Comparison of Japanese and American Enterprise Management

Author: Tadashi Kago
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
Features: The book is divided into six chapters, with the main discussion starting from the second chapter. Based on survey data from over 1,000 important enterprises in Japan and the United States, it conducts a comprehensive analysis of the comparison between Japanese and American enterprises. The research focuses on several key aspects such as the business environment, production technology, business objectives, business strategy, organizational structure, organizational processes, and the characteristics of business leaders. It also analyzes the results obtained through investigative methods like surveys across 7 dimensions and 5 dimensions, concluding that Japanese and American enterprises differ in terms of environment, objectives, strategy, technology, and organizational characteristics. Japan adopts an organic contingency model, while the United States follows a mechanical contingency model. To further validate these conclusions, chapters three and four present qualitative studies on a few specific enterprises, focusing on business strategy and business organization, respectively. Through detailed and concrete case studies, the book analyzes the operational differences between Japanese and American enterprises. Many of the examples are vivid and insightful. In chapter five, 31 unit indicators are used to investigate the accuracy of business performance comparisons between Japanese and American enterprises. Chapter six provides a summary and conclusion of the entire book. Reading through the book, one acknowledges its persuasiveness while also feeling that it leaves something to be desired. For instance, among the numerous case studies, the explanations of American enterprises are somewhat less detailed compared to those of Japanese enterprises. This is, of course, partly due to the author being Japanese. In summary, "Comparative Management of Japanese and American Enterprises" opens up new horizons in comparative research and in the field of combining theory with practice. It is a rare and valuable book.