Purpose – Reviews the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting‐edge research and case studies.

Design/methodology/approach – This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.Findings – Emerging country markets, such as those of Brazil, Russia, India and China (the BRIC countries), have become increasingly important sourcing destinations for multinational corporations (MNCs). Furthermore, there is an increasing focus among sourcing clients on corporate social responsibility (CSR) issues. This seems to be a consequence of being “globally connected,” which gives rise to political and global risks due to, for instance, child labor, indigenous peoples' rights, forestry, intellectual property, conservation of biodiversity, etc.

Practical implications – Provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations.

Social implications – Provides strategic insights and practical thinking that can have a broader social impact.

Originality/value – The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy‐to‐digest format.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify and analyze the factors that influence strategic sourcing decisions to the Brazilian market based on societal and natural values.

Design/methodology/approach – A case study method is used because of its suitability for exploring how a Scandinavian multinational corporation can respond to the social context in the Brazilian market by matching, in competition with other firms, its own values, norms and beliefs to those prevailing in the Brazilian market.

Findings – The response to the social context in the Brazilian market and the integration with the group's ethical standards comprise certain appropriate corporate social responsibility practices that result in natural and social benefits for the stakeholders, which in turn creates social advantages.

Research limitations/implications – The study is focused on the Brazilian market and would benefit from the availability of data in other emerging country markets that pose potential outsourcing destinations, enabling a comprehensive analysis from an integrated economic and sustainability perspective, including how societal advantages are transformed into competitive advantages.

Practical implications – Management scholars should apply a socio-economic perspective to strategic sourcing decisions in emerging country markets in accordance with the logic of appropriateness, which enables a broader and more holistic approach towards strategic sourcing decisions, what influences them, how to sustain them, and deciding how to effectively match the requirements of the external institutional setting of the specific emerging country market and how to establish relationships between decision makers on global and regional levels.

Originality/value – In contrast to authors who have theorized about strategic sourcing decisions from an economic market perspective, a socio-economic approach is taken in this paper to establish an institutional base and a network foundation for analyzing the social context of the Brazilian market.

While China is known for its immense manufacturing base, in recent years the Chinese government has assigned a high priority to science and technology services as its future growth sectors. The Chinese government is supporting this vision with the establishment of research and technology parks, favorable tax incentives, policy reform, grants to help Chinese firms achieve certifications, investments in infrastructure, and promotion of IT outsourcing (ITO) and business process outsourcing (BPO) services. Beyond the aspirations of its leaders, is China ready to compete in the global ITO and BPO markets? How can Western managers successfully engage Chinese ITO/BPO suppliers?In this book, top scholars and practitioners doing leading research on China’s ITO and BPO sector help answer these questions. All told, this book reports on findings from 519 interviews, 305 surveys, 11 detailed case studies, and 34 formal presentations. Authors analyze the strengths and weaknesses of China’s ITO and BPO markets, categorize and analyze Chinese suppliers, project future trends in China’s ITO and BPO capabilities, and prescribe lessons for Western managers seeking to engage Chinese suppliers. Several chapters contain studies of Chinese suppliers and clients engaged in particular ITO or BPO services, including, procurement, media relations, logistics, and research and development. Overall, the Chinese ITO and BPO markets are changing rapidly as they both respond to and help form the global outsourcing landscape. This book provides an in-depth, contemporary view on where China is heading, how it is going to get there, and how companies and countries can engage with China’s emerging outsourcing capabilities.