Essay - Sony Corporation I. Introduction Nearly Every Large, Well-known Corporation Transacts...

SONY CORPORATION

I. INTRODUCTION

Nearly every large, well-known corporation transacts business in multiple countries and states. The relationship between corporations and the ***** and states *****y transact bus*****ess in has traditionally resembled a double-edged sword. On the one hand, countries and states need businesses in order to generate tax revenues and stimulate economic growth by creating new jobs. However, countries and ***** often have varying cultural, legal, political, and social norms and desire that businesses conform to such norms. In order for ***** to succeed and maintain a b*****lanced relationship with the various countries ***** states business is conducted in, *****re must be respect, understand*****g, and willingness to adapt.

***** paper analyzes and examines the multitude of issues related to Sony Corporation conducting business in Germany. Part II gives an overview of Sony Corporation, including the cultural, legal, and ***** environment both in ***** United States and Germany. In Part *****I, ***** related ***** Sony Corporation conducting business in ***** are outlined. Lastly, this paper concludes with recommendations concerning how Sony Corporation and other multinational businesses may improve their likelihood of success (both over the long run and short term) in Germany ***** other foreign *****.

II. OVERVIEW OF SONY CORPORATION, INCLUDING THE CULTURAL, LEGAL, AND POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT

There are several cultural, legal, and political issues related to Sony *****. In order to fully underst***** the nature and extent of ***** *****, it is crucial to provide an overview ***** Sony Corporation. Sony Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, ***** a leading manufacturer of audio, communications, information technology, and video products for ***** consumer and professional markets. (http://www.sony.com/SCA/corporate.shtml).There are five main business divisions of Sony Corporation: computer entertainment, motion picture, music, online, and television. (http://www.sony.com/SCA/corporate.shtml).

***** principal United States businesses include Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., ***** Electronics Inc., Sony Music Entertainment Inc., and ***** Pictures *****. (http://www.sony.com/SCA/corporate.shtml).For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2002, Sony recorded consolidated annual sales ***** over $56.9 billion, ***** employed 168,000 people worldwide. (http://www.sony.com/SCA/corporate.shtml).In addition, ***** recorded over $18.5 ***** in sales in the United States for ***** ***** year ***** March 31, 2002. (http://www.sony.com/SCA/corporate.shtml).

*****e of the most important hallmarks of Sony is its reputation as a ***** edge comp*****ny. For example, Sony co-developed ***** CD, DVD, and SACD, and was the developer, manufacturer, and marketer ***** PlayStation® ***** PlayStation®2 game consoles. (http://www.sony.com/SCA/corporate.shtml).In addition, ***** invented a wide range of ***** audio-visual products including the FD Trinitron® WEGA® television, Mavica® digital camera, Digital8® Handycam® camcorder, Walkman® personal stereo, MiniDisc player/recorder, and ***** Memory Stick®IC flash media. (http://www.sony.com/SCA/corporate.shtml). Sony also invented numerous IT and ***** ***** such as VAIO® personal computers; FD *****® computer display; the 3.5-inch floppy disk; CLIe™ handheld; HDCAM® 24-P formats; Digital Betacam®; and DVCAM®. (http://www.sony.com/SCA/corporate.shtml). L*****tly, Sony is a publicly held company, with shares l*****ted on 16 stock exchanges worldwide, including London, New York, and Tokyo, and has 1,068 consolidated subsidiaries *****. (http://www.sony.com/SCA/corporate.shtml).

III. ISSUES RELATED TO ***** CORPORATION CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN GERMANY

There are numerous issues related to Sony Corporation conducting