Recommended reading

Citation

Nolan, S. (2014), "Recommended reading", Strategic HR Review, Vol. 13 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/SHR.37213baa.013

Recommended reading

Article Type: Resources From: Strategic HR Review, Volume 13, Issue 2

Fish Can’t See Water. How National Culture Can Make or Break your Corporate Strategy
Kai Hammerich and Richard D. Lewis
Wiley
ISBN: 978-1-118-60856-2 and ebk ISBN: 978-1-118-60853-1

This book discusses the impact that national culture has on global organizations, via its influence on corporate culture. The nature of the impact of national culture varies across the different stages of the corporate lifecycle; for example, a national trait that helps boost growth in one lifecycle stage, may have the opposite effect later on, or earlier, in the organization’s life.

The authors believe that leaders of global organizations will be in a stronger position if they can recognize the impact of national culture and how it varies at different stages. The book is designed to help by offering two frameworks for examining the impact of national culture, as well as recommendations for recognizing the cultural factors that have both negative and positive impacts on performance. There are specific details of different national traits and how they affect corporate cultures in seven countries, in addition to case studies of organizations that understand cultural impacts and are using them as a source of differentiation or those are struggling at different stages of the lifecycle.

This is a practical book that serves as a good tool for leaders and HR professionals operating in a global organization. It concludes with useful lessons for boards, managers and investors on how to enhance performance in the multicultural world.

Sara Nolan
Editor, Strategic HR Review