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Japan's economy lost most of its industrial production force because of World War II. However, from 1955 onwards, Japan achieved rapid economic growth, joining the group of the world's most developed countries by the early 1970s. The period from 1955 to the early 1970s is generally regarded as a period of High Economic Growth. There are various opinions regarding the factors that enabled Japan to attain such high economic growth, referred to as the Economic Miracle. It can be said that Japan's post-war economic development was the result of advancements in technological innovation based on financial assistance from the United States, which established Japan's position in the world economy, loans from the bank, and the introduction of technology from abroad. Needless to say, the "High growth of post-war Japanese capitalism has not been achieved only by giant companies alone. On the contrary, without small businesses, especially in their roles as subcontractors, it would have been impossible to achieve such high growth, which has drawn attention internationally." (Nomura, 1981; 126) The purpose of this article is to make clear the role of small businesses in the process of economic development.

Staff members at a movie company Daiei, known for presumably the world’s best film technology, continued to produce movies for several months even after the company went bankrupt. It was because they desired to make outstanding films. A director can create a high-quality film by combining the skills and ideas of such staff. Akira Kurosawa named the group that could produce excellent works the “Community of Talents”. By using research on a community as a clue, this paper aims to highlight how the “Community of Talents” is organized. First I point out that a “Community of Talents” is formulated primarily by the labor of the staff based on Kumazawa’s “Community on the Shop Floor”. The paper subsequently refers to research by Heinrich Nicklish, a representative researcher on the study of community in Germany, in an attempt to verify that the community is a group of people established on functions. Lastly, the paper explores Guido Fisher’s research to reveal the role of democratic leadership centered on the director who transforms the objectified staff in the organization into an independently-minded presence and help them prove their abilities. The paper continues to emphasize the significance of leadership in the formation of the “Community of Talents”.

This chapter examines Ma thinking and innovation in global high tech companies Apple and Cisco Systems by observing and analyzing the process of the dynamic formation of informal organizations free of the constraints of formal organizations, and the emergence of innovation through dynamic and recursive practice activities between formal and informal organizations from the perspective of Ma thinking. This chapter also identifies how new business model innovations originate in this dynamic recursion between formal and informal organizations based on the five types of Ma thinking as they engender five architect capabilities in practitioners.

PurposeThis paper aims to review the situation of decent work (DW) and quality of work life (QWL) in the context of Nepal.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on a literature survey. Institutional arrangements for DW and QWL are studied in connection with current labor legislations, national policy documents, and company policies and initiatives. The status of DW and QWL is described, examining national policy documents published by the Government of Nepal, National Planning Commission, labor legislations, International Labor Organization (ILO) and other relevant literature.FindingsAt present, although the country has been successful in reducing the number of people under the poverty line, there are challenges in meeting the DW goals. In the case of QWL, since there is rising dissatisfaction among employers and employees in the present economic and political circumstances, they are interested in short‐term benefits.Research limitations/implicationsThere are a number of factors affecting DW and QWL. In this paper only national economic and social conditions, poverty level, employment situation and income generation are considered for analysis. The analysis of the QWL situation is done only on the basis of published information rather than using primary sources of information.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study will have a number of implications in understanding and improving the level of current institutional arrangements in order to ensure DW and QWL. The observations made in this paper can add some value in the process of formulation of national policy for, and regulation of DW. The issues discussed will have substantial implication for the development and framing of new labor laws and policies.Originality/valueThe paper focuses on DW and QWL for the first time in the Nepalese context. This is an original contribution by the authors to familiarize readers with the situation of DW and QWL in Nepalese organizations.

Over the past decade or so a number of changes have been observed in traditional Japanese employment relations (ERs) systems such as an increase in non-regular workers, a move towards performance-based systems and a continuous decline in union membership. There is a large body of Anglo-Saxon and Japanese literature providing evidence that national factors such as national institutions, national culture, and the business and economic environment have significantly influenced what were hitherto three ‘sacred’ aspects of Japanese ERs systems (ERSs). However, no research has been undertaken until now at the firm level regarding the extent to which changes in national factors influence ERSs across firms. This article develops a model to examine the impact of national factors on ER systems; and analyses the impact of national factors at the firm level ER systems. Based on information collected from two different groups of companies, namely Mitsubishi Chemical Group (MCG) and Federation of Shinkin Bank (FSB) the research finds that except for a few similarities, the impact of national factors is different on Japanese ER systems at the firm level. This indicates that the impact of national factors varies in the implementation of employment relations factors. In the case of MCG, national culture has less to do with seniority-based system. Study also reveals that the national culture factors have also less influence on an enterprise-based system in the case of FSB. This analysis is useful for domestic and international organizations as it helps to better understand the role of national factors in determining Japanese ERSs.

PurposeThe paper aims to: examine the evolution of Japanese corporate management (JCM); review the Japanese vs American corporate management model; discuss typical corporate strategy of Japanese companies; and evaluate emerging scenarios of JCM.Design/methodology/approachThe paper mainly reviews past and current literature to discuss emerging scenarios of JCM.FindingsDriven by persistent pressures from environmental forces in the postwar period, there have been changes in the way of managing ideas, things and people in Japanese corporations in order to cope in the world of competition.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper is mainly theoretical and no empirical evidences are presented to explore the situation of JCM in practice.Practical implicationsWith growing competition in the domestic and international markets in the recent past, Japanese firms have tried to achieve a new level of industrialization and a rapid technological advancement; they have faced an erosion of traditional values, a growing labor shortage and an ever‐increasing complexity in size and operation. Therefore, this paper is mainly useful to academicians and professional to know about how JCM practices have been changing.Originality/valueVery few Japanese researchers attempted to write about emerging Japanese management scenario of the prewar period. The paper contributes by exploring different facts about prewar and emerging scenarios of JCM and adds value in this perspective.

In April 1997, an article entitled ‘Production in Asia, from Asia to Asia’ appeared in the leading Japanese business newspaper, the Nihon Keizai Shinbun. It stated that: With the onset of the cheap yen and the rising strength of local currencies in Malaysia, for example, the price competitiveness of some Asian countries and areas has decreased. Companies were pushed to review their production locations to sustain low costs. ‘Products have emerged that could be produced less expensively in Japan’ says one large electronics manufacturer.