IBS101 - Introduction to International Business

This is the first in a series of volumes to complement the publication of case studies as part of Gale’s Business Insights: Global (BI:G) online research portal. BI:G is being developed to help equip students to research, analyze, interpret, and understand international business topics. It provides the tools students need to analyze business data, delivered in narratives with an international perspective. BI:G also supports teachers of international business; it presents cases organized around countries, industries, companies, and topics, and extends these case studies and data from the research environment to the learning environment.

BI:G uses case studies to highlight key business issues. As business becomes ever more global, the boundaries between national business interests blur, and students are required to understand perspectives across different cultures. Even though there are many different cultures and ways of conducting business, certain fundamental principles bind businesses together wherever they operate. These principles involve the need to respond to customer demand, focus on cost, increase revenue, and maintain and improve quality. In addition, there is no avoiding the effect of external factors on business operations, including rules, regulations and legislation passed by governments and organizations such as the European Union (EU), the North American Free Trade Association (NAFTA), and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The perspectives, conduct, and cooperation of diverse peoples involved in carrying out business operations around the globe is another key factor in shaping every venture.

The majority of these case studies have an international focus. They describe business in an international context, providing an overview of key issues in business from a global perspective, free of specific country bias. Considering different perspectives helps to develop a broader understanding of the business environment. It illustrates the fact that there is rarely a right answer in business, but rather a series of decisions often made with incomplete or inaccurate information, and the consequences of these decisions makes business a fascinating and ever-evolving subject to explore and study. These case studies are designed to complement the study of business and business related topics, wherever in the world the student or instructor happens to live.

"Introduction." CaseBase: Case Studies in Global Business, edited by Andrew Ashwin, vol. 1, Gale, 2011, pp. ix-x. Gale eBooks, link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX1929900006/GVRL?u=mcc_pv&sid=bookmark-GVRL&xid=042e84f2. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.