Changes in Management Education in Poland

Since the end of World War II, two new scenarios have emerged in entrepreneurship and management. The first is related to economically developed countries featuring free enterprise, market economy and competition such as in West Europe, North America, Japan and the new industrial countries from East and South Pacific. In these countries, most of the markets are reaching saturation point. They can only change with replacement of demand or product innovation. The second is related to the countries in transition. But here, it is necessary to make a distinction between poor countries in Asia and Africa and the former communist countries. Without industrial knowledge, unable to invest money in business and to control their economy East European countries decided to give up central planning and reorient their economy towards a market economy. Unlike the already developed countries mentioned earlier, these countries are going to develop new markets. From a life cycle point of view, they are in the first or second stage of economic growth. In each case, environment and firm strategies are different. In this chapter, I will sum up the main features of each market category in order to recommend the main strategies for companies. I will underline, by comparison, the main characteristics of the working of firms in transition, as we analyse through research and through information given by our partners in Poland.