ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book presents the similarities and differences in practice in strategy, structure and decision-making processes, and causal relationships between top management, goals of the organization, product market strategy, capability structure, operations, and the decision-making process sub-systems. It is more concerned with the strategy, structure and strategic decisions of Japanese corporations. The capability structure is the organizational structure, the management system, the fixed assets and the personnel capability. The book analyses the similarities and differences of management practices as compared with US or UK corporate practices, with more emphasis on differences. Japanese business learned much from the US and European theories and improved its own business practice. Japanese industry is strong in mass-produced products in large organizations, where the co-operation of the worker is essential; also, in high-technology products where high-level skills are required.
