Questions and Answers
Match the staffing policy approaches with their descriptions:
Ethnocentrism = Hiring top managers from the company's home country Polycentrism = Hiring local managers for a subsidiary's operations Geocentrism = Hiring the best candidate regardless of nationality Regiocentrism = Not relevant to human resource management
Match the terms with their definitions:
Ethnocentrism = Strong home country orientation Polycentrism = Strong host country focus Geocentrism = Understanding of global contexts Regiocentrism = Regional focus in international strategy
Match the benefits of staffing policies with their descriptions:
Ethnocentrism = Transferring core cultural values to foreign subsidiaries Polycentrism = Easier communication with local stakeholders Geocentrism = Hiring the best candidate for a position Regiocentrism = Not applicable to human resource management
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Match the following characteristics of international human resource management with the country where they are most prevalent:
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Match the dimensions of successful expatriate managers with their descriptions:
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Match the types of training with their purposes in expatriate management:
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Match the importance of including spouses in the selection process with their corresponding benefits:
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Match the importance of familiarizing with the geographical surroundings with their corresponding benefits:
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How do the accounting standards in the US and Germany differ, and what implications does this have for financial reporting?
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What is the main purpose of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), and how many countries have adopted them?
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What are the components of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), and what is the role of the conceptual framework?
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How do international human resource management procedures and staffing policies impact expatriate failure, and what are the costs associated with it?
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What are the challenges of international human resource management, and how do they impact performance and compensation payment?
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How do differences in accounting standards between countries affect the financial reporting of subsidiaries, and what are the implications for multinational companies?
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What is the significance of the 'diligence of a prudent businessman' principle in German accounting, and how does it differ from US accounting standards?
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How do the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) contribute to the development of a global economy, and what are the benefits for multinational companies?
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What are the implications of different depreciation rates for multinational companies, and how can the IFRS address these differences?
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How can international human resource management procedures and staffing policies contribute to the success of multinational companies, and what are the key challenges they face?
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What is the main characteristic of companies in the US, and how does it differ from those in Germany?
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What is the principle of 'diligence of a prudent businessman' in Germany, and how does it affect asset valuation?
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Why do companies need to consider the host country's accounting standards when reporting financial information?
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What are the main components of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)?
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What is the purpose of the conceptual framework in the IFRS, and what aspects does it focus on?
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Why is it important to consider the challenges of international human resource management when assessing performance and calculating compensation payments?
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What is the significance of understanding the host country's culture and employment conditions in international human resource management?
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How do the differences in accounting standards between countries affect the financial reporting of multinational companies?
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What is the purpose of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), and what role does it play in developing the IFRS?
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What are the benefits of adopting the IFRS, and why have over 100 countries adopted these standards?
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What are the four major financial statements that accountants prepare to summarize financial information?
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What is the main difference between current and non-current assets?
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Why is liquidity important for a company's financial health?
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What is the purpose of the statement of changes in equity?
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How can different accounting policies affect a company's financial results?
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What is the importance of considering a company's liquidity when analyzing its financial health?
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How do liabilities differ from equity in a company's balance sheet?
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What is the purpose of the cash flow statement?
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Why are generally accepted international accounting rules necessary?
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What is the main difference between a company's revenue and expenditure on a cash and non-cash basis?
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What is the primary purpose of the four major financial statements drawn up by accountants, and what do they summarize?
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What are the two main categories of assets on a company's balance sheet, and how do they differ?
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What is the purpose of the cash flow statement, and what does it indicate about a company's financial situation?
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What is the main difference between the income statement and the balance sheet, and what do they respectively show?
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What is the significance of the statement of changes in equity, and what does it reveal about a company's financial situation?
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What is the difference between cash and non-cash basis in accounting, and how does it affect the income statement?
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What is the main reason why companies may go bankrupt, despite not necessarily making losses, according to the text?
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What is the significance of the Rover case study, and what does it illustrate about the importance of accounting rules?
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What do the four major financial statements provide to stakeholders, and why is it essential for stakeholders to have access to this information?
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What is the main difference between current and non-current liabilities, and how do they affect a company's balance sheet?
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Study Notes
International Human Resource Management
- International human resource management is concerned with an organization's activities, procedures, and structures that help to employ workforces effectively.
