but supplement, material typically contained in texts on this topic. The readings and cases in this book are organized around three major themes: the basis for understanding the influence of culture on international management, the key roles that international managers play, and the important challenges that these managers face. Designed to represent a broad geographic scope, this integrative volume includes

An explanation of how culture influences individual managers
Methods to systematically describe cultural differences
Fundamental principles that influence cross-cultural interactions
An examination of managers as communicators, negotiators, change agents, and organization builders
Procedures for designing effective organizational structures

Readings and Cases in International Management: A Cross-Cultural Perspective presents ways to maximize the positive effects of cultural diversity while minimizing the negative consequences. An index of key terms, teaching notes, and a quick reference guide are provided to facilitate learning in a seperate instructor’s manual. Developed as a supplement for advanced international management texts, this is also an excellent primary text for courses in organizational behavior, management, and international business.

Author Biography

David C Thomas (PhD University of South Carolina) is a Professor in the Gustavson School of Business, University of Victoria and Professor Emeritus of International Management at Simon Fraser University, Canada. He is the author of a dozen books including (with Kerr Inkson) the bestselling Cultural Intelligence, Berrett-Koehler Publishers. His book Cross-Cultural Management: Essential Concepts (2008, Sage Publications) was the winner of the R. Wayne Pace Human Resource Development book of the year award for 2008. In addition, he has edited (with Peter B. Smith and Mark Peterson) The Handbook of Cross-Cultural Management Research from Sage Publications. His research on cross-cultural interactions in organizational settings has appeared in the leading journals in the field. He is currently serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of International Business Studies, the Journal of Organizational Behavior, and European Journal of Cross-Cultural Competence and Management.

Dr. Thomas’ academic postings have included positions at the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM), University of New South Wales, the Pennsylvania State University and The University of Auckland, New Zealand, where he was also Director of the Master of International Business Program. He has held visiting positions at Koç University, Istanbul, Turkey, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, the University of Hawaii, Massey University, New Zealand, and ESCEM, Tours, France. In addition to teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, Dr Thomas has consulted on cultural diversity issues with numerous organizations. When not teaching or writing he can often be found scraping or varnishing or sometimes sailing his 1984 Hans Christian cutter, “Clovelly.”