International Business

International Business provides a thorough review and analysis of the international business environment and applies this knowledge to practical aspects of doing business in international markets. A rigorous approach is used to provide students with a good understanding of the complex nature of international business activities. The book emphasises the economic, geographical, historical, legal and political factors that make international business significantly different from domestic business activities. Theoretical frameworks such as modern trade theory, new institutional economics and network theory are used to investigate issues and topics in international business. The major issues raised in the text are illustrated with appropriate real world case studies.

The book includes material on:

• The various views on globalisation and modern capitalism
• Traditional and modern theories of trade
• The various entry modes used by firms to enter foreign markets
• Materials on clusters and industrial districts
• Assessments of the EU and NAFTA
• The influence of cultural and institutional differences
• International strategy
• Financial and accounting issues
• International marketing
• International Human Resource Management
• The implications of e-business for international business activities

A supporting web site provides students with compehensive further reading and links to web sites that contain data on matters related to international business. Lecturers have access to an Instructors Manual with teaching notes, OHP masters, Powerpoint slides and case study based exercises.

International Business is an excellent text for undergraduate students of Accounting, Business, Economics, Finance, HRM and Marketing that take courses in International Business. The book also provides an excellent primer on International Business for Masters courses in Business and Management and for MBA students.

• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Plan of book
  
• Chapter 2: Globalisation
• Introduction
• Impact of gloablisation
• Globalisation perspectives
• Globalisation and the nation-state
• Convergence versus divergence
  
• Summary
• Review questions
  
• Chapter 3: Models of international trade
• Introduction
• Differences between domestic and international trade
• Why trade takes place
• Trade theories
• Traditional trade theories
• Countertrade
  
• Summary
• Review questions
  
• Chapter 4: Protection
• Introduction
• The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
• Arguments for protection
• Old protection
• New protection
• The World Trade Organisation
  
• Summary
• Review questions
  
• Chapter 5: The international monetary system
• Introduction
• The international monetary system
• New types of fixed exchange rate regime
• Monetary union
• Exchange rates
• Models of exchange rate determination
• The international monetary system and international business
  
• Summary
• Review questions
  
• Chapter 6: Geographical factors
• Introduction
• Trade and geographical factors
• Strategic development of subsidiaries and regional specialisation
• Clusters and industrial districts
  
• Summary
• Review questions
  
• Chapter 7: Cultural and institutional factors
• Introduction
• Defining culture and its main determinants
• Cultural dimensions
• Critique of the Hofstede approach to cultural values
• New institutional economics
  
• Summary
• Review questions
  
• Chapter 8: Regional integration blocks
• Introduction
• Types of regional integration
• Multilateralism versus regionalism
• Trade effects of regional integration
• Single economic space
  
• Summary
• Review questions
  
• Chapter 9: Market entry modes
• Introduction
• Exporting
• Theories of foreign direct investment
• International joint ventures and strategic alliances
• Licensing
• International franchising
  
• Summary
• Review questions
  
• Chapter 10: International strategic management
• Introduction
• Strategic planning
• Alternative views on strategic planning
• Organisational strategy
• Strategic planning and small and medium sized enterprises
  
• Summary
• Review questions
  
• Chapter 11: International marketing
• Introduction
• International marketing
• Assessing market environments
• Practical issues of international marketing
• Summary
• Review questions
  
• Chapter 12: International finance and accounting
• Introduction
• International listing
• Foreign currency management
  
• Treasury management
• International taxation
• Budgeting and control
• Financial accounting
• Origins of commercial accounting
• Implications for international companies
• Corporate governance
  
• Summary
• Review questions
  
• Chapter 13: International human resource management
• Introduction
• Approaches to international HRM
• Variables that moderate differences between domestic and international HRM
• Theoretical developments: a framework of strategic HRM in multinational enterprises
  
• Summary
• Review questions
  
• Chapter 14: International business and e-business
• Introduction
• E-commerce and e-business
• Benefits of e-business systems
• Benefits of e-business systems in international business activities
• Evidence on the benefits of e-business
• Obstacles to using e-business systems for international business activities
• Importance of size and sector
• Summary
• Review questions
  

Great content, but very hard to digest.