Global Challenges and Japanese Management

Approximately 35 years ago, the internationalization of Japanese management was a highly debated topic. This was prompted by the rapid appreciation of the Japanese yen against the US dollar, which led many Japanese manufacturers to relocate their production sites overseas. During that time, the weaknesses of Japanese management, such as slow decision-making, unclear job descriptions, and limited delegated authority, were frequently highlighted. It was also emphasized that Japanese managers struggled to effectively collaborate with talented foreign white-collar workers due to a lack of cross-cultural and international leadership expertise. Subsequently, Japan entered a period known as the 'Lost Decades,' characterized by deflation and stagnating economic growth that spanned three decades. To the best of my knowledge, little progress has been made on the issue of developing international/global leadership in Japan since then.

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