Meyer (2001a)

Management > Comparative Management > Lectures > Independent Research > Meyer > In order to improve > Foreign entry > (Post) Privatisation > Bloc culture

Bloc Culture

Socialism has left behind a “bloc culture”, including institutionalised distrust of the state, but high trust of their friends. Transition programmes have to create a trust-building environment.

Strong vertical ties and weak horizontal ones are typical of a Russian firm. Managers work on short-term bases, do not follow plans and expect the leaders to do everything

Russians do not typically differentiate between personal and business relations (unlike the Chinese). This results in cooperative values and a distrust of strangers. In order to gain trust, you have to engage in social activities with them before conducting business

There is also “a thin line between networking and unethical or illegal activity”