External Links

Business Modelling : 

To review an existing or define a new business model, the 'Business Model Generation' approach by Alexander Osterwalder & Yves Pigneur is a good starting point.

For a structured approch to innovate and enhance an existing business modell, 'The Business Modell Navigator' is a well defined and easy to apply approach.

In case some sort of a digital transformation has to be implemented, 'The Digital Trans-former's Dilemma' shows from a practical perspective how to still maintain the existing business ( which typically generates the profits ) and how to develop in parallel a digital offering. [In this case my recommendation is somewhat biased, as I've contributed to that book myself.]

Decision Making : 

To help to overcome Cognitive Biases in decision making processes, as well as in the cooperation with others, a small collection of the - from a practical perspective - most important Cognitive Biases can be found on the respective website. If someone is looking for a more systenatic and comprehensive approach, the Map of Cognitive Biases will be a good source.

Country Information : 

For information about individual countries, as well as to compare different countries in terms of specific parameters, the following sources have proven to be useful : 

• The CIA World Factbook gives a good overview - from an US perspective - for all countries across the globe.
  

• The country profiles of the Human Development Index of the UN show the development of societal parameters for individual countries.
• The Better Life Index of the OECD compares the well-being of people in terms of their material living conditions and quality of life.
• The Economic Freedom Index provides a set of economic indicators - from a politically more 'conservative' perspective.
• The Country Profiles of Transparency International give an indication of the potential level of corruption one may be exposed to in a country.
• The Travel Pages of the CDC (Center of Disease Control and Prevention) provide in-depth information about potential health risks when traveling. As a governmental agency, their advice tend to be 'on the safe side'.

For Cultural Information, the following two books are good starting points :

• 'Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands' by Terri Morrison and Wayne A. Conaway, Adams Media, 2006.
  
• 'The Culture Map' by Erin Meyer, Public Affairs, 2014.
  

Statistical Information :

UBS Research periodically publishes some useful and interesting information :

• A small collection of Statistical Information about Switzerland, covering social, political, cultural and economic dimensions and also putting them into an international comparison.

• A detailed comparison of Prices & Earnings across the globe, covering 77 cities on all continents, providing interesting insights into the economic dimension of daily life.