The world and trade worldwide face a progress in globalization which is, among other factors, caused by improvements in technology, the rising trend to multicultural departments and lower labor costs. In 2009, there were 82,000 transnational corporations worldwide, thus making the understanding of multiculturalism become more important than anything else. The goal of this paper is to give a short introduction to Trompenaars’ model of culture, explain the dimension “diffuse versus specific”, compare the German and American culture and to validate this model by these chosen aspects.

Seminar paper from the year 2013 in the subject Business economics - Miscellaneous, grade: 1,7, University of applied sciences, Duisburg (FOM Duisburg), course: 4. Semester, language: English, abstract: Due to the progressing globalization, characterized by improvements in communication technologies, rising trends to multicultural departments and the use of lower labor costs, the “understanding of multiculturalism is needed more than anything else”. This understanding is “for instance, a prerequisite to the effective entry into new markets and new countries, whether by establishing licenses, setting up new subsidiaries, merger, takeover, or setting up co-operative or joint-ventures.” Goal of this paper is to show Trompenaars ́ model of culture, explain the dimension universal-ism versus particularism and work out differences and similarities between two cultures, the German and the U.S.-American culture, referring to the chosen dimension. First of all, Trompenaars ́ model of culture is shown and explained roughly. Afterwards the author is enumerating the seven dimensions. One chosen dimension will be worked out in detail, to use it for a comparison then. In the comparison the author shows different surveys and results to validate the cultural dimension and the corresponding assumptions. The paper ends with summarizing the critical remarks towards Trompenaars ́ work, cultural theories in general and a short opinion from the author himself.

Inhaltsangabe:Introduction: In today s modern economy a country s or region s competitiveness lies in its capability to innovate. Whilst earlier old and established companies were reliable producers of innovation as well as jobs, that is changing. The big corporations are outsourcing and downsizing, and the new technologies are emerging from companies that did not exist 20 years ago . This quotation taken from the Handbook of Research on Venture Capital points out the increasing relevance of the Schumpeterian growth regime of today s advanced economies which means that growth and wealth is unlikely to be maximized if most new business developments are carried out by old long-existing corporations. While in Europe only few global champions have been created in the past 50 years the United States economy seems to be capable of continuously creating great, leading-edge companies. Why is Europe lagging behind in enabling new ventures to become global champions? Why are successful high growth companies like Amazon, AMD, AOL, Apple, Cisco Systems, eBay, Genentech, Intel, Microsoft, Oracle, Sun Microsystems, Yahoo and recently Google all US based corporations and not of European or Japanese origin? One reason is seen in the outstanding capability of the US economy to put innovative business ideas from individuals, universities and other research institutions into practice and thus create with the help of a well developed venture capital industry new global champions. A strong and sophisticated VC industry is widely recognised for providing a major contribution to turn innovation into (internationally) successful high-growth corporations and therewith foster economic growth. Taking Germany as the largest economy in Europe this thesis will try to work out the main differences of the VC market in Germany - which is still considered as lagging behind - and its correspondent in the United States. While most of the previous comparative studies focus on single aspects of the VC market and the VC investment process this work will try to provide a brief but comprehensive empirical analysis of the entire venture capital investment process (from fundraising to exiting investments). As business in general and the venture capital industry in particular is considered to be increasingly influenced by socio-economic and cultural factors this thesis draws special attention to differences related to the influence of culture on both VC markets. Hence it will be [...]

In cross cultural settings, the author suggests it is not enough to know that behavior differs across cultures, but also how differences in values drive behaviors. To truly understand the differences among cultures, one must understand their origins, how they emerged on the world stage, the various economic, political, physical, social, and religious forces that shaped them. This is a unique book in that it traces the antecedents of people's behavior and shows readers why cultures differ and includes suggestions for adjusting to these differences. Engrossing and revealing, Scarborough's book will be essential for corporate management and others involved in international commerce, but also for their counterparts in the public sector, who also understand why it is necessary to get along with people from other cultures in the pursuit of mutually beneficial goals. Scarborough says, There may be no greater, more significant void in the knowledge of educated adults than cross-cultural understanding. My book advances that understanding by explaining the reasons why behavior, attitudes, beliefs, and values differ across specific cultures. Its premise is that people who interact with others with different cultural backgrounds, whether in international or culturally diverse domestic settings, are much better prepared if they understand the reasons why people act, talk, think and feel as they do. Instead of being left with just lessons on behavior, to be learned by rote, readers will be able to rely on a substantive understanding of the cultures and societies in which they find themselves, as well as their own good common sense, and in this way work more productively and harmoniously with their counterparts abroad.

