“Duality” as a characteristic feature of Russian business culture

Contemporary concepts of sociology of management are based on the fact that, despite the universalization of managerial practices caused by business internationalization, national culture creates a context of business interaction, adds originality to the national business culture, determines the behavior of employees of a company and has a serious influence on organizational culture and management technologies. Russian business culture has developed along a complex trajectory, sometimes borrowing “advanced” western standards and practices, sometimes turning towards the East, but its constant tendency is to seek own identity, relying on sociocultural roots and spiritual-moral values. The author’s understanding of the phenomenon of business culture is presented in the article and on the basis of the analysis the following are highlighted most striking characteristics of Russian business culture can be considered to be the irrationality of management (decision-making based on experience or intuition), duality of the value system (simultaneously the manifestation of collectivism and individualism, masculinity and femininity of culture, acceptance of both “Western” and conservative traditional values), contradictions of “Russian character” (from submission to rebellion, from militancy to mercy and compassion), high power distance, paternalism etc. In general, it is the unique Russian contradiction, “duality”, which becomes the most frequently encountered characteristic of Russian business culture in scientific literature.