Projecting an image as a brand with global appeal is often a fundamental aspect of multinational corporations' (MNCs') strategy - a core focus of their marketing campaigns, employee recruitment efforts, and relationships with supply chain partners and others. But some markets and certain consumers prefer local firms, according to research in the Journal of International Marketing.

If robots are taking human jobs, they haven't made much headway in Santa's workshop - or in his supply chain. It turns out that even the most technologically advanced retailers need lots of humans to serve customers. Amazon, arguably the most disruptive force in American retailing, announced last week that it would be hiring 120,000 seasonal workers this year - 20 percent more than last year - and the Seattle giant isn't alone.

Whether you're a newly minted MBA or an experienced leader, you're always honing your skills and navigating change. And technology is one discipline in which you really can't afford to stagnate.

Appealing to the cultural and economic specifics of a foreign market is the key to getting consumers to shop more frequently and spend more.

Executives who accumulate international experience are no more likely than others to advance their career at multinational companies.

Nearly two decades ago, just as e-commerce was taking off, a group of players emerged to claim their share of the home-delivery market. Remember Webvan, Urbanfetch, Kozmo, and HomeGrocer?