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The Middle East has been overlooked by American companies as a region in which to explore market opportunities. Suggests that this is largely due to ignorance of, and bias towards, the culture and politics of the Middle East. Discusses aspects of Middle East culture and situational determinants which American companies would be wise to assimilate and suggests practices to carry out or avoid when attempting to form business relationships in the Middle East.

Unless the question of decision making is encouraged disasters can occur. Several examples of bad decisions which have been compounded by a lack of dissent are outlined – from President Reagan′s “Irangate” scandal to the Ford Pinto to Coca‐Cola′s failed “New Coke”. Eight recommendations are made for encouraging dissent in decision making.

Service businesses, like product manufacturers, face loss exposures‐sets of circumstances that could give rise to losses. The losses may never occur, but the firm must plan for the possibility that they will. Risk management involves the treatment of loss exposures in a cost‐effective manner to protect the firm against losses of a fortuitous nature. The risk management process as it is applied in a service business is described. The process involves a five‐step sequence that service organisation managers can use to detect and evaluate loss exposures, select and implement techniques to treat them, and monitor the results of their efforts. Though the focus is on service firms, many of the risk management ideas discussed are applicable to other types of organisations.

The Islamic economic system is a theoretical construct of an economy whose members follow the Islamic faith. The core of Islamic economics rests on theological foundations – social welfare is valued above material gain and heavy emphasis is placed on a strong belief in and faithful obedience to God. The characteristics of, and principles which underlie, Islamic economics are surveyed. Particular attention is paid to the injunction against interest payments and to the requirement that the faithful pay a capital levy or wealth tax.

Examines various methods which can be used to improve the writing skills of work study practitioners. Considers the need for organization of ideas, simplicity, clarity, unity, conciseness, cohereness and good grammar. Concludes that the objective of writing is to make messages complete and understandable; that affected, showy writing is inappropriate; and that use of these concepts will result in effective communications.

In the last four years, since Volume I of this Bibliography first appeared, there has been an explosion of literature in all the main functional areas of business. This wealth of material poses problems for the researcher in management studies — and, of course, for the librarian: uncovering what has been written in any one area is not an easy task. This volume aims to help the librarian and the researcher overcome some of the immediate problems of identification of material. It is an annotated bibliography of management, drawing on the wide variety of literature produced by MCB University Press. Over the last four years, MCB University Press has produced an extensive range of books and serial publications covering most of the established and many of the developing areas of management. This volume, in conjunction with Volume I, provides a guide to all the material published so far.