ABSTRACT
In the field of international business, the 1960s and the 1970s witnessed the emergence of multinational companies (MNC's) and problems associated with the transcending of national boundaries. The 1980s have been ruled by international competitiveness as a result of the spiralling debt of the Third World and the trade deficit of some of the industrialized countries. Efforts to increase competitiveness have been led and possibly transformed by the concept of '''globalization.'' There has been constant reference to the growing interdependency of national economies, greater competition, and the need for economic cooperation to co-exist and live better. Con-
sequently, the motivation to embark on a new set of strategies to maintain and improve one's competitive position has been very high. These activities and transformations have fueled the discussion on globalization in business, government, and academic circles.
