PREFACE

Abstract

At the time of this writing, the medical and health-care professionals are joining forces worldwide trying to stop the global spread of SARS and avoid the devastating consequences that it brings to the affected areas. This event once again reminds us of the inter-connected world in which we all live and the importance of international collaboration to address pressing global issues. In this volume, we have included contributing chapters from authors based in Asia, Europe, and North America to examine an emerging topic in the international management field – managing multinationals in a knowledge economy. The chapters are selected to reflect the influences of three key factors – economics, culture, and human resources – on managerial decisions that affect multinationals and their effective operations. A review of these papers suggests that, despite all the technological advances in cross-border communication and coordination, social capital and human resources are the most critical factors possessed by multinationals.

Citation

Cheng, J.L.C. and Hitt, M.A. (2003), "PREFACE", Cheng, J.L.C. and Hitt, M.A. (Ed.) Managing Multinationals in a Knowledge Economy: Economics, Culture (Advances in International Management, Vol. 15), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. XIII-XV. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0747-7929(03)15015-9