Management challenge

We have now come full circle in this book. We have argued that in today’s economy all managers are global managers, and that they all face similar challenges regardless of where or how they work. We have discussed three types of managerial assignments – expatriates, frequent flyers, and virtual managers – and looked at both the similarities and differences in these assignments. We have examined three major aspects of the work environment – cultures, organizations, and situations – that can affect managerial success or failure. On the basis of this, we have explored six specific mechanisms for developing global management skills. The challenge for managers, then, is to integrate these factors into a unified approach to global management. This is a difficult, but nonetheless necessary, task for future success. We close with a summary of our discoveries, as well as several reflective thoughts on the future of management and what managers might consider as they go forward into uncharted waters.

Chapter outline

• What have we learned? page 406

• Where do we go from here? 411