Japan's Top Management From The Inside (studies On The Modern Japanese Economy)

An understanding of the modern Japanese economy remains both important and elusive. Its importance needs little stressing. From the 1950s Japan's economy grew at a rate unparalleled elsewhere and, despite recent setbacks, the economy remains strong and dynamic with increasing investment overseas. Indeed, Japanese-owned companies now produce more overseas than they do at home. Yet an understanding of this economic performance is made difficult by the wide cultural divide between Japanese and Western societies. On the one hand an understanding of the many unique features of Japan's economic and social life is essential if we are to appreciate the Japanese achievement, but on the other hand this very uniqueness makes communication difficult. Straightforward translations of Japanese works frequently mean little to Western readers because the underlying attitudes and assumptions are so unfamiliar. This series has been planned in the belief that there is a need for scholarly studies on the modern Japanese economy which are written by experts (both Japanese and Western) and aimed at Western readers. Accordingly, we have planned a series of books which will explore all the major areas of Japanese economic life. The books will present up-todate material, and, where necessary, they will place Japan in its wider international context. Do you believe that Japan's top management * plans longer-term strategies than their American and European counterparts. * has slower, more bottom-up decision-making. * has a strong desire for new technologies. This book will show you why you are wrong. It presents a fundamental challenge to commonly held superficial and mistaken assumptions about Japanese top management. The hard facts to destroy these myths is provided, based on interviews with managers in 100 top Japanese firms. Current Japanese management practice is placed in the context of the business relations developed to rebuild the shattered economy after World War Two, and the monumental changes which took place after the crash of the bubble economy in 1992. New scenarios for Japan's future are discussed and examined A challenge to superficial and mistaken assumptions about Japan's top management among foreign businessmen, such as Japanese management's supposed long-term outlook, slow decision-making, and strong desire for new technologies. The hard facts to destroy these myths is provided, based on interviews with managers in 100 top Japanese firms. Current Japanese management practice is placed in the context of the business relations developed to rebuild the shattered economy after World War Two, and the monumental changes which took place after the crash of the bubble economy in 1992. New scenarios for Japan's future are discussed and examined. The book presents a fundamental challenge to commonly held superficial and mistaken assumptions about Japanese top management. Hard facts to destroy these myths are provided, based on interviews with 100 presidents and chairmen in top Japanese firms. Current Japanese management practice is placed in the context of the business relations developed to rebuild the shattered economy after the Second World War, and the monumental changes which took place after the crash of the bubble economy in 1992. New scenarios for Japan's future are discussed and examined This book challenges superficial assumptions about Japan's top management among foreign businessmen, such as long-run strategies, slow decision-making, and strong desire for new technologies. Hard facts to strips myths and business scandals about Japanese management are based on interviews with 100 top managements. The book describes business institutions to rebuild damaged economy by WWII and to cause monumental changes after the crash of bubble economy in 1992.