ABSTRACT
Having both taught and earned a living managing exports, I have come to accept that exporting is typically learned by trial and error, no matter how single-minded the study of forms, contracts, and checklists, or of related books for that matter. One reason is that the specialized books on the subject concentrate more on the tools and techniques than on building a capacity for sound decisions, which is what the usual export endeavor needs most. There are some excellent international marketing texts that contain sections on exporting, but they are too specific in the ways of marketing and not specific enough in discussing the unique elements truly representing the export experience. In addition, there are texts on economics that discuss international trade, but these are limited to abstract concepts which, although helpful, rarely go further in connecting to the gamut of issues confronted by an exporter. Similar limitations apply to other books that include the subject of exporting, such as international management and international law.
