Based on the results of 177 survey responses, Tobias Weigl shows that the simple transfer of managerial and organizational skills, techniques, values and culture from developed countries to Russia is a false assumption among academics and practitioners.

This book investigates the concepts and instruments for managing change in companies striving towards a market orientation in transition economies. The focus is on the identification of factors, which have led to the considerable success of certain corporations, in spite of the very dynamic environment in transition countries since 1989. The analysis considers problems and solutions for all the relevant stakeholder relationships. Although the case study is largely based on Poland, the book also contains research on the economic, political and social context of doing business in Central and Eastern Europe.

This is the first book to comprehensively summarize and extend cutting strategy research with a focus on transition economies. It provides a readable and refreshing overview for seasoned scholars and executives working in this field, as well as valuable insights for newcomers. The book combines theoretical rigor with up-to-date evidence on a highly relevant topic. Mike Peng is already one of the world′s leading strategy and management scholars working on transition and emerging economies, and this book adds significantly to his standing. —John Child, Guiness Professor of Management Studies, University of Cambridge, England and Visiting Professor of International Management, Tel-Aviv University, Israel "The widespread shift from centrally planned to market-based economies has been the most profound change in the world economy since World War II. While a great deal of work has examined the broad economic implications of this transition, far less work has examined its implications for firms and managers. In this seminal work, Professor Peng draws on his extensive experience in transition economics, together with his knowledge of strategic management, to describe how firms in these economies can seize opportunities for growth and success." —Jay Barney, Bank One Professor of Corporate Strategy, Ohio State University "A welcome contribution towards our understanding of firm – level issues in transition economies. A particular strength is the chapter-by-chapter consideration of how strategies vary depending on whether one is a state-owned enterprise, a privatized firm, an entrepreneurial start-up, or a foreign investor." —Paul Beamish, Royal Bank Professor of International Business,University of Western Ontario, Canada A comprehensive account of transition economies from a firm strategy perspective. Thoroughly researched and thought provoking, this book is a most valuable tool for both academics and business executives seeking to operate in this promising yet uncertain territory. —Oded Shenkar, Ford Motor Professor of Global Management, Ohio State University and Professor of International Management and Tel-Aviv University, Israel Business Strategies in Transition Economies probes into the workings of business strategies in former socialist countries in East Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, and the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union, which are collectively called "transition economies." It provides a rich and in-depth understanding of fundamental strategic issues confronted by domestic and foreign firms competing in these newly opened markets. Written by one of the leading scholars in the field, this timely book is comparative, interdisciplinary, and relevant. Focusing on firm-level issues confronting top executives acting as organizational strategists in transition economies, this book covers business strategies of 1.) state-owned enterprises, 2.) privatized and reformed firms, 3.) entrepreneurial start-ups, and 4.) foreign companies. Since transition economies, taken together, promise to be the world′s largest emerging markets in the 21st century, this book will be an invaluable resource for students, scholars, and managers seeking a better understanding of business challenges and opportunities in these markets.

The transition from socialism to capitalism in former socialist economies has transformed the economic structure. This book provides an overview of research on the issues raised by the shift from collective to private ownership.

An investigation into why most developing countries have failed to exploit their economic potential by China's most renowned economist.

Transition from central planning to a market economy, involving large-scale institutional change and reforms at all levels, is often described as the greatest social science experiment in modern times. As more than two decades have passed since the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union, it is now an excellent time to take stock of how the transition process has turned out for the economies that have moved on from socialism and the command economy. This new handbook assembles a team of leading experts, many of whom were closely involved in the transition process as policymakers and policy advisors, to explore the major themes that have characterized the transition process. After identifying the nature of initial conditions and the strengths and weaknesses of institutions, the varying paths and reforms countries have taken are fully analyzed – from the shock therapy, privatization or gradualism of the early years to the burning issues of the present including global integration and sustainable growth. Topics covered include the socialist system pre-transition, economic reforms, institutions, the political economy of transition, performance and growth, enterprise restructuring, and people and transition. The country coverage is also extensive, from the former socialist countries of the USSR and the satellite states of Central and Eastern Europe to the Asian countries of China, Vietnam and others. The rise of China as a key actor in the drama is chronicled, along with the emergence of a new, more confident, oil-rich Russia. The comparative prosperity of the Central European countries such as Poland and the Czech Republic is contrasted with the mixed fortunes of the former USSR, where some countries are stagnating while others boom. This Handbook of the Economics and Political Economy of Transition is the definitive guide to this new order of things in the former Communist world.