Is small beautiful? Is big efficient? : selected patterns of HRM ; a pilot study of two Russian companies

The article focuses on patterns and strategies developed by particular business enterprises that help to cope with the challenges of transition, like changes of property ownership, companies' structure, principles of performance, and patterns of business-government relations. The paper is based on several casestudies: those of the biggest and most influential Russian corporations (LUKOIL, GAZPROM and ROSTELECOM), and those of small business firms (a factory; an equipment-sales middleman). The author analyses the systems of industrial relations and measures of personnel adjustment to the challenges of transition developed by the selected Russian companies in comparison to how these measures are perceived, evaluated and consequently responded to by employees. The patterns applied by big corporations ("Blue Chips") and small companies differ considerably. The size of a company is a crucial factor here, as well as the history of a company's transformation, and the personalities of the company's leaders and their participation and role in the political process.