Dealing with the New Russia: Management Cultures in Collision

'Despite economic woes and murky data, global investors are pouring in. Is the bubble set to burst?' was the question posed by Business Week in March 1997. Not according to current data which sees an ever-growing river of foreign cash flowing into Moscow. But how long can it last? Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia and the CIS have become a hunting ground for business and management adventurers. Management consultants, business people, educators, and economists have rushed to do business in the New Russia, taking advantage of the huge sums of money poured into Russia by global investors. But dealing with a fragile, volatile and unpredictable economy is only part of the difficulty facing those wishing to take advantage of a bargain-priced if risky marketplace. Westerners are often faced with serious and sometimes intractable communication problems. The differences in economic and political systems, infrastructures, national and business cultures and managerial attitudes and habits present difficulties not previously encountered elsewhere. To achieve long term success in this part of the world it is essential, perhaps more than anywhere, to build relationships. This means genuinely understanding the past as well as the present. To understand Russia today it is crucial to understand where it has come from. Only then can you have a stake in its future. In order to have any hope of meeting long-term business objectives in this most restless of countries, it is essential to build intense interpersonal relationships. Knowing how to do this requires an informed understanding of Russia's past as well as an appreciation of the complexities of the present transition to market-economy conditions and insights into the Russian business mentality. Without such knowledge, all forms of management cooperation with Russia are placed under severe stress. Dealing with the New Russia helps to demistify the boundaries which must be crossed by focusing on: Russian and their assumptions about and attitudes to the West the new-style Russian manager/business executive the skills needed to initiate and develop a business relationship with Russians the Russian approach to business negotiation Extensively researched, this practical, accessible and informative book, which includes a glossary of Russian management expressions, will be invaluable for all those contemplating, or embarking on, major involvement with their Russian partners.

Table of Contents:
Coping with a New Russia. Management Cultures in Collision. Technocrats and Tigers. The Approach of the Great Feared Unknown. The Post-Soviet Manager: The New Class Struggle. Business Relationships: Asymmetries and Anxieties. Russians, Language and Communication. The New Language Barrier. Coping with the Green Snake: The Social Side of Business. Towards Effective Relationship Management. Glossary. Guide to Information Panels. References. Index.

Review :
"...the first dedicated book on Russian business culture which is a winning combination of an academic study and a fact book. Written with authority and perception, it is a practical guide for international business people who sell, manage and negotiate in Russia." -- Journal of Transnational Management Development, Vol 5/1, 2000