- In international operations, human resource management is challenging due to differences in:
- Labor markets
- Culture
- Legal systems
- Economic systems
Expatriate Managers
- An expatriate manager is a citizen of one country who is working abroad in one of the firm's subsidiaries.
- Expatriate managers require a 'global mindset' to cope with multifaceted challenges, which includes:
- Complex cognitive abilities
- Cosmopolitan perspective
Characteristics of Expatriate Managers
- Four dimensions of successful expatriate managers:
- Self-orientation (self-esteem, self-confidence, mental wellbeing)
- Others-orientation (ability to connect with local staff and stakeholders)
- Perceptual ability (ability to understand and appreciate foreign cultures)
- Cultural toughness (ability to adapt to foreign cultures and cope with challenges)
Reasons for Expatriate Failure
- Early termination of the contract and return to the home country
- Causes of expatriate failure:
- Nationality of expatriate managers
- Problems of spouses in adapting to the new environment
- Family issues
- Manager's inability to fit into the new environment
- Lack of competence with regards to new role and responsibilities
- Personal issues
Instruments in International Human Resource Management
-
Selection process:
- Assessing the four dimensions of the global mindset
- Psychological testing
- Including spouses and family members in the assessment
-
Training and management development:
- Cultural training (understanding the host country's culture)
- Language training (basic knowledge of the local language)
- Practical training (addressing specific needs associated with an expatriate posting)
-
Performance assessment:
- Evaluating the manager's performance in the new environment
- Considering the challenges of the host country
-
Compensation:
- Considering the costs of expatriate failure
- Offering competitive packages to attract and retain expatriate managers### Challenges of Expatriate Managers
-
Expatriate managers face challenges adapting to a new environment, including finding housing, registering children in schools, and obtaining residence and employment permits.
-
Familiarizing themselves with the geographical surroundings is crucial to feeling at home in the new location.
-
Companies should try to integrate managers and their families into existing expatriate networks for support and valuable information.
Management Development
- Management development, also known as developing a global mindset, helps build strong networks across national borders and transfers the organizational culture to various subsidiaries.
- This process involves rotating managers from one country to another and regularly organizing meetings between managers from different countries.
- The exchange of ideas and experiences contributes to a shared knowledge base.
Repatriation
- Repatriation can be even more challenging than expatriation, as managers may face difficulties readapting to their home country.
- Companies should plan both expatriation and repatriation carefully, ensuring a smooth transition for managers.
- Returning managers should be reintegrated into their previous work environment, with clear roles assigned before the expatriation process starts.
Performance Assessment
- Assessing a manager's performance in international operations is difficult due to multifaceted influences on business activities in foreign countries.
- 360-degree feedback programs can help gather appraisals from various sources, but cultural differences must be considered.
- Home country managers may lack insight into the political, social, and economic landscape of a foreign market, leading to incorrect evaluations.
Compensation
- Calculating the remuneration of expatriate managers is complex, involving a basic salary, Foreign Service Premium, and additional allowances.
- Companies must consider factors like living costs, housing, and education expenses, as well as tax compensation and benefits.
- Data on purchasing power is often used to estimate standard living costs in a placement.
Supply Chain Management and International Business
- Supply chain management is the coordination of materials, information, and financial resources from the initial raw materials supplier to the ultimate customer.
- Key issues involved in supply chain management:
- Manufacturing strategy
- Information technology and the supply chain
- Quality management
- Supplier networks
- Inventory management
Manufacturing Strategy
- The manufacturing strategy should fit the overall competitive strategy of the firm.
- Compatibility:
- Cost efficiency (e.g. producing abroad)
- Dependability (e.g. ensuring a smooth flow of supplies)
- Configuration:
- Centralized manufacturing (producing in the home country and exporting goods abroad)
- Regional manufacturing (producing in specific regions to cater to regional markets)
- Multidomestic manufacturing (producing customized products for national markets)
- Coordination and control:
- Ensuring the supply chain is functional and efficient
- Monitoring and correcting deviations in the supply chain
Information Technology in Supply Chain Management
- Information technology is crucial in international business operations.
- Key aspects of information technology in supply chain management:
- Electronic data interchange (exchanging information between companies)
- Enterprise resource planning (standardized software solutions)
- Radio frequency ID (tracking materials along the supply chain)
- E-commerce and extranets/intranets (enabling companies to access information systems)
Quality, Supplier Networks, and Inventory Management
- Quality can be defined as meeting or exceeding customer expectations.
