Copy Shop: An Experience in Company Growth in Eastern Europe - Case Study Example

When one contemplates starting a business in a foreign country, the first three concerns that should immediately come to their minds are those with relation to differences pertaining to language, law, and culture.  Each of these challenges was faced by Paul and Ken as they quickly found themselves lost in the capital city of Hungary, confused by the maze of legal obstructions and hoops that were necessary to jump through, and bewildered by the air of rapidly changing government policies and officials which was a function of the rapidly developing culture of Hungarian democracy at that time.

 How would you characterize his leadership and management style and his commitment to “doing well by doing good”?
Without Paul Panitz’s decision to penetrate the Hungarian market, none of the subsequent expansions throughout Eastern Europe, Central Europe, and/or Asia would have been possible.  It was only as a result of this success that Paul was even able to entertain the notion of further expansion of the firm.  Likewise, another factor that greatly assisted in Paul’s success was his management style.  Paul rewarded those that helped him and went above the call of duty with important positions within the fledgling company.  Furthermore, by choosing to live a simple life (on the advice of Erno) rather than the life of an American executive, Paul was able to carry a great deal of respect with his employees as a manager and owner who was working with and on the same level as his employees.  In this way, the company evolved from the humble beginnings of its owner and employees into the dominant force it is in the copying business today.

 Compare the recollections of Ken Chaletsky, a U.S. manager with Copy General, and Erno Duda, Copy General’s initial country manager in Hungary. How do their perspectives differ and how do they reflect the cultural values of their respective countries?

The biggest difference between the two men’s interpretation of events can easily be seen via the lens of a cultural difference.