The book is an essentials volume that extracts key concepts in the management of people in a global context and presents them in a concise volume. In doing so it seeks to balance the various perspectives on the topic while reflecting the most current research available. Extensive references will allow readers wishing to explore concepts in more depth an avenue to do so.
Each chapter begins with an introductory vignette (short case) that exemplifies the core issues to be discussed in the chapter. The vignette is referred to later in the chapter as the topic is developed. This approach is designed to make the reader immediately aware of how the knowledge can be applied. This device is in addition to end-of-chapter cases, which are used to reinforce concepts presented. Each chapter closes with a set of discussion questions designed to reinforce and/or apply key points in the chapter.
Author Biography:
David C Thomas (PhD University of South Carolina) is a Professor in the Gustavson School of Business, University of Victoria and Professor Emeritus of International Management at Simon Fraser University, Canada. He is the author of a dozen books including (with Kerr Inkson) the bestselling Cultural Intelligence, Berrett-Koehler Publishers. His book Cross-Cultural Management: Essential Concepts (2008, Sage Publications) was the winner of the R. Wayne Pace Human Resource Development book of the year award for 2008. In addition, he has edited (with Peter B. Smith and Mark Peterson) The Handbook of Cross-Cultural Management Research from Sage Publications. His research on cross-cultural interactions in organizational settings has appeared in the leading journals in the field. He is currently serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of International Business Studies, the Journal of Organizational Behavior, and European Journal of Cross-Cultural Competence and Management.
Dr. Thomas' academic postings have included positions at the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM), University of New South Wales, the Pennsylvania State University and The University of Auckland, New Zealand, where he was also Director of the Master of International Business Program. He has held visiting positions at Koc University, Istanbul, Turkey, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, the University of Hawaii, Massey University, New Zealand, and ESCEM, Tours, France. In addition to teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, Dr Thomas has consulted on cultural diversity issues with numerous organizations. When not teaching or writing he can often be found scraping or varnishing or sometimes sailing his 1984 Hans Christian cutter, "Clovelly."
Mila B. Lazarova (PhD, Human Resources and Industrial Relations, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey; MBA, International Business, the University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria) is associate professor and Canada research chair in Global Workforce Management in the Beedie School of Business, Simon Fraser University, Canada. Her research interests include expatriate management with a focus on repatriation and the career impact of international assignments; work-life balance issues related to assignments; global careers; the role of organizational career development and work-life balance practices on employee retention; and the changing role of the human resources (HR) department in organizations. She also conducts research in comparative human resource management and is the Canadian contributor to CRANET, a long-term research collaboration of over 35 universities across the world that carries out a regular international comparative survey of organizational HR policies and practices.
