Behind the factory walls Book

With glasnot creating a warming trend in US-USSR relations,and perestroika attempting to breathe new life into the Soviet political and economic system,there has never been a better time for doing business with the Soviet Union. The number of joint ventures between the superpowers is increasing and there is a growing need for improved mutual understanding of the business and cultural norms of each country. Behind the Factory Walls is a detailed comparative study of management techniques in the United States and the Soviet Union. It documents the first time that American management scholars have conducted in-depth field research in Soviet factories,and the first time their Soviet counterparts have done the same in this country. The result is a fascinating look at how management decisions are made-how managers in each country develop business plans,hire and fire personnel,make capital investment decisions,and introduce new products into the marketplace. Managing joint ventures is always difficult,but especially so for US and Soviet firms with no shared cultural heritage and a scanty base of common management knowledge. Consequently,each tends to hold distorted views about the other. For example,US managers tend to assume that Western methods are inherently superior and that the Soviets can teach them very little about management techniques. Their Soviet counterparts,on the other hand,often believe that American managers are successful mainly because they are not subjected to government intervention and have unlimited resources at their disposal. Behind the Factory Walls addresses these and other misunderstandings to help US and Soviet managers cooperate effectively in themanagement of joint ventures. Profitable business opportunities in the USSR are available for American firms willing to devote the necessary time and resources. Large markets are opening,managerial resources are available,and the currency problems are being addressed. But US companies must realize that successful joint ventures will depend on a creative blend of management practices drawn from both cultures. This book will give managers the understanding and insight necessary to do business in the Soviet Union.