WHAT DO RUSSIAN MANAGERS REALLY DO - AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY WITH COMPARISONS TO UNITED-STATES MANAGERS

Recent events have generated considerable interest, but little empiric al evidence, in Russian management. This observation study of a sample of managers (N=66) in a large textile factory in Russia used the same definitions, methodology and procedures as a stream of research condu cted by Luthans and his colleagues on U.S. ''Real Managers'' (see Luth ans, Hodgetts and Rosenkrantz [1988]). Similar to American managers, t he Russian managers in this factory were observed, in order, to perfor m traditional management, communication, human resources and networkin g activities. Also similar to the managers studied in the U.S., the Ru ssian managers' networking activity generally related to their success . The relationship between the Russian managers' various activities an d their effectiveness was less clear, but, like the American managers, the communication activity was a significant predictor across analysi s techniques. The implications these findings have for Russia's transi tion to a market economy are discussed.