INTERNATIONAL” MANAGERS

Managers who can operate effectively across cultures and national borders are invaluable in global business. As more and more companies expand abroad, competition for top talent to run new international operations will steadily grow.

The 2010s will test the capacities of multinational corporations to react rapidly to global changes in human resources as in all other areas of the company.

Global selection systems enable a company to find the best person anywhere in the world for a given position. The system measures applicants according to a group of 12 character attributes. These twelve categories are: motivations, expectations, open-mindedness, and respect for other beliefs, trust in people, tolerance, personal control, flexibility, patience, social adaptability, initiative, and risk-taking, sense of humor, interpersonal interest, and spouse communication. An effective international executive displays a combination of desirable personal qualities. These include adaptability, independence, leadership, - even charisma.

What part can management education play in developing the international manager? A good deal. Management education can provide training in international marketing, finance and such international relations. Knowledge areas the international manager will need include understanding of the global economy and foreign business systems, international marketing, international financial management, political risk analysis and the ability to analyze and develop sophisticated global strategies.

We can also point to skills such as communication, leadership, and motivation, decision-making, team-building and negotiation. Research indicates that national cultural differences can have important effects. The international manager is said to spend over half of his or her time in negotiation. International managers should know how foreign cultures affect organizational behaviour and management style. They should understand how their own culture affects their own style.

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