When visiting a new country for the first time, it’s fairly clear that going with the attitude ‘we don’t do that in our country’ is not a great way to start. So some background reading to understand country and culture is a must for maximising the opportunity ahead. Building relationships with others is usually about doing one’s best to understand their worldview and look for things in common rather than differences.

Labour Day in New Zealand, reading at the beach

Here’s some of the background reading I’m doing:

http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2012/09/daily-chart-10

http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2012/06/focus-3

http://www.economist.com/node/21546829

http://www.economist.com/node/21554787?bclid=0&bctid=1634105566001

http://www.economist.com/multimedia?bclid=1213687645001&bctid=1745346764001

Global Trends: Facing up to a Changing World http://www.amazon.com/Global-Trends-Changing-Business-Collection/dp/0230284868/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1345184021&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=global+trends+done%5D

Reading in the sun on the back deck.

http://www.facinguptoachangingworld.com/

http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/The_global_companys_challenge_2979

http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Organizing_for_an_emerging_world_2980

http://www.unprme.org/

http://geert-hofstede.com/national-culture.html

http://www.scribd.com/doc/492094/East-Vs-West-A-good-observation-represented-pictorially-to-understand-culture-

http://www.amazon.com/Cultures-Organizations-Software-Third-Edition/dp/0071664181/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345183673&sr=1-1-spell&keywords=Culture+Hofstead

http://www.amazon.com/China-Henry-Kissinger/dp/0143121316/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345183016&sr=1-1&keywords=on+china

http://www.amazon.com/China-Wave-Rise-Civilizational-State/dp/193813401X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345182976&sr=1-1&keywords=The+China+wave

http://www.nzte.govt.nz/explore-export-markets/North-Asia/Doing-business-in-China/Pages/Doing-business-in-China.aspx

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/07/10/1008_chinabrands/index_01.htm

http://www.amazon.com/Global-Trends-Changing-Business-Collection/dp/0230284868/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1345184021&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=global+trends+done%5D

http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/India/Comparing_urbanization_in_China_and_India_2641

http://www.amazon.com/Breakout-Nations-Pursuit-Economic-Miracles/dp/0393080269/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345182606&sr=1-1&keywords=breakout+nations+in+pursuit+of+the+next+economic+miracles

http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/India/Comparing_urbanization_in_China_and_India_2641

http://www.mfat.govt.nz/NZ-Inc/index.php

http://www.mfat.govt.nz/NZ-Inc/5-Opening-doors-to-India/index.php

http://www.nzte.govt.nz/explore-export-markets/Pages/Explore-Export-Markets.aspx

http://www.mfat.govt.nz/Trade-and-Economic-Relations/2-Trade-Relationships-and-Agreements/index.php

http://www.nzte.govt.nz/explore-export-markets/South-and-Southeast-Asia/doing-business-in-malaysia/Pages/Doing-business-in-Malaysia.aspx

http://www.nzte.govt.nz/explore-export-markets/South-and-Southeast-Asia/doing-business-in-indonesia/Pages/Doing-business-in-Indonesia.aspx