Russian Managers as Learners

Abstract

In the drive to develop training courses for Russian managers, very little attention has been directed towards the crucial question of the characteristics of Russian managers as learners and receivers of western management knowledge. This article examines current theories and assumptions of management learning and applies these to direct experiences of imparting market-economy skills to Russian construction managers. Various constraints on how these managers preconceive and accept western management knowledge are highlighted with some use of Russian-language sources. It is argued that these theories and assumptions have only limited relevance to Russian managers at this stage in their development, and concluded that the overriding challenge to western educators is to change Russian managers' attitudes and misconceptions of management as an essential prerequisite.