Soviet Managers View Organizational Change in Large State Enterprises

Abstract

The introduction of Mikhail Gorbachev′s perestroika in 1985 marked the beginning of enormous change in the former USSR. Most articles and studies, thus far, have concentrated on the macro economic, political, and social issues involved. Little has been done to assess the changing situation for the managers of Soviet enterprises. This 1990 study of 108 Soviet managers employed in large state‐owned enterprises (including aviation, precision instruments, construction, light industrial machinery, building and wood products) focused on the changes they perceived in their decision‐making authority in four major decision areas. These were: (1) long‐term investments; (2) product considerations; (3) the value chain external to the enterprise; and (4) human resource management. Results indicate that they perceived meaningful change in their authority since the advent of perestroika, and that they foresaw a continuation of such change in the future.