Executive Development Observations: Prague 1993

Economic and business restructuring has proceeded at a dizzy pace in Central Europe since the overthrow of Communist Government and centralized state planning. The development of effective business leadership is essential to the success of joint ventures involving Western firms and local entrepreneurial undertakings. However, many executives in Central Europe are inexperienced and lack basic managerial knowledge. North American and West European business schools have rushed in to fill the demand for Western business knowhow. Presents experiences of executive development in the Czech Republic and a critical review of the challenges which educators face in Central Europe. Suggests that the adaptation of Western models of management is required, and the content and design of programmes should be tailored to the organizational situation. Suggests, for consideration in future programmes, areas such as ethics, business and society and managerial simulations. The difficulties of radical change facing many organizations are not dissimilar from those currently facing Western firms. The potential for mutual experiential learning exists.