ABSTRACT
Taken in its usual context, the phrase “organizational downsizing” is viewed as being just another euphemism for “layoffs.” Business corporations are understandably cagey when discussing both the design and the implementation of their own programs for dealing with such eventualities, especially when administered across borders. Although periodic layoffs can be seen as merely symptomatic of the downside of global business cycles, the severity of the programs imposed in the aftermath of the Asian crisis necessitates caution with regard to individual and corporate identities. With respect to the highly sensitive nature of the material collated for this chapter, we have agreed, where requested, to disguise company identities, keeping to the broader denomination of industry type and country of origin.
