Twenty-one authors from a variety of backgrounds analyse the global competitiveness of the Asian firm in different parts of the world and at different phases of their internationalisation process. They find that the Asian firms' emphasis on 'soft' skills such as networking, organisational learning and sharing stands in sharp contrast to the economic rationality of Western firms, which stress individual performance measurement, clearly defined responsibilities and accountability. Asian firms face serious problems in adjusting their systems to the Western environment without losing their competitiveness.