Economic restructuring in Eastern Europe has added a new universe of firms to the pool of cases for study of managerial effectiveness. Yet, in the ideologically charged atmosphere of post-communist transitions, analysis of the functioning of East European firms is sometimes clouded by preoccupation with privatization issues -- whether ownership is held by banks, a state or public agency, foreign investors, or inside or outside shareholders. This volume focuses on the performance of firms as a measure of the effectiveness of corporate governance, and only then attempts to draw conclusions about the relative advantages of different ownership structures.