Japanese workstyle
Why are the Japanese and British less productive than the Dutch?
Motivation, evaluation and efficiency...
5S in Japan…“A place for everything and everything in its place”
"A messy desk is the sign of a creative mind" This shows a typical American attitude that "neatness" is something divorced from "getting things done" -- quite opposite from the...
Nommunication – The Japanese truth serum
Traditionally, the consumption of alcohol has been the Japanese cultural signal that it’s ok to be frank and open. After-work bonding over alcohol thus creates the perfect atmosphere for...
In Japan “Everyone participates”
No Japanese companies operate exactly the same and every company has its own way of saving precious resources and avoiding waste. The purpose of a Japanese cross-company initiative is...
Saihatsu Boshi – Key to Japanese problem-solving
Making sure problems don't happen again is a good thing, and the Japanese have developed a structured process for doing this. Many non-Japanese are not comfortable being forthright about...
Genin tsuikyu – Japanese business gets to the root of the matter
Looking at the root causes of a problem is a typical Japanese approach to business. However, in other cultures the work environment may not necessarily be conducive to open...
Why do Japanese work such long hours?
Many younger Japanese would workers prefer shorter working hours and more time with their families. The question is whether Japanese corporate culture will become flexible enough to make this possible....
Japan’s disengaged workers
Japanese HR departments are simply not equipped to learn enough about employees’ skills and interests to match them carefully to positions. As a result, large numbers of Japanese are...
October 10, 2009 Long Working Hours in Japanese Companies
There is a disucssion in the Japan Intercultural Consulting Group on the problem of long working hours in Japanese companies both at home and abroad. Here is the historical...