Fish Can't See Water (PDF)

How national culture impacts organizational culture--and
business success

Using extensive case studies of successful global corporations,
this book explores the impact of national culture on the corporate
strategy and its execution, and through this ultimately business
success--or failure. It does not argue that different cultures
lead to different business results, but that all cultures impact
organizations in ways both positive and negative, depending on the
business cycle, the particular business, and the particular
strategies being pursued. Depending on all of these factors,
cultural dynamics can either enable or derail performance. But
recognizing those cultural factors is difficult for business
leaders; like everyone else, they too can be blind to the culture
of which they are a part.

The book offers managers and leaders eight recommendations for
recognizing those cultural factors that negatively impact
performance, as well as those that can be harnessed to encourage
superior performance. With real case studies from companies in
Asia, Europe, and the United States, this book offers a truly
global approach to organizational culture.

* Offers a fresh approach to the effects of national culture on
organizational culture that is applicable to any country in any
region

* Based on case studies of such companies as Toyota, Samsung,
General Motors, Nokia, Walmart, Kone and British Leyland

* It describes the origins and nature of the most common
corporate crisis and how culture impacts the response to such a
crisis

* Ideal for managers, business leaders, and board members, as
well as business school students

A welcome response to the flat-Earth fad that argues we're all
alike, this book offers a nuanced and practical view of cultural
differentiators and how they can enable or derail business
performance.