Managing Across Borders 2nd Ed.

The Transnational Solution

Christopher A. Bartlett, Sumantra Ghoshal

Publisher: Harvard Business School, 1998, 389 pages

ISBN: 0-87584-849-4

Keywords: International Enterprise

Last modified: Dec. 1, 2007, 11:33 p.m.

Widely acclaimed for its perceptive insights into the management of companies operating in an international environment, the first edition of Managing Across Borders established itself as a landmark book. By describing the emergence of a revolutionary new corporate form — the transnational — authors Bartlett and Ghoshal led in revealing how the competitive game was fundamentally changing. Explaining how companies were able to capture global-scale efficiency, respond flexibly to national market differences, and cultivate worldwide learning capabilities, Managing Across Borders established itself at the vanguard of global management practice

Now, almost a decade later, the competencies and capabilities of the transnational described in the first edition are no longer ideals — they are the standards for firms playing in the global business area. Yet the pace of change for international business has not slowed. With deregulation. privatization, and information technology transforming competition, the transnational model continually evolves. In a timely response to this dynamically changing business world, Bartlett and Ghoshal revisit their breakthrough concepts, updating the material with fresh examples drawn from today's leading global enterprises.

The second edition of Managing Across Borders builds on the authors' ongoing exploration of the transnational, with their current research extending and illuminating the findings of their earlier work. An entirely new section, "The Transformation Challenge," focuses on how several companies have implemented the book's concepts. We see firsthand the obstacles and opportunities to building an effective transnational organization. This new edition also includes an application handbook, a highly practical tool that helps readers translate the book's ideas into real-world action plans for their companies

Managing Across Borders is an invaluable resource for understanding and applying the unique strategic imperatives of globalization. Bartlett and Ghoshal describe the characteristics that define transnational organizations and offers managers specific guidance for developing them. The insightful profiles of global managers and the real-world case studies offer a complete picture of the structural, process, and cultural changes required to drive continuous innovation — and enduring success — across today's borders.

  • Part I: The Transnational Challenge
    1. Organizational Capability : The Next Battleground
    2. New Organizational Challenge: Beyond Structural Fit
    3. Administrative Heritage: Organizational Asset and Constraint
    4. The Transnational: The Emerging Organization Model
  • Part II: Characteristics of the Transnational
    1. Building Competitiveness: The Integrated Network
    2. Developing Flexibility: Specialized Roles and Responsibiliites
    3. Facilitating Learning: Multiple Innovation Processes
  • Part III: Building and Managing the Transnational
    1. Legitimizing Diversity: Balancing Multiple Perspectives
    2. Managing Complexity: Developing Flexible Coordination
    3. Building Commitment: Creating a Matrix in Managers' Minds
  • Part IV: Transformation to the Transnational
    1. Developing Transnational Managers: New Roles and Tasks
    2. Managing the Transformation Process: Rationalization, Revitalization, Regeneration
    3. The Transnational Solution
    • Application Handbook

Reviews

Managing Across Borders

Reviewed by Roland Buresund

Outstanding ********* (9 out of 10)

Last modified: Dec. 1, 2007, 11:13 p.m.

One of the more important reference books you should read. Still valid.

After reading this book, you will feel confident enough to debate the differences between international, global and transnational companies. And it will probably change your outlook as well.

It is recommended reading, but don't expect it to be easy reading, as the authors are two old and respected professors, with all the writing skills that this entails…

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