CONDITIONS IN RUSSIA AND THEIR EFFECTS ON ENTRY MODE DECISIONS OF MULTINATIONAL MANUFACTURING ENTERPRISES: A QUALITATIVE STUDY IDENTIFYING ISSUES FOR FURTHER RESEARCH IN THE AREA OF COUNTRY CONDITIONS AND THEIR IMPACT ON ENTRY MODE

This study examines entry modes employed by foreign multinational manufacturing enterprises (MMEs) when entering Russia. This exploratory study focuses on country-specific conditions associated with the chosen entry mode - an important component in the consideration of overall entry strategy. Information from field studies representing 18 manufacturers – 10 directly manufacturing in Russia and 8 selling their products in Russia via representative/sales offices – was obtained by means of personal interviews with senior management in Moscow and constituted the primary qualitative data. Research questions are posed for further examination of conditions in Russia and the effects of such conditions on the entry mode decisions of MMEs. The study finds economic conditions to be the only important determinant of entry modes for large multinational manufacturing companies investing in Russia with other country factors playing no role in their choices.