Title: Japanese management practice: an integrative framework

Authors: A. Douglas Harber, Danny A. Samson

Addresses: Doctoral candidate, Graduate School of Management, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. ' Chair of Manufacturing Management, and Programme Director, Centre for Manufacturing Management, Graduate School of Management, Unversity of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia

Abstract: It is now generally understood that excellence in manufacturing can provide an important source of competitive advantage. Because of Japan|s outstanding manufacturing performance, much interest has been shown by researchers and managers in how the Japanese manage their enterprises so effectively. This paper provides a new and comprehensive meta-level model of Japanese management practice. Taking a systems approach, the model extends previous work on integrative models, and includes Japan|s socio-economic objective, associated super-ordinate values, and national industrialization strategy subsequent to the Second World War. This model may assist those who are seeking to implement Japanese management practices in Western enterprises, by clarifying the role and importance of the value system underpinning Japanese management practice.

Keywords: Japanese management practice; manufacturing performance; added value; cultural values; value systems; Japan; systems approach.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.1989.026040

International Journal of Technology Management, 1989 Vol.4 No.3, pp.283 - 303

Published online: 26 May 2009 *

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