Can participative management practices be applied in an authoritarian culture
Purpose of this paper This paper aims to discuss the case of implementing participative management practices to support changes required following the introduction of a new strategy in a Russian bank. It provides a detailed description of the entire process including the methods implemented and the results achieved. The case study provides insights on how to extend participative management into an organization set in a context of strict regulative policies and an authoritarian culture. Design/methodology/approach The paper presents a case study on how participative management practices were implemented in a Russian bank and provides insights from the case. Findings The findings indicate some successful practices of participative management which can be implemented to identify problems/needs and assist with quick and collaborative decision-making for change without breaking strict banking normative procedures. Practical implications The paper provides insights for further implementation of participative management practices into organizations in an authoritarian context. Originality/Value The paper presents empirical evidence of participative management implementation. This is uncommon for Russian organizations, where the authoritarian culture dominates. Other researchers and managers can use this paper as a source to guide changes within other companies and sectors in similar cultures.