Strategic issue classification in transition economies

The classification of strategic issue terms, as used by managers and management teams in decision making, has previously been shown to have an impact on organizational performance. The question of the extension of such research to include managers in transition economies is less known. In order to address this research gap, a replication of an empirical study was conducted. It was found that managers in a transition economy (the Baltic country, and former Soviet republic, of Estonia) differed in the number of strategic issue terms that were classified as being indicative of a strategic “threat” or “opportunity” when compared to their western counterparts. These findings contribute to the continued need for questioning the applicability and validity of management classification strategies and frameworks, based on western managers’ and firms’ actions, for use in transition economies.