- Approaches to quality management:
- Total quality management (TQM)
- International Organization for Standardization (ISO) quality standards
- Supplier networks:
- Domestic sourcing (obtaining materials from local suppliers)
- Global sourcing (obtaining materials from international suppliers)
- Vertical integration (taking over a major part of the supplier)
- Inventory management:
- Managing the storage and flow of materials in global business activities
- Challenges: distance, time, and political and economic influences
Accounting in International Business
- Key accounting issues in global business operations ( briefly addressed)
- The importance of accounting in international business will be discussed in further sections### Management Accounting vs. Financial Accounting
- Management accounting is internally oriented, designed to assist management and enable informed decision making.
- Financial accounting records financial transactions and provides summarized results to external stakeholders.
- Financial accounting is regulated to varying degrees in different countries.
Financial Statements
- Financial accounting requires four major financial statements:
- Income statement
- Balance sheet
- Statement of changes in equity
- Cash flow statement
- Income statement displays profits or losses by comparing expenditure with revenue.
- Balance sheet summarizes a company's assets, liabilities, and equity.
- Statement of changes in equity states the reasons for changes in equity.
- Cash flow statement gives an overview of a company's liquidity and fluctuations.
Accounting Standards
- Countries have different accounting standards, which can lead to varying results in financial statements.
- Examples of differences include:
- Depreciation rates
- Valuation of assets
- Possibilities for making provisions
- Four reasons for country-specific accounting rules:
- Different law systems and legal regulations
- Different patterns of ownership
- Influences by authorities in the accounting profession
- Historical reasons
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
- IFRS have been developed by the International Accounting Standards Board.
- Over 100 countries have adopted IFRS, with some mandating their use and others allowing companies to choose between national standards and IFRS.
- IFRS comprise:
- Standards
- Interpretations
- Conceptual framework
- Standards and interpretations are mandatory, with a defined structure and content.
- The conceptual framework outlines the basic principles, general information, and objectives of financial reporting following IFRS.
Supply Chain Management and International Business
- Supply chain management is the coordination of materials, information, and financial resources from the initial raw materials supplier to the ultimate customer.
- Key issues involved in supply chain management:
- Manufacturing strategy
- Information technology and the supply chain
- Quality management
- Supplier networks
- Inventory management
Manufacturing Strategy
- The manufacturing strategy should fit the overall competitive strategy of the firm.
- Compatibility:
- Cost efficiency (e.g. producing abroad)
- Dependability (e.g. ensuring a smooth flow of supplies)
- Configuration:
- Centralized manufacturing (producing in the home country and exporting goods abroad)
- Regional manufacturing (producing in specific regions to cater to regional markets)
- Multidomestic manufacturing (producing customized products for national markets)
- Coordination and control:
- Ensuring the supply chain is functional and efficient
- Monitoring and correcting deviations in the supply chain
Information Technology in Supply Chain Management
- Information technology is crucial in international business operations.
- Key aspects of information technology in supply chain management:
- Electronic data interchange (exchanging information between companies)
- Enterprise resource planning (standardized software solutions)
- Radio frequency ID (tracking materials along the supply chain)
- E-commerce and extranets/intranets (enabling companies to access information systems)
Quality, Supplier Networks, and Inventory Management
- Quality can be defined as meeting or exceeding customer expectations.
- Approaches to quality management:
- Total quality management (TQM)
- International Organization for Standardization (ISO) quality standards
- Supplier networks:
- Domestic sourcing (obtaining materials from local suppliers)
- Global sourcing (obtaining materials from international suppliers)
- Vertical integration (taking over a major part of the supplier)
- Inventory management:
- Managing the storage and flow of materials in global business activities
- Challenges: distance, time, and political and economic influences
Accounting in International Business
- Key accounting issues in global business operations ( briefly addressed)
- The importance of accounting in international business will be discussed in further sections### Management Accounting vs. Financial Accounting
- Management accounting is internally oriented, designed to assist management and enable informed decision making.
- Financial accounting records financial transactions and provides summarized results to external stakeholders.
- Financial accounting is regulated to varying degrees in different countries.
Financial Statements
- Financial accounting requires four major financial statements:
- Income statement
- Balance sheet
- Statement of changes in equity
- Cash flow statement
- Income statement displays profits or losses by comparing expenditure with revenue.
- Balance sheet summarizes a company's assets, liabilities, and equity.
