Book excerpt: Revised and updated to incorporate new research insights and findings, Managing a Global Workforce provides balanced and contemporary coverage of human resource management in the international marketplace. Directed at future general managers and international executives rather than HR specialists, it is designed to help readers recognize the critical human resource issues underlying the cultural and economic challenges they face. The book's approach is truly global in nature, not just focused on expatriates from the home office. The authors also recognize contemporary trends in the global business arena, including the growing use of contingent workers, strategic alliances, and the need to have an active influence on the workers in these new organizational relationships. Reader-friendly tools, including an opening case scenario in each chapter to attract interest and emphasize topic importance, enhance the book's practical, real-world emphasis. For this edition new end-of-chapter short cases as well as new topics, ideas, and illustrations featuring current issues and challenges such as the global economic challenge have been added; and updated Internet resource references are provided for each chapter.