As the world recovers from the Great Recession of 2008, the worst financial crisis since the early 20th Century, the globalization of business continues. This issue of the Baylor Business Review delves into current issues facing companies in a post-economic recession, globalized business world through the unique perspectives of Baylor Business professors, students, alumni and friends.
Skills gaps, commercial espionage, language barriers, trade regulations, immigration reform and other difficulties require a constant pursuit of knowledge for businesspeople. But thanks to the ubiquity of the internet and social media, people and entities all over the world are more accessible. Baylor Business students are able to go on mission trips to underdeveloped countries every semester. Foreign students, like Sunkanmi Agbomeji from Nigeria, can continue their educations at Baylor and take their new expertise back to their home countries. Small businesses have access to premium products and skilled workers that they might not have had access to in recent years.
As the global marketplace expands, so does the Hankamer School of Business. In December, we broke ground on our School’s new home, the Paul L. Foster Campus for Business and Innovation. Thanks to generous donations from our alumni, we can continue to fulfill our mission to “cultivate principled leaders and serve the global marketplace through transformational learning and impactful scholarship in a culture of innovation guided by Christian values.”
From small, family-owned businesses to large, multinational corporations, most businesses are active in the global marketplace in some respect. This issue will provide insights about the changing landscape and the implications of this vibrant business environment.
Terry S. Maness
Dean, Hankamer School of Business
Baylor Business Review, Spring 2014