Modern Japanese Organization and Decision-Making

This book explores the major features of modern Japanese organizations that have contributed to Japan's rapid economic development. Contributors include academic business consultants, Japanese government officials, and Western experts. The essays highlight the dynamic and volatile nature of Japanese organizations, where decision-making is not limited to the executive level, and conflicts exist within and between different sectors of society.

Format: Hardback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

This groundbreaking book is a pioneering exploration into the intricate aspects of modern Japanese organizations, which have played a pivotal role in the country's remarkable economic growth. A diverse group of contributors, including renowned academic business consultants like Peter Drucker from the United States and Kazuo Noda from Japan, as well as esteemed Japanese government officials like Yoshihisa Ojimi, former Administrative Vice-Minister of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, and Taishiro Shirai, a member of the Central Labor Relations Commission, contribute their insights. The essays in this volume delve into various facets of Japanese government, business, newspaper structures, and the role of Japanese intellectuals in modern organizations.

What emerges from this comprehensive portrait is a far more dynamic and complex picture of Japanese organizations than previously assumed. The contributors showcase how business and government managers creatively employ traditional practices in innovative ways, embarking on bold initiatives to achieve their goals. This contradicts the notion that decisions are solely made from the bottom up, as executive leaders also play a significant role in initiating action. Furthermore, lower-level officials operate within a framework defined by their superiors, leading to heightened tensions and conflicts within organizations, particularly in institutions like universities, where conflicts can hinder decision-making processes.

Additionally, the book highlights a greater divergence of interests among different sectors of society than commonly portrayed. The stereotypical view of Japan, Inc., as a highly cohesive and consensus-driven society, is challenged by the findings, which suggest that there are significant differences in priorities and perspectives among various groups. This divergence is likely to become more pronounced as the high level of consensus supporting the fundamental commitment to economic growth weakens, leading to new challenges and opportunities for Japan's organizations.

In conclusion, this book is a valuable resource for scholars, researchers, and professionals interested in understanding the complexities of modern Japanese organizations. It provides a comprehensive and nuanced perspective on the role of these organizations in shaping Japan's economic development, challenging prevailing notions and highlighting the dynamic and volatile nature of the business and government landscape in Japan.

Weight: 680g
Dimension: 234 x 156 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520358454