Managing International Teams

Very few organizations are now able to operate entirely within one national boundary. As business becomes more global, work forces are growing more diverse.This emerging environment has created a need for international teams. International managers are key figures in integrating the individuals and cultures that make up an international team. To take advantage of these cross-functional, multinational teams, managers need to have a strong global sense, but at the same time they need to be sensitive and responsive to local markets. All kinds of decisions will be influenced by the international manager's knowledge of different cultures - from strategic planning, investment, and the introduction of new technology to risk assessment and the evaluation of trade-offs between costs, efficiency, safety, ecology, and the quality of life.In addition, flexible, adaptable, and open-minded managers will have to develop high performance teams that fully tap the creative potential of their diversity.This book explains the practical applications of these changes to those managers who have to deal with them. It starts with the idea that international management is about working with - not against - these differences.Managing International Teams describes the cultural issues raised by increasing globalization; explains the effect of different cultures on management styles; suggests ways of maximizing the potential of teams drawn from different cultures; and provides case studies of real companies that have faced these challenges. It concludes with a series of practical checklists for those who manage multinational teams.International teamwork represents the challenge of the future, and teams with high performance that realize the creative potential of their diversity will provide companies with a prime source of competitive advantage.