The Asian financial crisis snowballed in July 1997 following the devaluation of the
Thai baht. This triggered off a chain reaction which led to similar crises in many countries in
Asia, including Singapore. One of the arguments put forward to explain the financial crisis in
Asia relates to the Asian style of management, which purportedly includes kinsmanship and
guanxi or family connections. But is this really the case? Is the Asian management style
significantly different from the Western style of management? It is shown that the style of
management in Asian countries can also be explained and described using contemporary
management theories from the West. This is achieved through a case study in construction
project management for a typical family-run building firm in Singapore. Field observations on the
construction site suggest that the style of management in Asia can be related to modern
management theories from the West.