Intercultural Business News

Mihir A. Desai, professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School discussed his new working paper “The Decentering of the Global Firm” this week in a Q&A session with HBS Working Knowledge.
The paper considers the increasingly common practice of multinational companies moving their financial, legal and managerial operations away from their traditional homes to locations spread far and wide around the globe. Desai further considers how this ‘decentering’ can effectively strip and recast a firm’s national identity and culture; outlines the issues managers should evaluate before deciding if and where to re-establish their headquarters’ functions; and discusses the potential costs and benefits of doing so.
As a preeminent authority on international corporate and public finance, Mihir Desai’s latest offering is well worth a look for anyone involved or interested in the future of international, multicultural business.

• Read Desai’s Q&A session with HBS Working Knowledge
• Read “The Decentering of the Global Firm”
  

Earlier this week it was announced that James Caan, the high flying entrepreneur of ‘Dragon’s Den’ fame, has been appointed as the new Co-Chair of the BERR’s Ethnic Minority Task Force. The task force, which was launched in June 2007 with the objective of increasing entrepreneurial activity among black and ethnic minority groups falling below the national average for self employment, have been looking to fill the role since October last year when Adeeba Malik stepped down due to work commitments in Pakistan and are evidently delighted with the capture of Caan. Speaking on the appointment Lord Mandelson Secretary of State for Business said:
“I am delighted that James Caan is joining the Ethnic Minority Business Task Force. His entrepreneurial skills and business acumen will further build on the Task force’s work in removing barriers for BME business owners.”

Read more: James Caan