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05.08

Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands: Latin America

Author: Terri Morrison and Wayne Conway
Publisher: F and W Publications, Inc., 2007
ISBN: 10-1-59869-217-8

Reviewed by Terrance Malkinson

This 238-page book provides information that will help you be successful when traveling and conducting business in Latin America. Latin America is a huge developing market and one that often does not get much attention. Attitudes and values differ, and an unintentional mistake can not only reflect badly on you, but could also submarine your dealings with people from Latin America. Eighteen Latin American countries are profiled. Each chapter begins with three questions to test your knowledge about the country, followed by tips on doing business, background on the country, what to know before you visit, orientation to the culture, business practices, and protocol. Seven appendices provide general information on Latin America. Much of the information is provided in well-headed bullet form which makes the book reader-friendly and allows you to locate specific information quickly.

The author Terri Morrison is president of an internet product and training firm for global business clients. Clients include major corporations, and she is frequently quoted in national newspapers and magazines. Together with Wayne Conaway, they have coauthored five books on intercultural communications, many articles and several databases.

Terrance Malkinson is a communications specialist, business analyst and futurist. He is an elected Senator of the University of Calgary and Vice-Chair of the IEEE-USA Communications Committee, an international correspondent for IEEE-USA Today's Engineer Online, editor-in-chief of IEEE-USA Today's Engineer Digest, and associate editor for IEEE Canadian Review. He was an elected Governor of the IEEE Engineering Management Society and was an elected Administrative Committee member of the IEEE Professional Communication Society, editor of several IEEE conference proceedings, and past editor of IEEE Engineering Management. He is the author of more than 320 publications and is also an accomplished triathlete. Currently retired, previously he was an accomplished technical supervisor and medical researcher at the University of Calgary, and a business proposal manager for the General Electric Company. The author is grateful to the professional support of the Haskayne School of Business Library at the University of Calgary. He can be reached at todaysengineer@ieee.org.

Opinions expressed are the author's.