Hierarchy/Egalitarianism

Hierarchy/Egalitarianism

Towards Hierarchy:

According to the book, Russia falls in the middle between the two

In business culture, status is related to one’s age and position

Authority positions are common with “high status” individuals, and they render the appropriate respect.

Meetings are usually devised to be between individuals with equal statuses.

Towards Egalitarianism:

Nature of collective good often encourages a flexible and democratic work ethos

As a result, Russia falls in the middle between a hierarchical and egalitarian society.

Group Focus

Group Focus

According to the book, Russia falls in the middle between group and individual focus.

Relationships

Relationships In Soviet Russia, the “blat”, an extensive relationship network

that allowed one to exchange resources, was necessary to survival

In present day Russia, Russians are slightly more relationship-based in their personal lives

They have longer lasting relationships than Americans Yet Russian relationships are complex in that they maintain a

strong sense of self-other overlap but with a lack of information divulgence

Business relationships are slightly more transactional

Russians show a preference for professional, managerial, and negotiation skills over relationships

However, Russians are not completely transactional, as they still maintain small business networks in which everyone is not permitted to infiltrate

Communication Style

Communication Style Russians maintain both a strong, high context direct and indirect

communication preference.

Words may be lost in translation, leading communication to be confusing

Relationships and group size determine how direct Russians are

In negotiations, they are very quick to disagree and draw out the discussion

Indirect communication reflects character

Direct eye contact is considered a sign of respect

Constant smiling is seen as disingenuous and foolish

A handshake is the preferred greeting. No gloves though!

Time Orientation

Time Orientation Feeling of uncertainty and of lack of control

Thus, Russians prefer short-term planning to long-term planning, which is only seen as a formality

In addition, Russians generally see it as impossible to set deadlines

Soviet time orientation was based on the Future and the Past, while Traditional Russian time orientation is based on the Present and the Past.

Juxtaposition in what Russians want in regards to time orientation to what they get in regards to time orientation

94 % of Russians indicated that they would prefer flexible working schedules, yet only 17 % of Russian companies permit them

Change Tolerance

Change Tolerance

According to the book: middle left towards change adverse

Motivation/Work-Life Balance

Motivation/Work-Life Balance

High levels of work-related stress

Traditionally see works as a means to an end rather than an end itself

Russians work shorter days

Only 0.2% of employees work very long hours whereas the average employee in the OECD works 9%

Russians work more hours though

Russians work 1,976 hours, and the average OECD employee works 1,749 hours.

Yet, the average amount of hours Russians spend on leisure and personal care a day is 14.76 hours.

References

Radaev, V. (2003, July). How trust is established in economic relationships. Presentation delivered at Cepr/wdi annual international conference on transition economies, Budapest, Hungary. Retrieved from http://www.cepr.org.uk/meets/wkcn/7/756/papers/radaev.pdf