ABSTRACT
This part introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters. The part focuses on how specific organizations deal with the global dimension. It claims that the debate over processes of globalization shows consensus on the idea that the role of the nation-state is being challenged. Firms should behave very intelligently to survive in the turbulent global markets. Therefore, the 'learning organization' is a key issue to be studied. Exploratory learning is associated with complex search, basic research, innovation, variation, risk-taking and more relaxed controls. Successful exploratory learning can be found in organizations where innovation, rather than refining what already exists, produces creative discontinuities in practices. Globalization explains why the challenge to the nation-state is so manifold and why the pluriformity of 'globalization' prevents us from having a clear view of the overall direction the process will take eventually.
