AbstractThe transformation from socialism to capitalism and from a socialist planned economy to a social market economy in the new Federal States of the Federal Republic of Germany confronts the affected people with a new life and working world. On the level of the enterprises, it is especially human resource management that is faced with integrating the different preceding experience, qualifications, and cultural values of their managers from the new Federal States into the company. In order to carry out this task adequately, human resource management needs an appropriate detailed analysis. Intercultural management research offers a suitable framework, as it is familiar with management in the context of different cultures and societies. © 1993 John Wiley&Sons, Inc