The course examines a number of issues particularly critical to the management of international businesses or multinational firms. These topics include an examination of comparative management practices including similarities and differences in cross-cultural management styles; a comparison of Pacific Rim, European Union, and North American value systems; analysis of best practices and their impact in industries such as automotive, electronics, education, and medical services. It also includes discussion of current international business issues including the future of globalization, the impact of outsourcing, and particular areas of corporate risk including foreign exchange and the political/social climate; and an exploration of current economic and business planning in multilingual organizations.