Abstract
This paper presents evidence collected through interviews with the owners or senior managers in 95 companies from Kazakhstan's extractive, manufacturing and construction sectors.It is argued that although, using Western yardsticks, Kazakhstan's enterprises may appear to remain riddled with inefficient practices, these practices are in fact usually efficient and effective in a Central Asian context.This context is a product of the historically-laid culture of the region, the legacy of communism, and experiences during the post-communist transformation.The outcomes are that connections can be a crucial business asset, operating at least partly 'in the shade' has been normalised, recruitment is normally via personal recommendation, and employees cannot usually be dismissed.The evidence presented shows that introducing some new Western management practices can increase efficiency and success-chances, but in Central Asia such practices need to be introduced cautiously and selectively.