|
|
|||
|
Related Items: PEP Success StoriesBRINGING CHANGE ON-LINE
Leonid Altshuler took advantage of Communism’s collapse to establish a computer software company in 1991, only to lose it all during that turbulent time. Leonid persisted and reformed his company into a telecommunications service provider for local and regional telephone networks. Leonid’s PEP experience introduced new management principles and ideas that he is using to further modernize his company. Leonid admits, “I wasn’t so much interested in the technological side of business, but I was interested in how the businesses were organized, the relationships between core businesses and their responsibilities to each other.” What he found in the U.S. were established companies with clearly defined organization structures, inspiring him to redefine the organization of his own company. Leonid noted that the U.S. market for Internet service providers is very intense, whereas in Tula there was a single monopolist provider. Inspired by the benefits and lessons of U.S. competition, Leonid and a colleague established a noncommercial partnership, acquired financing and are now introducing an alternate ISP for his region. “It’s very, very important for us to provide competition. This project is important for our region, it will allow us to improve the quality of service and cut down on the price.” The charitable nature of his Kiwanian hosts had a big effect on Leonid. Impressed by the volunteer spirit of hosts and trainers, Leonid committed to do more for his community. His efforts to provide free computer classes and musical events to teach children classical music recently earned Leonid the honor of “Benefactor of the Year” in Tula.
CHANGE COMPUTES
Lyudmila Gorokhova is the founder and director of VG – Computers, specializing in computer repair, installation, sales and service. Lyudmila brought home with her several innovative ideas that over the last couple of years have helped her to restructure her company and expand services in the Dubna area. The organization and discipline of labor in the U.S. most impressed Lyudmila. She learned about setting and achieving goals with employees, project management and team building, including a visit to Computer Solutions 2000 where a variety of computer companies presented their own management and project solutions. Lyudmila also marveled at the employees’ professionalism, commitment to their work and dedication to keep abreast of new developments in the industry. Since her return, job descriptions were created and employees became more specialized. Along with increased responsibility for her employees, Lyudmila also introduced strict work codes to increase discipline and productivity. “Some workers had to leave in view of the new requirements,” she explains. “But those who stayed radically changed their performance and they are happier.” Before PEP, Lyudmila had the “far-off” dream of becoming an Internet provider in the Dubna area. With renewed confidence from her PEP training, Lyudmila’s company established itself as the main Internet provider in Dubna, matching prices offered for similar services in nearby Moscow. This is a significant accomplishment that Lyudmila credits to her U.S. training.
EDUCATION OF CHANGE
Sergey Gemedzhi is at the center of the new distance-learning trend in Russian higher education. Organizations such as Tula Institute Otkrytogo Obrazovaniya, where Sergey is the marketing director, help educators cope with the Russia’s vast distances and allow them to target the adult and working population. The Institute receives no government financing and must be fully self-sustaining by the income generated from student fees, so increasing enrollment was Sergey’s primary interest in PEP. He learned to reach new students by organizing computer classes in various cities throughout the region so that potential students can learn the computer and Internet basics essential to distance learning. This strategy is also helping Sergey utilize the Internet more effectively in marketing the Institute and actively teaching courses. During his training Sergey discovered multi-level marketing, an idea that led him to contract with regional organizations on a commission basis for referrals to his Institute. Sergey also implemented a referral program for current students, offering them a discount on their tuition for referring new students. These changes have helped the Institute increase enrollment and reach into new cities. One thing that impressed Sergey about American universities was
the focus on the student. He learned about encouraging students
and increasing their desire to learn. Now he is working to implement
new systems of rewards, both material and psychological, in his
school to motivate students and increase retention. |
What is PEP?
Why Sponsor PEP?
