1、Japanese Business Culture,John Shepherd,Distinctive Qualities,Long-term planning ”Life-time” employment Collective responsiblity Unique company philosophy & identity Intensive socialization,1. Time Perspective,Companies interested in long-term survival through preserving/increasing market share. (We
2、stern: short-term profitability & high share values) Longer-term view in planning Recruitment of loyal + skilled workforce High spending on R+D,1. Time Perspective,Information search Just-in-time procedures ”Lifetime employment” (30% of workforce) Usually male workers in larger corporations: employm
3、ent in sub-contractors less secure.,2. Collective Orientation,Japanese society collectivist Individualistic behaviour seen as selfish and discouraged Work organization gives identity, intense identification with work group Work central position in life Different conception between boundaries of what
4、 work is/is not,2. Collective Orientation,Eating, drinking, socializing before going home (62% of workers 2+ evenings/week) Company organized sports, holidays, trips Duty to have harmonious relationships at work (=”Gimu”),Other Aspects of ”Gimu”,Singing company song; reciting company values; extensi
5、ve training for new recruits to inculcate company values; wearing company uniform; communal eating Lack of clearly defined work roles: all members of group responsible for success of team Social obligation : long hours of work,3. Seniority System,Hierarchical status system: people superior/inferior
6、in business (despite collectivism) 16 forms of ”you” depending on rank. Business cards indicate rank Modes of address formal e.g. ”Mr. Foreman” ”Foreman Tanaka” even if working together for long time,3. Seniority System,Basis of hierarchy: age / education / gender / company Companies have agreed hie
7、rarchy Business meetings also reflect status (&office lay-out) Hierarchy evident in amount of speaking & depth of bowing Promotion age. Rare to have boss younger than subordinates Promotion predictable. Large layers in hierarchy,4. Problems,Life-time employment: Retention of workers of inferior ability and too many workers Large labour costs Seniority system: Loss of vitality, dynamism in system Manager-subordinate relationship: Protection of mutual interests,Not working,
