International business and trade in the next decade: Report from a delphi study

The globalization of business causes major changes in the business environment and in business practices. Forecasting such changes is crucial for the preparation of responses to them. This article reports on a Delphi study conducted with a global set of experts drawn from the policy, business and academic communities. Over three rounds of mailings, these experts analyzed and debated the likelihood of changes in the international business environment over the next decade and the impact of these changes on corporate practices. The findings identify key geographic areas of business growth, major sectoral transformations, shifts in the trade framework and its institution, and strategies for corporate adjustment. © 1997, Academy of International Business.