An Investigation of Japanese Corporate Culture, Its Trends And Changes
Japanese Business & Culture bus 258.1
Table of Contents1.0 Introduction
2.0 Procedure
3.0 Findings
3.1 Changing social culture.
3.2 Business Culture in Japan
3.3 Why change is needed
3.4 What is Japan and her corporations doing to develop and change
4.0 Conclusion
5.0 Bibliography
Japanese Business & CultureAn investigation Japanese corporate culture, its trends and changes.1.0 IntroductionThis report is based around the following quote: "Japan's corporate culture is the product of uniquely Japanese social and historical influences, so deeply rooted as to easily repel outside influences.
Bur Japanese corporations need to change their basic goals...." This report will discuss nature of corporate culture in Japan, and why change is needed. The maximum length is 2,000 words
2.0 Procedure The report was produced using library based research because of the time scale and cost. The sources used include text books, journals and newspapers.. The references have been made 'Harvard Style' and can be found in the Bibliography.
3.0 Findings The Japanese business culture has been described by Beedham as a culture that acts like a clan, in that there is a large amount of authority given to the man at the top, and in the commitment that is shown by the people around him, Beedham points out that this can be evident in the way that their car factories, investment banks and government ministries are ran.
This clan-like-behaviour has the effect of making decision making painfully slow, with compromises having to be met in all directions, but this is starting to change, as the people of Japan are starting to change and have different priorities. These changes can be put down to several factors that are changing in Japanese society as a whole.
3.1 Changing social culture. The increasing and speeding up of urbanisation is one way in which corporate culture is being changed. Because of this urbanisation there is less commitment to groups as people become more individual and have their own priority in life. Marriage and family ties are also starting to loosen. Links between children, parents and grandparents are not the same as they were ten years ago.
The greatest impact on peoples commitment to their work is money. As the
Japanese become richer, they are starting to see that there is...
... middle of paper ...
...g the corporate culture slightly
Japanese corporations are not seen as been there for just profit. Profit is important, but it is not the only reason for the company's existence, but involves people and their future. This is however changing with corporations starting to set financial targets for themselves and cut costs.
Ways in which the Japanese corporate culture is starting to change can be found in the way that promotions are decided. In the past seniority meant everything and no some positions are given on merit. Also, management positions are starting to be taken up by foreigners, as well as R&D relocation outside Japan.
Japanese politics are also helping in the change of culture. Deregulation and liberalisation promote a more dynamic organisation culture and structure but these developments need backing up with further proposals to deregulate and promote entrepreneurship
5.0 Bibliography
Brian Beedham, Tomorrow's Japan, The Economist, July 13th 1996 Various Internet article with no title or author. FT 96 Dec 05 page 6/ Survey - Japanese
Industry: Routes to the top FT 96 Dec 02 page 20/ Lex Column: Japan FT 96 Nov
18 page 14/ Management: Time to pull back the screen
...dying Japanese at tertiary level alone. Research relating to Japan is carried out at about thirty-seven universities in Australia. The range of research has developed to include not only the humanities, but also practical and business-related fields. Also there is a considerable amount of youth exchange between Australia and Japan. Every year Japan accepts about one hundred young Australians as government funded students. All of the above attributes are making a major contribution to the promotion of friendly relations between Australia and Japan.
One example was the forced European ideals on male hierarchical structuring as it disrupted the inner workings of tribal council. Traditionally, the clan mother appointed male chiefs, “[serving] at her pleasure.” The clan mothers’ ratification was necessary on all council decisions as well. (p. 32) Shaking the community basic structures would undoubtedly affect all other aspects within their culture as well.
Lao , Mike . "JapanToday." Japan Today RSS. N.p., 14 Mar. 2014. Web. 7 June 2014. .
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In 2006 the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act was established to prevent illegal border crossing, improve law enforcement and provides legal immigrant status for the 11-million immigrants who already live in the U.S. Unfortunately, this and the Senate’s bipartisan Immigration Reform Bill passed in 2013 were not amended into law. The paralysis to adopt this policy change may be due to uncertain future cost and political polarization. Further, one could argue another reason is because the United States democratic system works hard to provide the best practical problem solving policy that benefits the greater good. But despite the U.S. democratic system analysis, it is long overdue to reform the law and now it’s time to change it.
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In order to achieve its desired public image and to acquire an organizational identity centered on quality and safety, qualitative research on GM’s culture can be facilitated. Intertwined with the study of organizational culture is organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), which is the performance that supports the social and psychological environment in which task performance takes place. OCBs were found to be positively related to overall organizational effectiveness, unit-level performance, and customer satisfaction (Greenberg, J., 2013). A study of the OCB in GM may help in the change it aims to implement. GM may start by creating an environment where its employees are truly committed to its safety policy while also increasing their job satisfaction.
Lao , Mike . "JapanToday." Japan Today RSS. N.p., 14 Mar. 2014. Web. 7 June 2014. .
This case depicts about the success stories of the collaboration in the automobile industry by the Japanese and US firm though they were obviously competitors. One significant success story emerging from the alliance involves Ford probe and Mazda MX-6. There were swapping of resources and capabilities between the two firms. Mazda designers design the basic platform, engine and drive train for the cars. Mazda then design the outside of the MX-6 and Ford does same for the probe. Finally both cars are assembled at a factory owned by the two firms. Ford escort was another successful offspring of the alliance where again the Mazda engineers designed the car and Ford made it. But the alliance was not without spots. Mazda Navaho one of the offspring of the alliance which was basically build upon the on of the Ford popular product Ford explorer and build by the Ford makers. Ford made an opposite step by denying to provide the Japanese partners Navaho production to continue production of its own product line. The partner Mazda in addition fell into financial distress and Ford got the effective management control of Mazda and took some bold steps which eventually went against the collaboration.
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