The Global Environment of Business

David W. Conklin is James D. Fleck Professor in International Business and a Professor of the Global Environment of Business area group at Richard Ivey School of Business. In addition he is President, Conklin and Associates, Inc., a company which undertakes research and consulting activities for private corporations and government departments and agencies on public policy issues. He has also taught in the Economics and Political Science Departments at UWO, and has been an Adjunct Professor in Social Science. He earned a BA in political science and economics from the University of Toronto and a PhD in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Conklin′s research work focuses on the interface between corporations and public policies. This includes work for governments in the design and enforcement of legislation and regulations, as well as consulting for corporations in influencing public policies and in complying with government legislation and regulations. He has been Director, UWO Office of the Institute for Research on Public Policy, and Director of the University of Western Ontario Centre for American Studies. Over the past fifteen years, he has published over 50 articles and over 30 books.

Introduction
Part I. Social Forces
Chapter 1. Differentiating Strategies in Accordance With Cultural Differences
In Practice 1.1. Changes In Cultural Preferences For Diamonds
Chapter 2. Coping With New Concerns About Corruption and Fraud
Practice 2.1. Evaluating and Improving the Corporate Ethical Culture
Chapter 3. Adopting an Ethics Code and Corporate Social Responsibility: Why, What, and How?
In Practice 3.1. Environmental Degradation: The Result of Corruption and Fraud and Deficiencies in Ethics and CSR
Part II. Technological Forces
Chapter 4. Social Capital: Implications for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Practice 4.1. Differences in Social Capital as Determinants of Investment Locations
Chapter 5. Strengthening the Firm?s Knowledge Capabilities
In Practice 5.1. How Can a Government Strengthen the Knowledge Capabilities of Firms in Its Jurisdiction?
Chapter 6. Investing in New Technologies
In Practice 6.1. Investing in Telecom and E-Business in a Less Developed Economy
Part III. Economic Forces
Chapter 7. Industry Structure as a Determinant of Profitability
Practice 7.1. Challenges and Rewards of Outsourcing the HR Department
Chapter 8. Comparing Nations as Investment Locations
In Practice 8.1. Changes in the Industry Structure and National Competitive Advantage in the Watch Industry
Chapter 9. Adjusting to Economic Volatility
In Practice 9.1. Economic Risks of the Inflation/Devaluation Cycle
Part IV. Political Forces and the Role of Government
Chapter 10. Analyzing and Evaluating Political Risks
In Practice 10.1. Assessing and Comparing Political Risks
Chapter 11. Seizing Opportunities in Privatization and Regulatory Changes
Practice 11.1 Assessing Risks and Opportunities in Privatization and Regulatory Changes
Chapter 12. Ongoing Impacts of Trade and Investment Agreements
In Practice 12.1. Subsidies and Unfair Competition: The Example of Aircraft
In Practice 12.2. Coping With ?Unfair Competition? From China
Chapter 13. Summary and Conclusions
Author Index
Subject Index
About the Author