Assessing the potential for effective cross-cultural working between “new” Russian managers and western expatriates

Abstract

This article addresses the issue of relationship building between young Russian managers, and their expatriate counterparts from western countries. The paper constructs an argument as follows; Firstly, with reference to established paradigms in cultural theory, it identifies the breadth of the cultural chasm between „East‟ and „West‟. Second, implying a need for modification of „embedded‟ cultural concepts, it identifies new possibilities for cross- cultural synergy involving this new generation of international actors. Finally, through an attitude survey of Russian and Western cohorts based in Moscow, it is found that, although more positive forms of cross- cultural interaction are now apparent in Moscow, there is a need for both parties to "learn‟ and "unlearn‟ familiar management conceptions and misconceptions.