Western‐sponsored Training Programmes: Russian Managers′ Expectations

Points out that the transformation of Russia into a modern industrial democracy depends to a high degree on the capacity of Russian managers′ to absorb and implement Western management know‐how; this, in turn, depends on the success of trainers to communicate management know‐how into the Russian/post‐Soviet frame of reference. Focuses on Russian managers′ attitudes to a current training programme commissioned under the EC TACIS (Technical Assistance to the CIS) Programme. Twelve managers, all from the construction sector, were asked to state their expectations of the training programme in relation to their companies and themselves. Analysis of the responses suggested that Russian managers have a very limited self‐image as managers and that they see the West as a key source of solutions to Russia′s economic problems. But a striking implication to emerge was that the Russian managers were inclined to misconceive the applicability of Western management to Russian conditions. Concludes that trainers and policy makers may need to do more to make Russian managers aware of the value of Western management knowledge to Russian society.