Just as ancient Vikings took the world by storm with swords and fast ships, modern Scandinavians have done the same with such innovative companies as Volvo, IKEA, and Absolut. This accessible and witty business study reveals how Nordic companies are making a huge impact on the corporate landscape and what lessons other businesses can learn from them. Unlike many European and American companies, the Scandinavians operate by focusing on an original idea and developing a unique way of turning it into reality. For these businesses, biggest is almost never best, competition is nonsense, and money does not make the world go round―despite what contemporary corporate logic might say.