Growth of international business
The growth of international business has created a need for managers who can work successfully in a wide variety of environments. Such managers adapt readily to people from other cultures, are skilled and compete are socially flexible, and are receptive to new ideas. Managers must also have the ability to keep track of events in foreign countries, to develop innovative problem involving strategies, and to view the entire world as a potential market.
More and more managers are working in firms, whether American or foreign, that operate on an international scale. Usually firms rely on home country nationals (citizens) and host country nationals. Occasionally, other nationals (those who are neither from the home nor host country) are used to fill managerial positions overseas.
During the start up phase of foreign operations, firms tend to rely on home country managers sent from headquarters. Most supervisors and their managers tend to be staffed by host country managers as it is less expensive and many positions must be filled.