Post‐Soviet Reform in Latvia: Early Progress and Future Prospects
After the rapid and dramatic demise of the Soviet Union in 1991, 15 newly autonomous republics are restructuring their economies after decades of central Communist planning. The three Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia had successful market‐oriented economies during more than two decades of independence between World Wars I and II and were comparatively strong performers within the USSR after being occupied in 1940. A case study of Latvia looks at the historic factors and political issues which are shaping the current reform process. A contrast of state‐run, collective and private enterprises is used to illustrate the rapid changes which now place Latvia at the forefront among p…
Outsourcing information systems: A strategic partnership with risks
Abstract As information processing and telecommunications technology increase in sophistication and complexity, organizations are finding it more difficult to manage their information systems (IS) for business success. Growing numbers are now sharing these responsibilities and risks with outsourcing vendors. American Standard, Eastman Kodak, General Dynamics, Metropolitan Life, and Young & Rubicam are prominent companies which have outsourced some or all of their IS activities. They are looking to gain competitive advantages by cutting costs and focusing internal resources on core activities. However, compromises in management control and data security, the potential of hidden costs, and th…