MANAGING JOINT VENTURES IN RUSSIA - CAN THE PROBLEMS BE SOLVED

This article analyses the reasons for the cultural barriers which are often a major obstacle to relations between partners of Russian-Western joint ventures. It examines the acculturation process which the two groups of managers involved must necessarily undergo in the course of their 'marriage, and indicates some cases of success in cross-cultural management. The aim is to help Western managers working with Russian partners make sense of existing cross-cultural difficulties and to recommend an approach which will help to avoid common mistakes and build relationships between the partners.