- Statement of changes in equity states the reasons for changes in equity.
- Cash flow statement gives an overview of a company's liquidity and fluctuations.
Accounting Standards
- Countries have different accounting standards, which can lead to varying results in financial statements.
- Examples of differences include:
- Depreciation rates
- Valuation of assets
- Possibilities for making provisions
- Four reasons for country-specific accounting rules:
- Different law systems and legal regulations
- Different patterns of ownership
- Influences by authorities in the accounting profession
- Historical reasons
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
- IFRS have been developed by the International Accounting Standards Board.
- Over 100 countries have adopted IFRS, with some mandating their use and others allowing companies to choose between national standards and IFRS.
- IFRS comprise:
- Standards
- Interpretations
- Conceptual framework
- Standards and interpretations are mandatory, with a defined structure and content.
- The conceptual framework outlines the basic principles, general information, and objectives of financial reporting following IFRS.
Introduction to Boeing 787
- The Boeing 787 is a wide-bodied jet aircraft designed for long-haul point-to-point routes
- 80% of the aircraft is made of composite materials, making it 20% lighter and more fuel-efficient
- The aircraft features larger windows, greater headroom, and advanced electronics
Outsourcing and Supply Chain Management
- Boeing outsourced 70% of the 787's content to partners in other countries to reduce risks and share development costs
- Partners included Vought Aircraft Industries (USA), Alenia Aeronautical (Italy), Fuji, Kawasaki, and Mitsubishi (Japan)
- The outsourcing strategy led to delays and quality control issues due to communication and coordination problems
- Boeing learned the importance of closer management supervision and coordination in outsourcing
Supply Chain Management
- Supply chain management involves the coordination of materials, information, and financial resources from the initial raw materials supplier to the ultimate customer
- It requires consideration of suppliers, customers, and the entire value chain
- Supply chain management is critical in international business, where differences in legal systems, cultures, and business customs can create challenges
Manufacturing Strategy
- A manufacturing strategy must consider compatibility, configuration, and coordination and control
- Compatibility means the manufacturing strategy fits the overall competitive strategy of the firm
- Configuration involves choosing the right location for production, such as centralized, regional, or multidomestic approaches
- Coordination and control involve ensuring a smooth flow of materials, information, and financial resources
Information Technology and Supply Chain Management
- Information technology is crucial in supply chain management, enabling the efficient flow of materials, information, and financial resources
- Key aspects of information technology in supply chain management include electronic data interchange, enterprise resource planning, radio frequency ID, and e-commerce and extranets/intranets
- Information technology helps companies respond quickly to changes in demand, manage inventory, and track shipments
Quality Management
- Quality can be defined as meeting or exceeding customer expectations
- Two approaches to quality management are total quality management (TQM) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) quality standards
- TQM focuses on continuous improvement, employee involvement, and exceeding customer expectations
- ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 standards set benchmarks for quality and environmental performance
Supplier Networks and Inventory Management
-
Supplier networks involve selecting and managing suppliers, considering factors such as location, quality, and cost
-
Inventory management involves managing the flow of materials, information, and financial resources to ensure the right products are available at the right time and place### International Sourcing and Supply Chain Management
-
International suppliers can be used as a backup to local providers, increasing the reliability of the supply chain
-
Global sourcing is more expensive and increases the workload of coordinating the supply chain
-
It may be difficult to maintain quality standards when sourcing globally
-
Vertical integration, where a firm takes over a major part of its supplier, can reduce transaction costs, but requires developing necessary competencies
-
Industrial clusters, where buyers and suppliers are located in close proximity, can reduce transaction and transportation costs
-
Purchasing in a company follows a pattern of internationalization, starting with domestic purchases and moving to international purchasing when necessary
-
International purchasing eventually becomes part of the company's procurement strategy, with multinational firms employing an integrated global procurement strategy
Inventory Management
- Inventory management has become increasingly difficult due to global business activities
- Three key aspects contribute to the challenges involved in inventory management: distance, time, and political and economic influences
- Sourcing materials from remote locations, shipment over long distances, and delivering on time can pose a risk to the reliability of production
- Just-in-time provision of materials and parts is crucial in lean manufacturing systems, but can make the production process more vulnerable to delays
- A company locating in close proximity to key suppliers or vice versa is a strategy used to avoid problems resulting from just-in-time deliveries
- Inventory management requires a balance between efficiency and reliability through a combination of globalized processes and local orientation
