Hidden Champions in Dynamically Changing Societies and their Management and Leadership Development Needs (2018-2020)

Researchers:Dr. Danica Purg (IEDC Faculty), Dr. Alenka Braček Lalić (IEDC Faculty), Dr. Arnold  Walravens (IEDC Faculty), Artyom Ushnichkov (IEDC Faculty), Livija Marko (IEDC Faculty)

Back in 2011 CEEMAN launched an elaborate project comprising 15 research teams that worked with over 130 companies across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and Turkey. The teams have studied Hidden Champions - small and medium-sized companies that have a low visibility profile in the public domain, yet which occupy top positions in the world markets as measured by market share. Results of the study were published in 2013 in a book titled “Hidden Champions in CEE and Turkey: Carving out a Global Niche”. (Click here to go to the page about the 2011 research).

In 2018 CEEMAN returned to the topic of the Hidden Champions and a new more ambitious study was launched: “Hidden Champions in Dynamically Changing Societies and their Management and Leadership Development Needs”. 

The new project runs across 24 countries, with 24 international research teams participating in it. Present Hidden Champions in CESEE, Turkey and Russia are being identified and described.  Common characteristics, best practices, main success factors, as well as the management and development needs of the Hidden Champions are assessed and will be shared. Researchers have already met several times both in Bled and online and are currently working towards delivering a report by late 2018 and a book, that will be published in 2019-2020.

This project is supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Coordinators of the research are: IEDC-Bled School of Management, Postgraduate Studies and CEEMAN, the International Association for Management Development in Dynamic Societies.

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