Examining Cultural Perspectives in a Globalized World


Book Description

Researchers are beginning to draw attention to the human side concerning the implications of the digital age. Cultural challenges faced by international virtual teams, management dilemmas relative to resource issues when dealing with cultural diversity, and human resource management challenges confronted by technical environments and nationally-qualified labor shortages are on the rise and need to be addressed as society enters a new era. Examining Cultural Perspectives in a Globalized World is a pivotal reference source that provides vital research on the promotion of new cultural models representative of the contemporary world and subject to digital transformation. While highlighting topics such as digital diversity, shared culture, and employee motivation, this publication explores increasing the relevancy of culture in the globalized 21st century as well as the methods of revising current HR management policies. This book is ideally designed for managers, human resources management, executives, sociologists, consultants, practitioners, industry professionals, researchers, academicians, and students.




Analyzing the Cultural Diversity of Consumers in the Global Marketplace


Book Description

The key to any marketing strategy is finding a way to reach and appeal to the consumer. In the case of a diverse consumer pool, marketers must strive to direct their promotional efforts to appeal to a global customer base. Analyzing the Cultural Diversity of Consumers in the Global Marketplace explores the strategies associated with promoting products and services to a culturally-diverse target market. Providing innovative solutions for global brands, this publication is ideally designed for use by marketing professionals, executives, students, as well as researchers.




Examining the Evolution of Gaming and Its Impact on Social, Cultural, and Political Perspectives


Book Description

With complex stories and stunning visuals eliciting intense emotional responses, coupled with opportunities for self-expression and problem solving, video games are a powerful medium to foster empathy, critical thinking, and creativity in players. As these games grow in popularity, ambition, and technological prowess, they become a legitimate art form, shedding old attitudes and misconceptions along the way. Examining the Evolution of Gaming and Its Impact on Social, Cultural, and Political Perspectives asks whether videogames have the power to transform a player and his or her beliefs from a sociopolitical perspective. Unlike traditional forms of storytelling, videogames allow users to immerse themselves in new worlds, situations, and politics. This publication surveys the landscape of videogames and analyzes the emergent gaming that shifts the definition and cultural effects of videogames. This book is a valuable resource to game designers and developers, sociologists, students of gaming, and researchers in relevant fields.




Managing Global Organizations


Book Description

ÔAs its title implies, this book by three distinguished scholars puts a cultural perspective at the front and center of issues relating to current approaches to managing complex organizations. It does this by covering the most recent relevant findings by researchers from around the world and, most importantly, interpreting those findings in ways that provide useful guidelines and approaches for those in positions of organizational responsibility. For anyone studying or practicing management in challenging global-oriented contexts this volume is essential Ð and highly interesting Ð reading.Õ Ð Lyman W. Porter, University of California, US ÔThis book is a tour-de-force and a must-read for any scholar and practitioner who is interested in managing global organizations. From such topics as how to motivate, reward, lead, manage conflict, and structure work in different cultural contexts, the authors provide critical insights into how culture shapes all aspects of organizational behavior and a compelling vision of the future that awaits multinational and global organizations. Bravo to the authors for providing the field with a gold mine of information on managing organizations across cultures!Õ Ð Michele Joy Gelfand, University of Maryland, US ÔThis book represents the very best of academic as well as field intensive thinking about cultural and global issues in organizations. While many people have focused on cultural and global issues in the past several decades, the field has largely lacked a systematic review and analysis of these issues in specific contexts. What Bhagat, Triandis and McDevitt offer the reader is a wonderfully comprehensive analysis of key issues of culture in organizations. This is absolutely a ÒmustÓ reading for every serious scholar of global organizations.Õ Ð Chris Earley, Purdue University, US ÔThis is an important book dealing with the increasingly important phenomenon of international business ventures and the globalization of management, markets, and careers. Drs. Bhagat, Triandis, and McDevitt have produced a challenging and highly readable book in which they analyze such key concepts as intercultural communication, job satisfaction in culturally diverse workplaces, the additional workplace stressors brought on by international business alliances, the importance of working with others in groups and on teams charged with task completion, and the transfer of technology among people with different but overlapping skill sets and knowledge. This book will find a valued place in the libraries of international managers, graduate students contemplating careers in international business, and trainers who take on the challenge of preparing people for assignments in countries other than their own.Õ Ð Richard Brislin, University of Hawaii, US ÔIssues of cultural variations in the management of global organizations are of great importance in the 21st century. In developing this book, these three authors bring a wealth of academic knowledge, practical insights from their consulting and worldwide travels in presenting us a coherent picture of how the world of work organizations have changed in response to cultural differences and synergies. The 14 chapters cover all of the important aspects of organization behavior and theory including recent topics like global management focused on the creation and transfer of organizational knowledge. This book is a must read for all students interested in understanding the fundamentals of cultural differences and how they affect the management of global organizations.Õ Ð Kwok Leung, City University of Hong Kong, China The globalization of business is a reality that confronts organizations of all sizes from different nations and cultures. This book serves as a comprehensive guide for understanding the nature of cultural variations that affect important aspects of organizational behavior. The authors expertly cover all of the relevant functions that managers are concerned with in the process of managing global organizations. Various research-based theories and findings are discussed to explain the significance of cultural variations in these phenomena. Readers will gain a clear perspective on how cultural variations have the potential to affect organizational functioning and effectiveness across national borders. A mastery of the fundamental concepts and issues covered in this book will enable future managers of multinational and global corporations to become more effective in dealing with people in different countries and enhance organizational effectiveness on an ongoing basis. Scholars and students will also find this book a path-breaking resource for understanding this important topic.




