Nokia’s New Home in Romania 1

The rapid move in the telecommunications technology world has pushed many of top cellular leaders to examine the ever-increasing challenge of efficiency, effectiveness and the cost conscience choices of product supply and demand. Business managers must consider the best markets for creating new products to meet customer’s needs, while remaining competitive and fostering valued employee and community connections. Nokia, one of the world’s largest cellular providers with an estimated 49,560 permanent employees (as of 4/1/07), national research centers and distribution sites globally; opted to begin yet another production and distribution site in Transylvania, Romania (Corporate Responsibility, 2007). The 88 million dollar investment was set before John Guerry a 36-year old Texan in charge of the plant. His challenge was to select, train and retain adequate employees with a skill based work environment to ensure that a multinational competitor would not impede on the best workers (Ewing, 2009).
The reasons why Romanians are motivated to obtain a job at Nokia’s new factory begin with the well regarded technical university where engineering students can begin their career with a globally secure company. A repressive communist dictatorship has left a blaring mark of impoverished conditions for the city of 400,000 people. Many of the locals overwhelmingly seek the opportunity to gain skills and advancement to improve their current living circumstances.
The fundamental factors that will contribute to the workers hired are fairly simple. First, we can examine the definite increase in wages and benefits that Nokia will provide. Secondly, workers recognize that the training that they will ultimately receive will improve their value to
Nokia’s New Home in Romania 2

other companies, providing them with other avenues and