Title: Organisational downsizing and new venture creation in transitional economies: a study of managerial effectiveness in transition

Authors: Mohamed Branine, David Pollard, Farhad Analoui

Addresses: International Business and Management, Dundee Business School, University of Abertay Dundee, Dundee DD1 1HG, UK. ' Leeds Business School, Leeds Metropolitan University, Beckett Park Campus, Leeds, LS6 3QS, UK. ' Bradford University, Pemberton Building, West Yorkshire, Bradford, BD7 1DP, UK

Abstract: This paper explores ways of helping managers of large state-owned companies in transitional economies to acquire skills that may help them to downsize and to create small businesses. Following a review of literature on the needs of transitional economies, on experiences of downsizing in Western countries, on downsizing approaches and strategies, on the creation and development of small business, and on the development of management skills for organisational change, it has been possible to propose some guidelines to enable managers in countries such as those of Eastern and Central Europe deal with the problems of large, overstaffed and loss-making state-owned companies, to downsize them and turn them into smaller and more effective. It is concluded that management training and development is essential for the successful implementation of downsizing of large organisations and the creation of small and effective businesses.

Keywords: Central and Eastern Europe; human resource management; HRM; skills development; organisational downsizing; new venture creation; transition economies; state-owned companies; large firms; small business; management skills; organisational change; state-owned enterprises; management training.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2011.041663

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2011 Vol.13 No.3, pp.313 - 332

Published online: 21 Oct 2014 *

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