Why are Russia and Eastern Europe of interest to international managers?
142745
As the American CEO of one of the fastest growing localization companies in Eastern Europe, and having lived in the region for more than 13 years, you might expect a unique perspective. However, my observations will probably seem quite standard and actually apply to translation/localization companies all over the world. The arguments I present here are typical of discussions related to offshoring and basing production operations in low cost versus high cost countries. This article aims to address the state of the translation industry in Eastern Europe, so from here on in by high cost countries I mean those in Western Europe and the by low cost countries I mean those in Eastern Europe.\n\nOne disclaimer before I get rolling: There is a big market out there. Even if I suggest that some companies need to change if they are to survive, every well run company, no matter where they are based, can not just survive, but thrive.\nOld Europe is Changing\n\nBefore we look at "New Europe" we need to see what's been going on in the so called "Old Europe". I often hear complaints from Western European companies like, "Prices are coming down...", "Our clients are squeezing us all the time...", or "Turnaround times are dropping...it's tougher than it used to be..." Most good Western European translation companies are comfortable businesses. They are excellent companies providing very high quality services into a growing market. They have had a good 10-15 years of relatively high margins in high cost countries doing predominantly French, Italian, German, Spanish, as well as a handful of other languages. I think a change that is occurring though is that the market has become more competitive, there are more companies out there and many West European translation companies are not geared toward more aggressive sales and marketing. Added to this, due to the phenomena of offshoring translation work, prices are coming down and it's harder to offer competitive pricing in high cost countries. Here, the issue of sales becomes important.\nIt must be rocket science\n\nSales is relatively simple in theory, but doing it is hard work. It's not (and never was) just about putting an advertisement in a trade magazine or setting up a stand at an industry event and waiting for things to happen. It's grunt work, it's cold calling people systematically by the thousand, it's doing niche market trade shows (well and thoroughly), it's making lots of personal visits and tracking everything meticulously. It's educating the market about why localization matters and not just selling to the converted. There has been a tendency in the translation industry for companies to rely too heavily on fat cats (big, rich localizers). Many companies get one or two such clients, lock them in by deeply understanding their business and documentation processes and over time come to expect that they can live happily ever after off of such stable high price clients. Well folks, times have changed. The "New Europe" has arrived (and not only the New Europe, but the New China, the New and Improved Argentina, and developing countries everywhere). A more mature market with more competition is developing. The big localizers are the most mature purchasers of translation services, and often have global sales and need to localize into developing countries' languages. They are among the first to move their business to low cost countries (it's already happening) when they realize they can get the same quality as in more developed countries. Often the sales/marketing angle among translation/localization companies is about how hard our job is, how very complicated and dif.cult it is. As much as everyone in our industry wants to make what we do look like rocket science, unfortunately it's not. Sure it's hard, but every business is hard these days. We need (like everyone else) to have the right
707291
It is not only in Europe.
707834
Russia can make some money, and gain influence with Iran. \n\nIt's probably a quid pro quo deal that as long as Russia opposes strong UN sanctions against Iran, then Iran will send business deals to Russia.\n\nStanding up against the US goals seems to be a way to seem powerful.
9851
Russia might have same ambitions as the erstwhile USSR, but it is certainly not the same power as USSR, economically, technically and most importantly politically. \n\nAnd I think this is a fact that no one can deny now. Also, the problems with other breakaway nations of USSR has made it weaker.
962517
When so many people arrive in so short a space of time, there are going to be problems; especially since most know only of London when they set out from their homeland.\n\nThe central and eastern europeans are generally splendid folk, who work hard and fit in well. \n\nThe question we should be asking is why these countries cannot attract investment and provide employment for their own people, when jobs and manufacturing are going to China and India.\n\nMuch of the problem of european unemployment is a direct result of short-term greed on the part of capitalists, and when all the investment has gone to China and other far-flung places, and the home economies are shattered by it, the capitalists will have achieved a type of socialism which only the communists could have come up with as a political philosophy.\n\nThe sooner the globalisation enthusiasts grasp the nettle, the better, because the capitalists could well drive europe towards self-destruction and civil-war.\n\nIt is scandalous that so many are forced to move, simply to feed themselves and have a decent life.\n\nWith that in mind, perhaps we should treat our close cousins from europe as we would treat our own, because they ARE good people and they deserve much better. Using them as political hot-potatoes and scapegoats is in no-one's interests, and simply diverts us from the REAL problems of a lack of proper economic policy and bad global business practice.\n\nCommunism is dead......long live slavery!
1043514
I like Russians.  I'm half Russians.  Some of the world's greatest scientific achievements in fields including space exploration have been made by Russians.  In the last hundred years Russia has transformed an agrarian society into an educated and industrialized nation.  Russia is now rivaling India as a new destination for companies seeking highly skilled employees in the fields of technology.  Being Russian makes me proud of who I am and of the accomplishments of the nation I am descended from.
784039
I like Russia. I am American.
820651
I see why you ask this. Russia, beyond a shadow of a doubt, does sponsor and fund terrorism. Their economy is down now, but because of their tremendous oil reserves will rise again. Russia has been and will continue to be an "ally of convenience". Whatever they agree to, and work towards will always be in the best interest of Russia and no one else. Certainly you know the answer to your question is "No.", but Russia will not be a sleeping giant forever.
447654
this depends on how spread the company that has this title is. if you are talking about an international compnay then the regional manager is usually responisble for a number of countries. if it is a local company then the regional manager is responsible for a number of provinces or a number of stores...
585817
Basically to take Europe out of the equation in case of Nuclear war.\n\nReally though the Soviet Union was in such deep financial chaos that they could no longer afford the development and upkeep of targeting nukes on Europe.  \n\nSo taking them off the table was mostly a financial decision.\n\nI should add that there was also a growing emphasis on Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles.  They were easier to hide and defend.
881196
They still seem to like one another at personal level.  But politically it is another story.  They like each other because they both are hawkish type of people.  Politically, they are very different people who protect interests of there respective countries as they see them.  Since  Russian and American interests differ in many ways and since these two countries want to impose their influence in the same parts of the world and there is only so much space, there interests frequently collide.  Consequently, there are some political confrontations between the two presidents.
456782
Personally, I think Russia because he's a hottie. The song isn't to bad. \nBut I'd like Malta,Sweden,Croatia and Ireland <3
597607
In the developed half of Europe it would have to be the UK or Germany.  Don't forget there is a whole region in Eastern Europe that is growing much faster because it is either about to join the EU or has just joined.  The Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary are all doing well.  If you want something even more risky have a look at the Baltic Republics (Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia).  They have some of the highest growth rates in the world.
9162
The problem with most Eastern European countries is high corruption and plenty of red tape to deal with. Thus the potential return on investment might be overblown. If I invest $1,000 and get a return of $1,300, that might be a good return by world measures, but if I have to pay off $100 to one bureacrat and $100 to another, the return is suddenly not that beneficial.
856565
Half of those countries are now secular enemies , so I wouldn't worry to much about a reforming of the soviet union . But Russia will never be a close friend of the US , they don't trust us and maybe they shouldn't
704667
Because women from eastern Europe still have certains qualities as : nice & warm attitude , they are more loving  !! They are more devoted to a man or to a marriage !
421579
Ask yourself a question if you were in a climate that allowed other countries rights to be violated at will by any neighboring country with impunity,a country that more resources than your country,would you not look for a way to level the playing field? When Russia was an empire, the U.S. did not dare pull these kinds of ploys because there was a balance. the balance is now gone. Noone holds the administration in check. Do your research!!!  Yes!!Peace.