Introducing an Internationally Accepted Project Management Tool into Russian Aviation: Translation Processes for Responsibility Assignment at Pulkovo Airport

This research focuses on the translation approach within the new institutional theory. New institutional theory is currently an important approach in strategic management studies. This topic is vividly being discussed at numerous international conferences, and the translation of ideas and models across contexts is considered to be an important issue today in research and practice of international business alike. Nevertheless, there is still few kinds of researches so far in Russia and none that refers to the interesting specifics of aviation. The research is based on the case of Pulkovo Airport, the currently ongoing implementation of the project called “Business Process System Development” and the implementation of the RACI matrix, in particular. Within the frame of an internship, the author of this thesis got full access to the case and could follow up on the processes of the translation in real-time in the form of participant observation. Additional data sources included internal documents and semi-structured interviews with experts and participants of the project. Choosing such a qualitative approach is in line with current advances in process studies in management, and the aim to contribute to theory development. Results of the thesis show that specifically trustful relationships among actors and the support of the C-level management play an important role in translating within the aviation context, and well-targeted communication supports to translate ideas in Post-Soviet Union emerging markets, and using the RACI matrix even outside the project context it was developed for can here help to distribute responsibilities more clearly.