ABSTRACT
This part introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters. The part presents a comparative analysis of Ukrainian and Polish post socialist development. It describes the idea that all Central and Eastern Europe countries follow similar development paths, although at different speed, from socialism to capitalism. The part argues that a time-lag between developmental stages in Poland and Ukraine is not a sufficient explanation. Flexible adaptation of legal forms or diversification of activities and sophisticated informal networks within large firms are based on the controversial heritage of the socialist past. Creative entrepreneurs and managers have modified and developed these elements of business strategy so that they are also able to use them in the new context of privately owned companies. The part highlights the importance of the heritage of socialism, but it would be misleading to overestimate the efficacy of this heritage.
