Abstract

All business operates within constraints set by the environment in which it exists. Therefore, the salient characteristics of Latin America's business environment should be determined before making decisions on optimal management development and recruitment patterns in Latin American business operations. Although this environment varies among individual Latin American countries more than many North Americans think but less than many Latin Americans believe-it may be possible to identify certain common historic and contemporary factors that have contributed to the current management atmosphere. Latin American history has done much to shape its present managerial environment. However, this environment is clearly now experiencing more rapid changes than might have been considered possible ten years ago. Present and future social, political and cultural changes will have continuing impacts on the development of business-domestic or multinational-within the Latin American countries.