14 Int. J. Business and Globalisation, Vol. 10, No. 1, 2013 Copyright © 2013 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. Future competitiveness of Western Europe on the example of Germany and the Netherlands: are Indian professionals our piece to solving the talent shortage puzzle? Laura Boege and Robert J. Blomme* Centre for Leadership and Management Development, Nyenrode Business Universiteit, Straatweg 25, 3621 BG Breukelen, The Netherlands E-mail: lauraboege@web.de E-mail: r.blomme@nyenrode.nl *Corresponding author Abstract: In order to achieve a competitive advantage in today’s global environment, companies are increasingly relying on human resources as a strategic tool. However, especially the western world is as a consequence of changes in demographics and employment contracts more and more faced with skill or talent shortages. Using a qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews this article shows that professionals recognise a talent shortage in Germany and the Netherlands. A diversification of the workforce by leveraging Indian professionals is further shown to be a possible solution to the skill or talent shortage problem. Keywords: cross-cultural; employment contract; Germany; India; Netherlands; qualitative; skill shortage; talent. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Boege, L. and Blomme, R.J. (2013) ‘Future competitiveness of Western Europe on the example of Germany and the Netherlands: are Indian professionals our piece to solving the talent shortage puzzle?’, Int. J. Business and Globalisation, Vol. 10, No. 1, pp.14–30. Biographical notes: Laura Boege received her Masters of Science in Business Management from the Wesfaelische Wilhelms University in Muenster, Germany. She works full-time as an Executive Search Consultant in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Her research at the Nyenrode Business Universiteit focuses on cross-cultural differences in employment relationships in Germany, the Netherlands and India. Robert J. Blomme is an Associate Professor of Management and Organisation at Nyenrode Business Universiteit, and Chairman of the Center for Leadership and Management Development. He also holds the Chair in HRM at the International University for Hospitality ‘Hotelschool The Hague’, where his main areas of research are the labour market and HRM-related issues in the hospitality industry.