Race for the World: Countdown to Build a Great Global Firm

Ultimately it does not matter if this book, written by four McKinsey management consultants, proves completely correct, because the authors have gone a long way toward framing the debate about the best ways for American corporations to compete globally. In methodical, step-by-step fashion, the consultants explain the changing international landscape--how various forces are causing economies worldwide to integrate at an unprecedented rate--and what corporations need to do to capitalize. (Two keys are to dominate completely one or more slivers of a global market and to remain agile at all times.) Their logic is convincing, even if the writing is a bit dense (subheads such as ""Disaggregating and Structuring Business Operating Risks"" are common). There are certainly other points of view: countless books have talked about establishing joint partnerships as the best way to expand overseas. And last year, McKinsey competitor Cyrus F. Friedheim Jr., vice chairman of Booz Allen Hamilton, argued in The Trillion Dollar Enterprise that alliances were the way to go. The best bet for executives interested in expanding overseas--and that should be all of them--is to add this book to their list of resources and devise their own best strategy. 50,000 first printing; $100,000 ad/promo. (Sept.)