This article focuses on two interrelated management concepts - knowledge management and customer relationship management. Both management concepts are used broadly and successfully by modern organizations in their effort to enhance organizational performance, competitiveness and corporate social responsibility.

Broadly speaking, appropriate means suitable or compatible; when referring to management style it also means effective in the creation of a business environment, which eliminates or abolishes departmental barriers, in the aim of motivating employees to exchange information and to share knowledge. In majority, modern organizations favor MBO management (Managing by Objective) in order to provide equal opportunities of job-training and self-improvement to their workforce by abolishing departmental barriers. Yet, simply speaking, MBO denotes that the objectives of one department may be the scapegoats of another. Intense competition between employees of different departments is the result of excessive aspiration generated from demanding rewarding and bonus systems resulting in MBO fostering inequality and being completely inappropriate.

International trade requires macroeconomic stability in the host country. Ideally, the economy of the host country should embark upon a sustainable growth path to foster foreign investment and international trade opportunities, while supported by a strong banking system. However, there are several business risks that a firm launching onto a foreign country should assess. The first risk assessment should be associated to the bargaining power of the firm expanding to a foreign market. Factors such as product/ service uniqueness, technological advancement, the firm's size and operational growth facilitate the effective management of distribution channels, while maintaining product or service quality.

The international monetary system consists of institutional arrangements that govern exchange rates and determine the relative value of a currency. The world's four major currencies are the US Dollar, the European Union's Euro, the Japanese Yen and the British Pound, which are all free to float against each other and thus their exchange rates are determined by market forces and fluctuate against each other day to day. An obvious implication with regards to currency management is that the current system that drives the foreign exchange market is a mixed system of government intervention and speculative activity.

Political corruption is not something new. Over the last years, the abuse of public office for private gain has gained extraordinary popularity mostly due to corruption scandals that have tumbled governments in major industrial countries, but also in developing countries. In the latter, the shift from centrally-planned economies to free market economies has created massive opportunities for excessive profit by highly appointed officials. After the end of the Cold War, an emphasis is being given by industrial countries on the allocation of resources among developing countries, particularly where restrictions imposed by government intervention have led to excessive profit.

On September 11, 2009 U.S. President Obama imposed a three-year tariff on car and light-truck tires imported from China as a response to the United Steelworkers union complaint that 5,000 people have lost their jobs since 2004 as a result of the U.S. market being flooded by cheap Chinese imports. The imposition of a 35 percent duty for the first year, 30 percent for the second year and 25 percent for the third year on Chinese-made tires caused the strong opposition of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce. The Chinese government views the U.S. move as a severe act of trade protectionism that constitutes a violation of the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO), but also a direct contravention of U.S. commitments at the G-20 Financial Summit.

Today, business world is becoming increasingly smaller and globalization brings people closer. Yet, cultural diversity is more present than ever. A firm engaging into international trade should be mostly concerned with making the best impression on clients at the host country. To achieve this, it has to realize that each culture favors its own values in business relationships and therefore it is absolutely essential to appreciate different business etiquette around the globe to conduct business effectively.

Social media is becoming increasingly popular. Many small business owners realize that social media may offer unique opportunities of expansion to their businesses, but fail to use them effectively, either because they don’t grasp their basic concepts or because they are too busy for social media. Yet, the power of social media is enormous. The online competitive intelligence service Compete.com shows that, only in 2009, the top three social media networks – Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn – have collectively demonstrated an average growth 838 percent.

Career changes are always challenging. Your current job may not be interesting enough, or you may be experiencing job burnout or maybe your company is going out of business. The reasons may vary, but the bottom line is that if it’s your sole decision to make a career change, you have to consider common career change mistakes before jumping to a new career field.

Digital marketing has been around for quite sometime and has definitely altered purchasing decision making. By featuring search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click advertising, banner advertising and other forms of online distribution channel, digital marketing aims at reaching consumers in a timely and cost-effective manner.