Doing Business in Another Country

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Contents

About this Article

The purpose of this article is to serve as a guide for finding information about doing business in another country. Please note that this guide is not comprehensive, as it only covers some of the more commonly used resources for this topic.

About the Sources

There are a variety of sources available for this particular topic. While it may be tempting to use only electronic resources, a plethora of excellent information can be found in some of the traditional print materials. In many cases, printed reference books contain information not found in the online resources. When books are listed below, the location in Alden is also given. Most books below will be in the Reference Stacks or at the Learning Commons desk on the second floor of Alden. If you have problem locating a particular book, or if you have trouble with a particular resource, feel free to contact Chad or stop by the Learning Commons desk.

Country Background Information

If you are just get started and need to know some basic information about a particular country, take a look at the following sources:

  1. Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations
    • This online encyclopedia "presents easy-to-understand information on 200 countries and dependencies from around the world. Entries discuss a variety of topics in detail, from banking and securities to climate, from government data to demographic statistics. Also includes biographical essays on national leaders."
  2. Europa World Yearbook
    • Format: Subscription Database
  3. The Statesman’s year-book
    • Format: Reference Book
    • Location: Ref. Desk JA51 .S7
  4. Cities of the World
    • "A compilation of current information on cultural, geographic, and political conditions in 193 countries and their cities covering six continents, based on the Department of State's Post Reports. Maps and photos of many cities included."
  5. Nations of the World: A Political, Economic & Business Handbook
    • Format: Reference Book
    • Ref. D32 .N37x Ref. Stacks
  6. Handbook of Country Risk
    • Format: Reference Book
    • Location: Ref HG4538 .R57x Latest edition at Reference Desk

Cultural Information

  1. CountryWatch
    • Provides "country specific geopolitical intelligence on each of the 192 countries of the world. " Includes basic information on each country, constantly updated news stories, links to official websites, etc. Topics include government, economy, investment climate, and social and environmental issues. For this topic, the Social Overview section is particularly useful. Also includes maps, downloadable data tables, country forecasts, and other information.
  2. Culture Briefings
    • Culture Briefings give you current, in-depth information found in no other single source on the customs, culture, traditions and ways of life of people in other countries. These are intended for travelers, business travellers, researchers, teachers and students, study-abroad participants, or anyone seeking to better understand another nation. Please note that this resource is limited in the quantity of countries covered.
  3. CultureGrams World Edition
    • An excellent resource for cultural information for 182 countries; reports include maps, statistics, and in-depth information on in a number of specific categories. For each country there is information about the country's background, people, customs and courtesies,lifestyle, and society.
  4. Countries and Their Cultures
    • Format: Reference Book
    • Ref. GN307 .C68 2001 Ref. Stacks
  5. Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life
    • Format: Reference Book
    • Ref. GN333 .W67 1998 Ref. Stacks
  6. Intersource Country Insights
    • Country facts and cultural information on the countries of the world. Intercultural issues may include: Conversations, Communication Styles, Displays of Emotion,Dress, Punctuality, and Formality, Stereotypes, Relationship building, Preferred Managerial Qualities, Conflict in the Workplace, and much more. Please note that some information is from a Canadian perspective.

Business Etiquette Resources

  1. Bering Guides
    • Format: Electronic Book
    • The Bering Guides are a fantastic resource for business travel, etiquette, culture, and more. Averaging about 25 pages in length, the guides are a quick primer on business travel to specific countries.
  2. Executive Planet
    • "Executive Planet™ provides valuable tips on business etiquette, customs and protocol for doing business worldwide."
  3. Do’s and Taboos Around the World.
    • Format: Reference Book
    • Ref. HF5387 D66 1993 Ref. Stacks
  4. Kiss, bow, or shake hands : the bestselling guide to doing business in more than 60 countries
    • Format: Reference Book.
    • Ref. HF5389 .M67 2006 Ref. Desk
  5. Dun & Bradstreet’s Guide to Doing Business Around the World Rev. ed.
    • Format: Reference Book
    • Ref. HF 1416 M78 2001 Ref. Desk
  6. Craighead’s International Business, Travel, and Relocation Guide to 90 Countries
    • Format: Reference Book
    • Ref. HF5549.5 E45 D56 Latest ed. in Ref. Stacks
  7. Passport Series
    • Electronic books that offer concise information about doing business in specific countries.
  8. Protocol for Profit: A Manager's Guide to Competing Worldwide
    • Ref. HD31.N43 1998x
    • Covers "tips" and "traps" for most countries and regions of the world.
  9. Doing Business in Asia
    • RefHF1583.D86 1998
    • Covers people, values, social customs, negotiation, dress, and more for Asian countries.
  10. Global Road Warrior: 175-Country Reference for the International Business Traveler and Communicator
    • Alden 2nd Floor Reference G156.5.B86 G56 2007
    • Contains a wealth of information for the international business traveler.

To find other books in ALICE or OhioLINK, some good subject headings to use are:

  • Intercultural Communication or Intercultural Communication — (insert country here)
  • Business etiquette — (insert country here)

These subject headings also work well when searching for articles in Business Source Complete.

There is also another group of books in the Reference Stacks. They are titled Business [country name] and Passport [country name]. While we do not have a book on every country, they are particulary useful for the countries that we do have.

Global Industry and Trade Statistics

  1. Encyclopedia of Global Industries
    • Good for a general overview of broad industry categories of the world. Please note that because the source is so broad, many countries may be overlooked.
  2. Exporter's Encyclopaedia
    • Format: Reference Book
    • Ref. HF3011 .E9
  3. STAT-USA/Internet
    • "STAT-USA/Internet, a service of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is a single point of access to authoritative business, trade, and economic information from across the Federal Government."
    • For international business, look at the Globus&NTDB reports.
    • Pay particular attention to the reports in the "Market and Country Research" section.
  4. Doing Business: Benchmarking Business Regulations
    • "The Doing Business database provides indicators of the cost of doing business by identifying specific regulations that enhance or constrain business investment, productivity, and growth."

Highly recommended books

There are many books on this guide that can help you with the topic of doing business in another country. The following video explains how you might use some of those books.


Related Links

For economic and country/political risk information, take a look at the article on finding Country Economic Analysis Information.

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