At this conference we will draw a balance of the current state of transformation and will deal with the somewhat provoking question if transformation has come to an end. In most cases a prognosis of either direction or results of the transformation is still lacking because transformation in Central and Eastern Europe is a completely new phenomenon for research and enterprise practise. However, based on current experiences, different perspectives and future trends can be identified. Moreover, the conference should highlight new aspects, which are hardly taken into account at this time.