This collection sets out many of the contributions to the theoretical, conceptual and critical advance of the academic subject of human resource management. This has become recognized as an emergent disciplinary field in which theories and models are generated and their propositions tested by rigorous empirical research. It has also become increasingly international in its outlook. This comprehensive set explores the following themes: origins, developments and critical analyses; comparative and international perspectives on human resource management; strategic human resource management; and emergent issues for the new millenium, including globalization and the multinational enterprise, international assignments and expatriation, managing diversity, competences and knowledge, innovation and creativity, and ethics.

"The Sumerians invented temple capitalism; the Assyrians made it multinational; the Phoenicians evolved controls; the Greeks leapfrogged with an entrepreneurial model that replaced it; the Romans perfected a robust blend of autonomy and regimentation that flourished for four hundred years. Foundations of Corporate Empire puts all this under a microscope." Richard T. Pascale, associate fellow, Templeton College, University of Oxford "Foundations of Corporate Empire is a dreary title for a business book that turns out to be anything but. It is in fact a sweeping, yet remarkably readable history of globalization that marshals impressive evidence..." Report on Business Magazine From the cradles of civilization to the corporations of global economy, business empires have come and gone but the essence of economic enterprise has always been with us. This is a world in which enterprises have been shaped as much by what they are as what they do, and in which an understanding of where we've come from will aid our interpretation of where we can go. Every future has a foundation to be explored. "In this well-researched and highly readable book, Moore and Lewis persuasively argue that many of today's global economic institutions and structures are not as new as often proclaimed but the product of a long evolutionary process. Their conclusion that a historical perspective provides important clues about the future of globalization is thought provoking and worthy of broad debate." Cornelis A. de Kluyver, Dean, Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management "This fascinating book should serve as a timely reminder to those who seem to think that tomorrow can be managed with scarcely a backwards glance to yesterday. Compulsive reading for businessmen and politicians." Sir David Rowland, President, Templeton College, University of Oxford Foundations of Corporate Empire sketches the history of international business from the emergence of ancient Assyria around 2000 BC through the Phoenician, Carthaginian and Grecian periods up to the time of the Roman Imperium under Augustus, and then on to the medieval and modern eras ending with today's post-modern times. The history of these civilisations has developed around different economic models, which have regularly re-emerged across time and are still present today. Foundations of Corporate Empire looks at our past economic foundations to better understand where we are today and where we should be tomorrow. "A fascinating and important work, which deserves to be widely read." Professor Alister McGrath, Oxford University "Foundations of Corporate Empire offered me an eye-opening insight into how we have come to do business as we do. If you truly want to understand capitalism as we know it, read this book. Beyond any reasonable doubt, it proved to me the old saying that the more things change the more things stay the same." Professor D'Aveni, author of Hypercompetition: Managing the dynamics of strategic maneuvering

Making Your Partnership Work is a practical guide for church and mission partnerships. Drawing on 30 years of experience, Daniel Rickett shows how effective mission partnerships are a blend of vision, relationship, and results.

The cultural diversity within many major projects require those managing them to adapt their project management approach to be in harmony with the preferences and behaviours of stakeholders from these cultures; failure to do so can lead to misunderstandings about the project’s purpose and structure; significant difficulties in implementation and in some cases, to conflict or litigation. Omar Zein's Culture and Project Management explores the cultural impact on projects and their management, providing the reader with an understanding of the main elements of cross-cultural theory within the project context. These include our perception of context, achievement, power and group dynamics; and how we approach ambiguity and time. He then identifies key aspects of project management where cultural sensitivity is essential (for example, planning, risk management, project communication and leadership) and offers a structured plan for developing what he calls 'cultural tuning' within a project environment. The book draws on the author’s research, his professional experience of working on transnational projects and his own background. His review of the different theories alongside examples and stories of their practical application, offers project managers a new and extraordinarily rich perspective into the likely dynamics of their projects. Making appropriate adaptations to standard processes, choosing what, how and through whom you communicate with stakeholders may be signal elements in the success or failure of your projects; Culture and Project Management will show where to start.

Considering behavioral norms in their cultural contexts, this book arrives at a fully operational international leadership theory – and makes it accessible to academic and professional readers alike. Shaping the Global Leader fundamentally covers eight cultural dimensions gleaned from acclaimed international leadership scholars such as Geert Hofstede and the GLOBE study authors. Each cultural dimension is followed by interviews of renowned organizational leaders who relate their experiences in that area and each section underscores strategies for moving forward. The authors highlight critical lessons from classic behavioral psychology experiments and apply these findings to the international organizational context. This book serves as an eminently readable and enlightening handbook for those working, leading or studying interculturally. Both students and professionals in international leadership or business will be provided with clear and actionable organizational insights for an increasingly complex global landscape.