These days, everyone is talking about "innovation." Companies and employees have to innovate or busi-ness will sink. I recently mentioned to a colleague that creativity is also important, but he quickl... read more

Are you working for a company that recently merged with another one, or was bought out? You are not alone. The record number of mergers and acquisitions in the last five years has brought renewed... read more

One of NAFTA's positive effects on Mexico has been the renewed attention given to an old problem: corruption. As Mexico attempts to attract more foreign investment, mounting pressure has been placed on... read more

In previous columns, I have argued that cultural diversity in organizations should be welcomed, rather than viewed as a problem to be avoided. Multinational companies in Mexico often have teams made up... read more

One of the oldest clichés in business is "the customer is always right." And while this catchphrase might be repeated in every company training program, the reality is that most businesses fall short ... read more

There is an old movie starring Jack Lemmon in which a father (Lemmon) is frustrated that his less-than-motivated son has quit his job after one day. When he asks his son why, his son simply replies, "M... read more

When it comes to professional training, Mexican managers and companies seem fascinated with anything that comes from more developed countries, especially the United States. From leadership courses (so ... read more

Most of my activities in the area of consulting involve training managers from the United States and Mexico. The people I generally work with to organize and prepare these kinds of activities are Human... read more

Over the last two years, working with different companies in both the United States and Mexico, I have heard time and again about a relatively new nagging problem for managers: handling their email. Ac... read more

The year is 2005 and you've just dropped by your local McDonald's for the usual snack; one large soft drink and medium fries. The queue is moving slowly, giving you enough time to check your savings-ac... read more

When I ask managers what they hate most about their jobs, writing and reading reports is usually on the top of their lists. Managers who have to write reports are often inadequately prepared: They were... read more

Table of Contents CONSUMERS SPEND, SPEND, SPEND... MONETARY REGULATION BONDS TEQUILA INDUSTRY STUMBLES ... read more

I wrote this in early 1995, when the peso was on a slide. For many, especially the Mexican people, the "devaluation" was no laughing matter. "It's 5.0 at the Caseta de Cambio (money changer) in Cinco ... read more

This clown is plying his trade in the Oaxaca Zócalo. He probably needs change. Photography by Diana Ricci   There is a deep, dark, secret hole where all the change goes, and nobody k... read more

Perhaps the single largest cultural gap between Latin Americans and North Americans in the realm of business practices is the "personal" dimension. As I have explained in earlier articles, Latin Americ... read more

CONTENTS: SUCCESSFUL FIRST QUARTER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS THE BIG MAC INDEX BORDER BRIDGE SUCCESS WIRELESS LOCAL TELEPHONES SALES OF NEW VEHICLES UP STRONG CEMENT M... read more

Table of Contents THE STATE OF THE NATION UPGRADING OIL REFINERIES MORE HYDRO-POWER THE STATE OF THE NATION ... read more

Fortune magazine recently voted Monterrey, capital of the northern state of Nuevo León, as the best city in Latin America in which to do business. A brief look at the statistics for Nuevo León gives ... read more

There is no doubt that being a manager today is a different and more demanding challenge than it has been in the past. The much-talked-about globalization of business operations has forced managers to ... read more

In the early part of the 20th Century, American industrial engineer Fredrick Taylor revolutionized management practices through his famous concept of Scientific Management. His basic premise was that f... read more

The experience of going through a job interview is, for most people, exhausting and stressful. You seek advice from others, read books about it, and prepare yourself to talk and behave in ways that fee... read more

More and more people are holding jobs that do not require commuting. Various positions in the publishing industry, such as writers, for example, do their work at home (or wherever they wish) and simply... read more

INVESTMENT GRADE GRANTED Mexico has been awarded investment grade by U.S.-based Moody's Investors Services. Moody's raised the long-term foreign currency rating on Mexican sovereig... read more

Dr. Leopoldo Rodarte Ramón, general director of the Federal District Water Commission, has a tough job. He is responsible for supplying an ever-growing population with water, draining thousands of ton... read more

You must have all heard or read about it by now: The Coca-Cola company has announced it will "reduce" its payroll by 7,000 employees. Profits were not as good as expected, and it is time to tighten the... read more