Examining Paratextual Theory and its Applications in Digital Culture


Book Description

The paratext framework is now used in a variety of fields to assess, measure, analyze, and comprehend the elements that provide thresholds, allowing scholars to better understand digital objects. Researchers from many disciplines revisit paratextual theories in order to grasp what surrounds text in the digital age. Examining Paratextual Theory and its Applications in Digital Culture suggests a theoretical and practical tool for building bridges between disciplines interested in conducting joint research and exploration of digital culture. Helping scholars from different fields find an interdisciplinary framework and common language to study digital objects, this book serves as a useful reference for academics, librarians, professionals, researchers, and students, offering a collaborative outlook and perspective.




Youth Cultures in a Globalized World


Book Description

This book examines the relation between the phenomenon of globalization, changes in the lifeworld of young people and the development of specific youth cultures. It explores the social, political, economic and cultural impact of globalization on young people. Growing diversity in their lifeworlds, technological development, migration and the ubiquity of digital communication and representation of the world open up new forms of self-representation, networking and political expression, which are described and discussed in the book. Other topics are the impact of globalization on work and economy, global environmental issues such as climate change, political movements which put “nationalism first”, change of youth`s values and the significance of body, gender and beauty. The book highlights the challenges of young people in modern life, as well as the way in which they express themselves and engage in society – in culture, politics, work and social life.




Cultural Tourism


Book Description

Cultural tourism is not only a major industry but also a support for national identity and a means for preserving heritage. Interdisciplinary explorations of cultural tourism, with essays about tourism between globalization and authenticity, township tourism in Soweto, South Africa, tourism in the culturally regenerated city, the new tourism areas in London, cultural routes, in the footsteps of Goethe, Humbert and Ulysses, tourism in inland Spain, indicators and qualitative observatories of heritage tourism, ecotourism and religious tourism in the North of Portugal, the festivalization of society, the consequences of the European Capitals of Culture, the economic impact of festivals, the future of cultural tourism: grounds for pessimism or optimism? Review in: Journal of cultural economics. 32(2008)3(.231-236).




Examining and Solving Health Disparities in the United States: Emerging Research and Opportunities


Book Description

Disparities in healthcare arise when there is an imbalance between opportunities to achieve optimal healthcare with access, education, and financial means. However, the difficult subject of health disparities in healthcare and its historical origins demonstrate that culture and race may contribute to health crises of minority groups within the United States. Educating vulnerable populations on making lifestyle modifications and reducing stress without educating healthcare professionals about increasing their awareness of hidden biases, prejudgment, and discrimination, will allow health disparities to remain. Examining and Solving Health Disparities in the United States: Emerging Research and Opportunities is a critical reference book that provides discussion on the topic of inequities in healthcare that impact health disparities and serves to increase awareness on these issues. The author particularly explores health disparities from a unifying perspective that supports the understanding of why health disparities occur and how an increase in the awareness, education, and confrontation of discriminatory acts can help make changes at the organizational and societal levels. Covering topics that include cultural clashes, equity, healthcare delivery, and healthcare accessibility, this book is essential for government officials, policymakers, medical administrators, medical professionals, medical boards and directors, researchers, academicians, and students involved in gender studies, cultural studies, social justice, socioeconomics, ethics and law, government, medicine, public health, psychology, sociology, and more.




Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Technology-Enhanced Language Learning


Book Description

The ability to effectively communicate with individuals from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds is an invaluable asset. Learning a second language proves useful as students navigate the culturally diverse world; however, studying a second language can be difficult for learners who are not immersed in the real and natural environment of the foreign language. Also, changes in education and advancements in information and communication technologies pose a number of challenges for implementing and maintaining sound practices within technology-enhanced language learning (TELL). Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Technology-Enhanced Language Learning provides information on educational technologies that enable language learners to have access to authentic and useful language resources. Readers will explore themes such as language pedagogy, how specific and universal cultural contexts influence audio-visual media used in technology-enhanced language learning (TELL), and the use of English video games to promote foreign language learning. This book is a valuable resource for academicians, education practitioners, advanced-level students, and school administrators seeking to improve language learning through technology-based resources.




The Global Flow of Information


Book Description

In this book, specialists from law, economics, public policy, international studies, and other disciplines probe the issues that lie at the intersection of globalization, law, and technology, and pay particular attention to the wider contextual question of Internet regulation in a globalized world.