ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the ways in which goods are designed and redesigned by International Businesses to meet the needs of many local consumer cultures. It begins with an overview of research on International Business and geography to identify some of the key characteristics of International Business activity and to explain the focus on design, business and professional services and the distribution of production-related tasks. Creativity and expertise are critical for corporate and national competitiveness. Design is a key strategic creative business process and plays an important role in the competitiveness of firms, regions and nations and in International Business strategy. The production process for services and physical products incorporates the exploitation and use of various forms of tacit and explicit knowledge during pre-production, production and post-production. All three stages involve a complex interplay between internal and external knowledge and expertise.
