This chapter elaborates on the purpose and significance of this book, first reviewing international trends in business management studies and examining business history. This book explores the findings of previous research based on related topics and ensuing issues. We identify research topics by examining major issues in German capitalism and business management before the end of World War II (the focal topic of this book’s analysis), focusing on the period from the monopolistic capital transformation to the end of World War II. The analytical framework is explained, and this chapter presents a division of the periods before the end of World War II and the characteristics of business management in each of the three periods: (1) the Second Reich Era (1871–1918), (2) the Weimar Era (1918–1933), and (3) the Nazi Era (1933–1945). This chapter considers the primary factors that determined changes in business management in each period.