What is International Management?

International management is all about crossing borders. It deals with the internal and external diversity that managers (and organizations as well) experience when venturing outside their country. Diversity, of course, has several dimensions: economic, socio-cultural, legal, political and educational. This guide focuses on the socio-cultural aspects of international management. For information on other aspects of international management, refer to the International Trade guide.

Getting Started

Before beginning your research, spend some time thinking about the topic at hand and how to develop a search strategy. Consider the following:

• Are you focusing on a particular region or country?
• Are you looking for information on a particular aspect of cultural differences, for example, in value systems or approaches to teamwork?
• Will case studies be helpful?

Finding General or Background Information on International Management

Look for background information in sources dealing with cultural issues or describing a particular region or country. It is not necessary to start your research with a focus on management. Consider searching for differences in interpersonal relations, communication patterns or value systems that pervade all areas of life and are reflected in the workplace.

Consider these titles:

• Human Values and Beliefs - R HM 73 .I544 1998 - which contains statistical tables of political, religious, sexual and economic norms in 43 societies.
• Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life - R GN 333 .W67 1998, vol. 1-4
• Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture - R F 1406 .E53 1996
• When Cultures Collide: Managing Successfully Across Cultures - HD 62.4 .L49 1996 (also available as an electronic book)
• The Blackwell Encyclopedic Dictionary of International Management - R HD 30.15 .B456 1997 (also available as an electronic book)
• Countries and Their Cultures - [electronic resource]

If you need a definition or an explanation of a particular term, consider XreferPlus (Business section).

Finding Information in Books

Searching ROSIE Using Keywords:

Search by keyword related to your assignment topic; consider alternatives to “international management,” such as "cross-cultural," "intercultural," "global" or "transnational," and use the name of the region or country in which you are interested. If the results are not satisfactory, try broadening your search to concepts like “intercultural communication” without specifying geographic coverag; you might find examples and references you need in the index of a book.

Searching ROSIE by Subject:

The following examples of subject headings might be useful in your research:

• International business enterprises management
• Negotiation in business
• Corporate culture
• Business etiquette
• Diversity in the workplace management
• National characteristics
• Intercultural communication
• Cross-cultural studies

Browsing Call Numbers:

Because books are arranged on the Library’s shelves by subject, browsing the library stacks in the call number areas suggested below can also be useful. You can get additional ideas from a book's table of contents or index. You can browse book records online through ROSIE, but remember that only records of recently published books list tables of contents and none lists an index.

HD 62.4 (Management of special enterprises - including international companies)
HF 5549.5 M5 (Personnel and employment management)

Finding Articles About International Management Using Research Databases

Bowman Library subscribes to many Web-based databases where you will find newspaper, magazine and scholarly journal articles. Ones that are particularly useful for researching cultural aspects of international management are listed below. See Searching Electronic Resources Effectively for guidelines on making the most of your search.

ProQuest
Search ProQuest for articles published in scholarly, popular and general interest periodicals. Explore the drop-down menus and “More Search Options” to broaden or narrow your search. Note that after you run your search you can further limit the results to articles that were published in trade publications or scholarly journals. Try searching for "cultural advice" and "global."

CountryWatch
Country Reviews include basic socio-cultural data as well as economic information for 192 countries. Select a country from the drop-down menu, then look for "Social Overview" or Country Commercial Guides (from the U.S. Department of Commerce) in the "Investments" category.

Stat-USA (Follow the “Globus and NTDB” link)
Stat-USA, a service of the U.S. Department of Commerce, offers access to authoritative business, trade and economic information. The National Trade Data Bank (NTDB) contains the complete text of U.S. government publications. One of the sections, International Trade Library, has reports about regions and countries.

Selected Free Web Sites:

The following Web sites have been selected by Bowman Librarians as examples of sites appropriate for college research. Keep in mind, however, that free Web resources are rarely filtered, often making it difficult to determine the content's accuracy. Use our guide Evaluating Web Resources to help you review the authority, currency, and objectivity or bias of every site you use.

Trade Information Center (TIC)
http://www.trade.gov/td/tic/
From the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) and International Trade Administration (ITA). THE site for export and country information. Follow “Country information” for access to Country Commercial Guides and Business Travel & Etiquette.

globalEDGE – Country Insights
http://globaledge.msu.edu/ibrd/ibrd.asp
Created by the Center for International Business Education and Research at Michigan State University, globalEDGE is a portal for international business professionals, providing links to information and learning resources on global business activities. The site offers, in addition to the extensive Resource Desk (directory of international business resources categorized by specific orientation and content), Country Insights, forum for business professionals, decision-support tools for managers, latest issues in international business, and teaching and research resources.

Corporate Governance Principles
http://www.oecd.org/about/0,2337,en_2649_34813_1_1_1_1_1,00.html
OECD’s (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) internationally applicable benchmark for good corporate governance.

Transparency International
http://www.transparency.org
Transparency International (TI) is the leading global non-governmental organization devoted to combating corruption. Look for survey results in "Policy and research," and for guides and handbooks on topics like countering bribery or integrity in public contracting in "Tools."

Citing Your Sources:

Be sure to check with your professor on which citation style is required. Bowman Library provides the following resources to assist with citation format:

For online resources, see How to Cite Your Research for links to MLA, APA and Chicago citation styles.

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers - LB2369 .G53 2003 (Located in Library Permanent Reserves).

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association - BF76.7 .P83 2001 (Located in Library Permanent Reserves).

The Chicago Manual of Style - Z253 .U69 2003 (Located in Library Permanent Reserves).

Have Questions?

• Explore WOODIE for help with Research.
• The following guides include related information that may assist your research:
  • International Trade Research Guide
  • Exporters' Research Guide
  • Diversity in the Workplace Research Guide
  • Business Ethics Research Guide
• Ask a Librarian. We are here to help!