Contact systems and their monitoring :the case of foreign firms in the Czech Republic

Abstract

The paper discusses the history of contact systems and then turns to presentation of the results of recent contact systems survey conducted among the foreign investors in the Czech Republic. The mentioned pilot study of contact systems is based on structured interviews with the representatives of selected foreign firms. Generally, the Czech firms are more successful as providers of producer services, by the way of subcontracting, than as suppliers of materials. Regarding the contact active levels of the company, there is a marked shift of competences downward which brings the need of increasing personal contacts in the lower levels of company hierarchy