Al 367 - Global Dimensions in Business

Global Know - How

By

AL 367

Global Dimensions in Business

June 28, 2010

The article, “Developing Your Global Know - How” was published in the Harvard Business Review (HBR). The Harvard Business Review is a collection of business management case studies, articles, books, addressing today's topics and challenges in business management both domestically and globally.

In the article, “Developing Your Global Know - How” HBR interviewed four human resources executives at four multinationals: Siemens, CEMEX, Walmart, and Samsung. The human resource executives discussed the importance of having executives with overseas experience to manage global operations and the importance of cross functional teams to gain international experience. Each company believes, “Managers must become familiar with other markets, cultures and customs.” (Ball, McCulloch, Geringer, Minor, McNett)

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effectiveness and importance of global managers. “Global managers are alert for both sales and sourcing opportunities in foreign markets but also watchful for new foreign competitors preparing to invade their domestic markets.”(Ball, McCulloch, Geringer, Minor, McNett)

HBR’s interview with the executives sheds light on how organizations have entered new business trends in rapidly changing markets and new technologies globally. It is my understanding from reading the article that companies are becoming accustomed to strategies for a changing business world. In this rapidly changing and highly competitive world of business, organizations are required to develop new strategies when competing for a limited market share for their goods and services. The fact is, in today’s business model, long-established corporate structures must be modified to address the needs of today's global market place.

A global manager must be able to identify his or