Accounting in International Business
- Management accounting is internally oriented, assisting management and enabling informed decision-making
- Financial accounting records financial transactions and provides summarized results to external stakeholders
- Four major financial statements are required: income statement, balance sheet, statement of changes in equity, and cash flow statement
- Accounting policies and regulations vary across countries, as demonstrated by the example of Rover's results under British and German accounting standards
Introduction to Boeing 787
- The Boeing 787 is a wide-bodied jet aircraft designed for long-haul point-to-point routes
- 80% of the aircraft is made of composite materials, making it 20% lighter and more fuel-efficient
- The aircraft features larger windows, greater headroom, and advanced electronics
Outsourcing and Supply Chain Management
- Boeing outsourced 70% of the 787's content to partners in other countries to reduce risks and share development costs
- Partners included Vought Aircraft Industries (USA), Alenia Aeronautical (Italy), Fuji, Kawasaki, and Mitsubishi (Japan)
- The outsourcing strategy led to delays and quality control issues due to communication and coordination problems
- Boeing learned the importance of closer management supervision and coordination in outsourcing
Supply Chain Management
- Supply chain management involves the coordination of materials, information, and financial resources from the initial raw materials supplier to the ultimate customer
- It requires consideration of suppliers, customers, and the entire value chain
- Supply chain management is critical in international business, where differences in legal systems, cultures, and business customs can create challenges
Manufacturing Strategy
- A manufacturing strategy must consider compatibility, configuration, and coordination and control
- Compatibility means the manufacturing strategy fits the overall competitive strategy of the firm
- Configuration involves choosing the right location for production, such as centralized, regional, or multidomestic approaches
- Coordination and control involve ensuring a smooth flow of materials, information, and financial resources
Information Technology and Supply Chain Management
- Information technology is crucial in supply chain management, enabling the efficient flow of materials, information, and financial resources
- Key aspects of information technology in supply chain management include electronic data interchange, enterprise resource planning, radio frequency ID, and e-commerce and extranets/intranets
- Information technology helps companies respond quickly to changes in demand, manage inventory, and track shipments
Quality Management
- Quality can be defined as meeting or exceeding customer expectations
- Two approaches to quality management are total quality management (TQM) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) quality standards
- TQM focuses on continuous improvement, employee involvement, and exceeding customer expectations
- ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 standards set benchmarks for quality and environmental performance
Supplier Networks and Inventory Management
-
Supplier networks involve selecting and managing suppliers, considering factors such as location, quality, and cost
-
Inventory management involves managing the flow of materials, information, and financial resources to ensure the right products are available at the right time and place### International Sourcing and Supply Chain Management
-
International suppliers can be used as a backup to local providers, increasing the reliability of the supply chain
-
Global sourcing is more expensive and increases the workload of coordinating the supply chain
-
It may be difficult to maintain quality standards when sourcing globally
-
Vertical integration, where a firm takes over a major part of its supplier, can reduce transaction costs, but requires developing necessary competencies
-
Industrial clusters, where buyers and suppliers are located in close proximity, can reduce transaction and transportation costs
-
Purchasing in a company follows a pattern of internationalization, starting with domestic purchases and moving to international purchasing when necessary
-
International purchasing eventually becomes part of the company's procurement strategy, with multinational firms employing an integrated global procurement strategy
Inventory Management
- Inventory management has become increasingly difficult due to global business activities
- Three key aspects contribute to the challenges involved in inventory management: distance, time, and political and economic influences
- Sourcing materials from remote locations, shipment over long distances, and delivering on time can pose a risk to the reliability of production
- Just-in-time provision of materials and parts is crucial in lean manufacturing systems, but can make the production process more vulnerable to delays
- A company locating in close proximity to key suppliers or vice versa is a strategy used to avoid problems resulting from just-in-time deliveries
- Inventory management requires a balance between efficiency and reliability through a combination of globalized processes and local orientation
Accounting in International Business
- Management accounting is internally oriented, assisting management and enabling informed decision-making
- Financial accounting records financial transactions and provides summarized results to external stakeholders
- Four major financial statements are required: income statement, balance sheet, statement of changes in equity, and cash flow statement
- Accounting policies and regulations vary across countries, as demonstrated by the example of Rover's results under British and German accounting standards
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