Korean Enterprise: The Quest for Globalization

by Gerardo R Ungson, Richard M Steers (With), Seung-Ho Park (With)

Overview

In the 1960s, Korea embarked on an ambitious program of economic development. By the 1980s, the pace of development had accelerated, and Korean companies were beginning to shed their reputation as second-rate, low-tech producers. In the 1990s, strategies of technological and managerial innovation were officially codified by President Kim as Segyehwa, loosely translated as "globalization," but more generally understood by Koreans as a philosophy and mission to achieve global status in politics, business, education, communications, technology, and the arts. In this book, the authors trace the evolution of Korea's globalization movement and assess the prospects for Korean competitiveness in the future. Despite tremendous advances over the past three decades, Korean enterprises face considerable challenges if they intend to sustain a competitive edge in the global marketplace. The authors identify seven key challenges in the areas of industrial policy, technological innovation, management practice, organizational design, entrepreneurship, and human resource investment. The authors explore the relationships among national culture, management practice, and government policy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780875846309
Publisher:	Harvard Business Review Press
Publication date:	05/01/1997
Series:	Management of Innovation and Change
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.50(h) x 1.05(d)

Editorial Reviews

Management professors Ungson et al. give us a comprehensive look at Korea's business culture and the competitive challenges faced by the world's eighth largest economy. The book's ten chapters outline seven key imperatives in the areas of industrial policy, restructuring organizational designsespecially for the major conglomerates (chaebols)entrepreneurialistic growth for small and medium-sized companies, global and competitive competencies, technological innovation, management practices, and the requirements necessary to prepare Korea as a key player for the upcoming century. As Korea now confronts the serious issues of increased labor cost, limited access to foreign technology, and competition from other Asian countries, this timely volume offers lessons for Western managers. Highly recommended for executives as well as academicians and students.Joseph W. Leonard, Miami Univ., Oxford, Ohio

Library Journal

Looks at Korea's business culture, its efforts to become a pivotal player in the global economy, and challenges that lie ahead for Korean businesses and their competitors. Explores relationships among national culture, management practice, and government policy, and outlines seven goals the country must achieve to compete with the most technologically advanced countries in the next century. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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