1. Why is it important for managers to understand the forces in the global environment that are acting on them and their organizations?[LO 4-1]
2. Which organization is likely
3. to face the most complex task environmenta biotechnology company trying to develop a cure for cancer or a large retailer like The Gap or Macy's? Why?[LO 4-2, 4-3]
4. The population is aging because of declining birth rates, declining death rates, and the aging of the baby boom generation. What might some of the implications of

this demographic trend be for (a) a pharmaceutical company and (b) the home construction industry?[LO 4-1, 4-2, 4-3]

4.How do political, legal, and economic forces shape national culture? What characteristics of national culture do you think have the most important effect on how successful a country is in doing business abroad?

[LO 4-3, 4-5]

5.After the passage of NAFTA, many U.S. companies shifted production operations to Mexico to take advantage of lower labor costs and lower standards for environmental and worker protection. As a result, they cut their costs and

were better able to survive in an increasingly competitive global environment. Was their behavior ethicalthat is, did the ends justify the means?[LO 4-4]