ABSTRACT
The Japanese perception of time has changed in the past years, and today many Japanese, including business persons, attach a great importance to time-perhaps as much as, if not more than, Americans do. Government offices and large hospitals are notorious for being bureaucratic, inefficient, and time consuming. In meetings or visits of either a private or a business nature, many Japanese set great store by keeping appointments or by starting meetings on schedule. Japanese companies human resource systems and training and development programs are all based on the premise that employees will stay with the company for years. Most Japanese organizations operate on the basis of a five- to ten-year plan, with their profit projections and investment plans geared to the companys long-term growth objectives. Few business managers believe in the value of short-term business operation. Contrary to the speed with which Japanese companies develop new products, Japanese organizations tend to spend a great deal of time developing new businesses.
